NHL News Today: Shesterkin Out for Season, Canadiens Trade Struble, Edvinsson Rumors Heat Up

The NHL’s opening week has delivered a major goaltending injury, a confirmed Montreal Canadiens trade, and fresh speculation involving some of the league’s biggest names.

NHL News and NHL Rumors and NHL Scores — October 10, 2026

The New York Rangers have suffered a devastating setback. Igor Shesterkin will miss the remainder of the 2026–27 NHL season, turning what appeared to be a promising start into a major question about the team’s future in goal. The former Vezina Trophy winner suffered a lower-body injury against the Washington Capitals on Friday and now faces an extended recovery.

The situation is even more complicated because backup Joonas Korpisalo is expected to miss four weeks. That leaves the Rangers facing an immediate goaltending problem, potentially putting pressure on management to explore the trade market.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens have made an actual trade, sending defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators for a 2027 second-round draft pick. It’s a deal that could have implications for Montreal’s next roster move.

Elsewhere, Simon Edvinsson’s unresolved situation with the Detroit Red Wings continues to generate trade speculation, the Toronto Maple Leafs are being linked to potential defensive changes, and Friday’s NHL action produced several surprises.

Here are the biggest developments from October 10, along with every final score from October 9 and the stories worth watching next.

Rangers Face a Goaltending Crisis After Shesterkin Injury

Shesterkin entered the season looking like one of the NHL’s most dominant goaltenders. In five starts, he posted a 3-1-0 record, a 1.79 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.

Now the Rangers must move forward without the goaltender carrying an eight-year, $92 million contract.

Dylan Garand becomes the central figure in New York’s immediate plans. The 24-year-old has shown promise, including a shutout against Detroit earlier this season, but asking an inexperienced goalie to replace Shesterkin is an entirely different challenge.

My take: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rangers explore the market for an experienced goaltender. That doesn’t necessarily mean an immediate blockbuster. The smarter strategy could be finding a dependable veteran who can share responsibilities with Garand without sacrificing premium draft picks.

The Rangers also need to consider their long-term salary-cap flexibility before making any major commitment.

Montreal Canadiens Make a Trade: Is Another Move Coming?

Montreal general manager Kent Hughes has turned Jayden Struble into a second-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft, originally belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights.

For Nashville, the appeal is straightforward: Struble brings physicality, mobility and NHL experience at a manageable $1.4125 million annual cap hit.

Predators general manager Chris MacFarland described Struble as a physical defender who adds mobility and toughness to Nashville’s blue line.

For Montreal, the move creates additional roster flexibility while adding another valuable draft asset.

My take: Montreal’s decision is more interesting than the size of the trade suggests. Hughes has accumulated another second-round pick at a time when the Canadiens continue to evaluate possible upgrades. A second-round selection could become useful currency in a larger transaction.

There’s also positive news on Montreal’s blue line: Kaiden Guhle is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday against Detroit after recovering from offseason surgery.

NHL Trade Rumors: Simon Edvinsson, Morgan Rielly and the Maple Leafs

The Simon Edvinsson situation remains one of the NHL’s most intriguing unresolved storylines.

The 23-year-old defenseman remains unsigned with Detroit, and recent reporting examined what the Red Wings might receive if they pursued a trade rather than continuing contract negotiations.

The Athletic suggests Detroit could seek a major young player, potentially more than one, if Edvinsson becomes available.

The New York Islanders have also been discussed as a possible offer-sheet destination, although significant salary-cap complications make that route difficult. Neither an Edvinsson trade nor an Islanders offer sheet has been confirmed.

Toronto could be another team worth watching, although the reported acquisition costs for young restricted free-agent defensemen may prove prohibitive.

Morgan Rielly’s future is also drawing attention. The Athletic’s James Mirtle suggested the Maple Leafs could revisit Rielly’s situation if their season deteriorates. Rielly reportedly would consider waiving his no-movement clause for a limited group of teams.

My assessment is that Toronto’s bigger question isn’t simply whether Rielly can be moved. It’s whether management can acquire a replacement who meaningfully improves the defense without creating another expensive long-term commitment.

Florida Panthers Injury News: Barkov and Marchand Both Sidelined

The defending expectations surrounding Florida are being tested by injuries.

Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss six to eight weeks, while Brad Marchand faces approximately six weeks on the sidelines following a separate lower-body injury.

For a team built around depth, physicality and two-way responsibility, losing both experienced forwards simultaneously is a significant early-season challenge.

In my view, the Panthers should avoid overreacting with an expensive trade. Their first priority should be navigating the next several weeks while preserving the flexibility needed when both players return.

Other NHL News: Nazar Suspended, Horvat Available and McKenna in Focus

Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar has received a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Islanders center Bo Horvat. Fortunately for New York, Horvat is expected to play Saturday against Tampa Bay.

Toronto rookie Gavin McKenna will face Colorado’s Brent Burns on Saturday, bringing together one of the league’s youngest stars and one of its longest-serving defensemen. Meanwhile, John Tavares is away from the Maple Leafs following the birth of his son.

Saturday features 14 scheduled NHL games, providing another opportunity to evaluate which teams are establishing themselves as legitimate early-season contenders.

NHL Scores From Friday, October 9, 2026

Four NHL games were played Friday night. Here are all the final scores and notable performances.

NHLTradeRumor.com Analysis: What Happens Next?

Three developing stories deserve particular attention.

New York’s goaltending situation now represents an immediate roster problem rather than an ordinary injury concern. Montreal has converted a depth defenseman into useful draft capital, and Detroit must eventually resolve the uncertainty surrounding Edvinsson.

Of those situations, I believe the Rangers face the most urgent short-term decision. However, Montreal and Detroit could have the greater influence on the NHL trade market if their roster discussions develop into larger transactions.

For fantasy hockey managers, Garand’s opportunity, Montreal’s defensive adjustments and Florida’s injury-related lineup changes are especially important to monitor.

The opening week has already demonstrated how quickly expectations can change. More roster moves and trade discussions are likely as teams evaluate their depth and respond to early-season injuries.

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