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This week's Edmonton Oilers Friday Faceoff is loaded with news as rookie camp and games begin, Hockey Canada players are reinstated, and big-name free agents make big-time decisions. 

Of course, everyone is still waiting on Connor McDavid. He's getting ready for the season and walking out with country stars at concerts in front of Edmonton fans. 

Let's get to it...

Oilers Star Leon Draisaitl Leaves Quiz Show Players Baffled

Carter Hart Nearing NHL Return, Eyes U.S. Team Over Oilers

Carter Hart is among the five Hockey Canada players the NHL and NHLPA have reinstated this season. Hart is expected to have an NHL deal in place by October 1, though he can’t officially sign until October 15, reports Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

While the Philadelphia Flyers are not an option, Hart is prioritizing a fresh start with a U.S.-based team where he can get meaningful starts and join a contender. That rules out all Canadian markets, including speculation about his hometown Edmonton Oilers. 

Hart is projected to sign a two- or three-year deal, with reinstatement terms allowing him to do conditioning stints as early as mid-November. He’s eligible to return to the NHL by early December. While Oilers fans speculated about Hart as a solution to Edmonton’s goalie concerns, if he's not prepared to subject himself to the scrutiny of playing in a Canadian market, the Oilers aren't an option. 

It was never made known that the Oilers were actually interested, with some reports saying they were not. 

Fleury’s PTO Will Spark Mid-Season Goalie Speculation With OilersThe Pittsburgh Penguins recently announced that legendary goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will return to the organization on a professional tryout (PTO) contract. The signing and pre-season event does not mean Fleury is coming out of retirement or making an NHL comeback, but that won't stop fans of the Edmonton Oilers from making assumptions and connecting some dots.

Fleury Looks Out For the Oilers, Too

It appears Marc-Andre Fleury is also not an option for the Oilers. He signed a professional tryout (PTO)  on Friday to play an exhibition game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, seemingly done as a way to say a proper goodbye to the team and fans with whom he started his NHL career. 

If Fleury is making decisions like this and lining up his final skates, it seems he's firmly sticking with his decision to retire. The Oilers were thought of as a team that might be open mid-season for a goalie upgrade, and if Fleury wanted one last run and to come out of retirement, the fit made sense. 

Corey Perry Injured

Former Edmonton Oilers forward and now Los Angeles Kings forward Corey Perry may have suffered an injury during an on-ice workout at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo on Friday, sources report.  

He was helped off the ice with the assistance of a wheelchair, and it's unknown how severe the injury is at this time. He’s being evaluated further and has no timetable for a return. An update may not be given until Kings' training camp opens.

Kaprizov Turns Down $16M Per Season

Kirill Kaprizov’s contract talks with the Minnesota Wild have become one of the NHL’s hottest storylines, overshadowing Connor McDavid’s pending extension. Reports, including one from NHL Trade Talk, suggest Kaprizov rejected an eight-year, $16 million-per-year deal, though GM Bill Guerin denied a formal offer or reports that Kaprizov said no. 

Sources indicate Kaprizov seeks $18–$19 million annually, aiming for 20 percent of the salary cap. His camp is waiting on McDavid’s deal to shape the market, with speculation that rival teams might pay more. The Wild remain committed to keeping him long-term, but with rising cap space and pressure from McDavid’s decision, Kaprizov’s next contract could redefine NHL superstar salaries.

Oilers Have Two Deals Ready To Go Once McDavid Signs

Edmonton Oilers insider Bob Stauffer is reporting that top-four defenseman Jake Walman could receive a six-year deal, while winger Vasily Podkolzin is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Oilers once the McDavid deal is done and officially signed. 

Walman, 29, is entering the final year of a $3.4 million contract and some thought the Oilers might go for an eight-year deal, using upcoming changes to the CBA and term lengths as leverage. But, because those changes won't come into effect until after next July 1, the Oilers can't exclusively offer Walman two extra seasons on a UFA deal.

Stauffer projects Walman’s six-year deal will fall in the “sixes,” meaning he'll get at least $6 million per season. 

Prime Minister Weighs In On McDavid Contract Drama in Edmonton

 Oilers Remain Patient on McDavid... But How Patient?

While the McDavid contract situation remains unresolved, insiders and hosts continue to chime in with their takes on what he might do. A recent take by Spittin’ Chiclets podcast host Keith Yandle this week included him saying, “I think he should wait the whole year, whether he wants to sign long-term there or not.”

Arguing that Connor McDavid has earned the right to take his time on a contract extension, Yandle believes McDavid should play out the season first. 

While many believe the Oilers could still trade McDavid at the draft if they had to, letting him get past the trade deadline feels like a non-starter for the Oilers.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

 

Day by day, minute by minute, a new NHL season is getting closer and closer.

As the excitement continues to build, hockey news has been picking up and getting juicy, and The Hockey Show is all over it.

This week, co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed ESPN Senior NHL Writer Greg Wyshynski back on the show to dive into several hot button topics.

Kirill Kaprizov reportedly turning down the biggest offer in hockey history was something that deserved some attention, as did the possibility of Sidney Crosby leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins in order to play for a playoff team.

The future of Connor McDavid in Edmonton is always a fun thing to discuss, as this week, even the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney chimed in on the looming national crisis.

Don't forget about the Hughes brothers potentially all joining forces in a couple of seasons if Quinn decides to leave Vancouver and head east to New Jersey. 

Also discussed was the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, and Wysh had a bold take on who he thinks will take home the gold medal, and why.

Hint: It’s not Canada.

This week’s wins and fails included Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov becoming part-owner of another pro sports franchise, a wise signing in Calgary, a poor effort on Jeopardy and a ‘Screaming Bear’ jersey that may or may not have fallen a little short of the mark.

You can check out this week’s episode of The Hockey Show and the extended interview with Wysh in the video’s below:

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 30 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #30. 

Let's take a look at today's edition, which is all about goalies. 

Marc Denis - 2001-2006 - Drafted by Colorado in 1995. 

On June 7, 2000, Denis was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Over the course of five years, he played in 266 games, going 84-146-25.  On June 30, 2006, Denis was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Fredrik Modin and Fredrik Norrena. He set the then-NHL record for most minutes in a season with 4,511, playing 77 regular-season games for Columbus in 2002-03. 

After the 2008-09 season, Denis retired after playing for the Montréal Canadiens and the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. He is currently working as a color analyst for the Canadiens on RDS. 

Fredrik Norrena - 2007-2009 - Drafted by Tampa Bay in 2002. 

On June 30, 2006, Norrena was traded to the CBJ for Marc Denis. He would play in a total of 100 games, starting 35 of them. He finished his time in Columbus with a record of 35-45-11. 

In 2008, the Jackets put him on waivers and reported to Syracuse. On December 20, he signed a deal in the KHL and left North America for good. After playing for years in Sweden and Finland, he would retire. After retiring, he would go into coaching, where he would coach in Finland from 2014 to 2023. He is now an asst. coach for Kölner Haie in the DEL. 

Dan LaCosta - 2009 - Drafted by Columbus in 2004. 

LaCosta played a total of four NHL games for Columbus. After Columbus, he played two years for the Univ. of New Brunswick and then a year for the Cardiff Devils in the EIHL. He was also a goaltending coach for Cardiff. 

LaCosta played in four games from 2007 to 2009. He spent the majority of his time playing for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch. He also played for the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL. 

He retired in 2014 after playing a single season in England for the Cardiff Devils. He was also the goaltending coach for Cardiff.

Curtis Sanford - 2012 - Undrafted out of Owen Sound, Ontario.   

Sanford signed a one-year contract with Columbus for the 11-12 season. He appeared in 36 games, going 10-18-4. 

After his one year in Columbus, he left for Russia, playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for three seasons. He would retire on March 7, 2015. He spent the last years as the goaltending coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Mike McKenna - 2014 - Drafted by Nashville in 2002. 

On July 5, 2013, McKenna signed with Columbus, appearing in four games. He spent the bulk of the year playing for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. 

He would go on to play for the Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, and Philadelphia Flyers. On August 27, 2019, McKenna retired. He also spent two years as a studio analyst for the Vegas Golden Knights, and three years as a Volunteer Goaltending Coach at St. Lawrence Univ.

Curtis McElhinney - 2015-2017 - Drafted by Calgary in 2002.

McElhinney could have been listed as the player who wore #31 the best. He started 66 games for the Jackets and came in to relieve the starters another 19 times. His career record with Columbus was 26-33-8. He went on to win a pair of Stanley Cups for the Tampa Bay Lightning, backing up starter Andrei Vasilevskiy. He retired on September 25, 2021.

He was the Toronto Maple Leafs Dir. of Goaltending from 2023 to 2025. 

Jean-François Bérubé - 2022 - Drafted by the LA Kings in 2009. 

On June 27, 2018, Bérubé was traded by the Blackhawks to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jordan Schroeder. He would play in 6 games for Columbus and go 3-2. 

He would leave Columbus after that season and play two more AHL seasons. He is not officially retired. 

Spencer Martin - 2024 - Drafted by Colorado in 2013. 

On September 29, 2023, the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed Martin off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks. He would play in 13 games and go 3-8-1. 

On January 19, 2024, he was put on waivers by Columbus and claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes. He left for the KHL's CSKA Moskva for the 25-26 season. 

With 30 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena, the anticipation for the season is in full swing. Take a look at the schedule of events below.

Blue Jackets Participate in 2025 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo

The Blue Jackets will take part in the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo from Thursday, Sept. 11, to Sunday, Sept. 14. They’ll play three games and have one day off.

The schedule looks like this:

Friday, Sept. 12 - No Game Scheduled

Saturday, Sept. 13 - 7 p.m. at Buffalo Sabres

Sunday, Sept. 14 - 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh Penguins

This will be the second year Columbus has participated in the Prospects Challenge. Before that, they played in the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City. As for the roster, it won’t be released until closer to the tournament.

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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More from THN Columbus

On This Date In 2023: The Mike Babcock Allegations SurfaceOn this date in 2023, a little over two months after the Columbus Blue Jackets hired Mike Babcock, some bombshell allegations were brought to light by the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast that completely derailed the beginning of the CBJ's upcoming season.  Blue Jackets' Don Waddell Shares Latest On Yegor Chinakhov In a recent article for The Athletic, Aaron Portzline had the chance to interview Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell. In the interview, he asked about the status of Yegor Chinakhov after the reported trade request from earlier this off-season. 31 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #31The Columbus Blue Jackets have 31 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #31. 

EAST MEADOW, NY -- During Day Two of New York Islanders Rookie Camp, it was hard not to notice No. 17 overall pick Kashawn Aitcheson.  His cross-overs were sharp. His shot was on the money. And you could see his excitement once the physical drills were introduced. 

Top Four Standouts From First Two Days Of Islanders Rookie CampEAST MEADOW, NY -- The first two days of New York Islanders rookie camp haven't been anything crazy. The goal of coach Rocky Thompson, who will be entering his first season as the bench boss in Bridgeport, isn't looking at the team with his coaching lens just yet. 

Aitcheson is one of those playesr whose big open-ice hits played a monumental part in why the Islanders called his name back on June 27.

Trent Klatt, #Isles Director of Amateur Scouting on Kashawn Aitcheson:

"I have never seen anyone in my 17 years of scouting who can have open ice hits like that."

Catch Ep. 1 of "On The Island" tonight at 7 PM on Isles Youtube channel @TheHockeyNewshttps://t.co/f1JLqlu3sb

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 10, 2025

"I think it was kind of always just natural," Aitcheson said about his hitting skills. "I was always a kid who took a lot of penalties when there wasn't much of hitting. And then, yeah, hitting came around, and it just worked out. It was natural."

While the physical game of hockey is extremely important at the NHL level, there are times when young players end up chasing hits, which can get them in trouble. Look no further than Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, who has learned when the right time is to pinch and lay a hit and when it's smarter to stay in position.

However, Aitcheson is more than just a hitter, which is likely why he doesn’t get caught trying to do too much with his frame. He scored 26 goals last season for Barrie, along with 33 assists for 59 points in 64 games — as a defenseman, mind you.

He is not just a one-trick pony.

"I want to be involved in the game in other ways. I don't just think about hitting 24/7," Aitcheson said. "I think it's just picking your spots and wanting to contribute in all aspects of the game."

Aitcheson in action. #Islespic.twitter.com/N4VFSixzYS

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 11, 2025

Aitcheson had a choice as to where he'd go to further his development, electing to return to Barrie for his fourth OHL season rather than take the collegiate route.

"I just thought it was the best decision for me in my development," Aitcheson said.

OHL camp got underway before Aitcheson came back to Long Island. Unfortunately, during an OHL preseason game, he was ejected for what the OHL deemed an "illegal check to the head." The league suspended him for three preseason games — games he was going to miss anyway while at camp with the Islanders.

On paper, that's not a great look. However, here’s the reason why Aitcheson did what he did.

"I love to be a leader on the ice," Aitcheson said. "It was an unfortunate play but, when you see an older guy going after a rookie, you have to protect your teammates."

That's who Aitcheson is.

When we saw Aitcheson back during development camp, which took place immediately after the 2025 NHL Draft, he was giddy, as were all the newcomers. How could you not be, taking part in your first NHL development camp surrounded by an excited fan base?

The one "knock" on Aitcheson's game is his skating, but it looks to even be improved since we saw him a few months ago.

"I worked a lot on skating, defensive work, skills and offense," Aticheson said. "Kinda just all over the map."

While the drills so far at rookie camp aren’t drastically different from those at development camp, there is one big difference Aitcheson has noticed.

"I think just kind of the pace," Aitcheson told The Hockey News. "Everyone is intense. The competition level is so high. It's only going to raise the more you go through it. But, yeah, I think just right now, the compete level, the intensity, and how sharp everything is are the biggest differences.

"You come here, you go to development camp, it's hard," Aitcheson said. "Then you come here for rookie camp, it's harder, and each day is going to get harder. And then, obviously, hopefully, main camp. Every step you take, I think it's going to get harder. The speed is gonna get faster. It's gonna be stronger hockey, bigger men. So, yeah, I think it's just trying to grow with that and take each step at a time."

With the Islanders holding development camp for the first time in years, it allowed the prospects to get to know one another. Many stayed in touch over the last few months.

"I'm pretty close with [Calum] Richie, [Luca] Romano, [Matthew] Schaefer," Aitcheson said. "A lot of them are just great guys. Everyone is super welcoming, so it's been great."

GDT Live - Ft. Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner)
🏒Matthew Schaefer first looks
🏒Can Ritchie make the Islanders?
🏒Is Maxim Shabanov legit?
🏒Which Islanders rookies make the NHL

WATCH:https://t.co/w0hPpaxGdB

Presented by: @DraftKings
Code: THPN pic.twitter.com/88Tx8ETG5r

— Gameday Tarps (@GamedayTarps) September 12, 2025

Having played for Barrie, Aitcheson often battled Schaefer, who suited up for the OHL's Erie Otters.

"We had our fair share of battles at the rink. But when I first met him at the U-18 tournament for Team Canada, it was great," Aitcheson said. "We hit it off. He's a great kid, super hard working. We bring the best out of each other. And he deserves everything he's got and more."

During rookie camp, a handful of coaches are on the ice offering advice to the young players. But sometimes, it’s important to have a player to go to, and for many of the rookies, that guy has been Matthew Maggio.

The 21-year-old forward is taking part in his third rookie camp since being drafted in the fourth round back in 2022. He's been the de facto captain so far, and Aitcheson has been very appreciative of Maggio's leadership.

"He's always offering advice and is always talking to us young guys," Aitcheson said. "If we have any questions about anything, he's always there to help. He's been great for everyone."

“[Schaefer] had a little bit more rank to get No. 48 back from me."

In a funny and honest interview, #Isles Matthew Maggio opens up about his leadership role at Rookie Camp, what he thought about Shabanov, changing his number & more @TheElmontershttps://t.co/clhICWXKGs

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 12, 2025

This week will be one that Aitcheson will never forget. He’ll be learning a lot about how the organization operates and what he needs to do to take his game to the next level.

It’s clear that he’s soaking it all in, and it’s also clear that the organization is excited about his future outlook. It’s too early to tell where he’ll fit in an NHL lineup, but there’s tremendous value in a two-way defenseman who can impact the game outside of what will appear on a scoresheet.

If Aitcheson does make the NHL one day, one thing is certain: he will be a fan favorite.

Canadian defenseman Brad Hunt, 37, has signed a one-year contract with Vaasan Sport, the Finnish Liiga club announced on Friday.

After playing his entire career to this point in North America, including parts of 10 NHL seasons, this is Hunt’s first contract to play in Europe.

“Brining Brad to Vaasa is fanstastic,” said club sports diractor Ari-Pekka Pajuluoma, who was told that Hunt is “an experienced and seasoned team player” by Joel Kiviranta, a former Sport forward who was Hunt’s teammate in the Colorado Avalanche organization.

“He has been a very popular person in every team he has played for, but we expect, above all, good play on the ice from Brad,” Pajuluoma continued. “His strengths lie in the game with the puck, and in addition, he has an incredible shot from the point, so we also expect him to have a role on the power play.”

Born in the Vancouver suburb of Maple Ridge, B.C., Hunt played four years of college hockey at Bemidji State University. Never drafted by an NHL team, he signed with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves in the spring of 2012.

Hentrik Zetterberg Returns Home to Timrå in the SHLDetroit Red Wings legend Henrik Zetterberg is back in hockey. The 2008 Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy winner has taken on an advisory role with his former club Timrå IK in Sweden’s SHL.

Between 2013 and 2023, Hunt played 288 NHL regular-season games for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado, recording 86 points and 52 penalty minutes. He also played five playoff games for Minnesota and Colorado, incurring one minor penalty.

He spent the entire 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, recording 20 points in 43 regular-season and playoff games.

To be able to afford Hunt’s contract, the Vaasan Sport club had to raise over 90,000 euros (approx $105,000 US) from a combination of sponsors and donations from fans.

Mattias Norlinder returns to Sweden; donations raised to pay contractSwedish defenseman Mattias Norlinder, 24, has signed a two-year contract with MoDo Hockey, the SHL club announced on Wednesday. Norlinder previously played with the club from 2016 to 2020 at the U16 and U18 levels and also played 55 games in the second-tier professional HockeyAllsvenskan, where he recorded 34 points.

“Without the community's campaign, this player signing would not have been possible for us,” Pajuluoma explained. “This shows what is possible with a community pulling in the same direction, and this was good proof of how special our community in Vaasa is.”

The Liiga season has already started and Vaasan Sport has played two games, beating Kärpät Oulu 3-0 on the road and then losing its home opener 3-2 to TPS Turku on Friday. Since being promoted to the top-tier Liiga in 2014, the team has never finished better than 10th place. Last season, despite an 11th-place regular-season finish, Sport won a play-in series and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time.

The club made big news in the off-season when it signed 20-year-old Topi Rönni, a former Calgary Flames second-round draft pick who was convicted of rape in 2024, to a two-year contract. After a strong negative response from the Finnish media and public, the contract was terminated two weeks later. Rönni signed soon thereafter with Hungarian ICEHL club Ferencvárosi TC. 

Topi Rönni’s Contract With Finnish Club Terminated Due To Public UproarFinnish center Topi Rönni, who recently signed as a free agent with Liiga club Vaasan Sport, has agreed to part ways with the club after the signing drew intense criticism from the Finnish public and media.