The NHL rumor mill is churning with several notable stories as teams navigate the offseason leading up to the 2025-26 season. Key among these are the Buffalo Sabres' decision to elect arbitration with defenseman Bowen Byram, speculation surrounding Darnell Nurse and the Edmonton Oilers, and other potential trades on the horizon.
Bowen Byram, a restricted free agent (RFA) for the Buffalo Sabres, is heading to salary arbitration after the team elected to go that route. This decision prevents Byram from signing an offer sheet with another team, giving the Sabres more control over his future. However, it also means Byram now has the option to choose the term of the contract awarded through arbitration, potentially opting for a two-year deal that would take him directly to unrestricted free agency in 2027.
The Sabres and Byram can still negotiate a deal before the arbitration hearing, scheduled between July 20 and August 4. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has indicated a willingness to trade Byram if it improves the team's current roster, but the team isn't interested in futures. Several teams, including the Calgary Flames, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, and St. Louis Blues, have reportedly held trade talks with the Sabres regarding Byram.
Byram, 24, is coming off a two-year, $7.7 million deal with a $3.85 million annual cap hit. Last season, he recorded a career-high 38 points in 82 games with the Sabres. Originally drafted fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019, Byram has accumulated 33 goals and 110 points in 246 career games.
The Utah Mammoth have also elected for salary arbitration with RFA center Jack McBain. Similar to Byram, McBain can no longer sign an offer sheet and can choose the term of his arbitration award.
The Edmonton Oilers, after another deep playoff run, reportedly explored the possibility of trading veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Oilers approached players with no-trade or no-movement clauses, including Nurse, to gauge their willingness to move. While at least one player, Viktor Arvidsson, waived his no-trade clause and was dealt to the Boston Bruins, Nurse apparently doesn't want to leave Edmonton.
TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported that there was nothing to the recent speculation regarding a Nurse trade. Nurse is under contract through 2029-30 with a $9.25 million cap hit. Although the Oilers explored a Nurse trade, it's uncertain if they formally asked him to waive his no-movement clause. Moving Nurse would give the Oilers significant cap flexibility, but he remains a key part of their defense.
The Oilers have already begun shedding salary by trading Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks and are looking to move Victor Arvidsson. This is to create cap space to sign defenseman Evan Bouchard to a new deal and potentially extend Connor McDavid's contract.
Several other players have been mentioned in trade rumors as the NHL Draft approaches. With the salary cap increasing to $95.5 million, teams may be more aggressive in the trade market. Some notable players who could be on the move include:
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired K'Andre Miller from the New York Rangers for a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional 1st-round pick in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and defenseman Scott Morrow. The New Jersey Devils acquired forward Thomas Bordeleau from the San Jose Sharks for forward Shane Bowers. The San Jose Sharks acquired goalie Alex Nedeljkovic from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 3rd-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
These are just a few of the many storylines developing around the NHL as teams prepare for the upcoming season. The arbitration decisions, potential trades, and free-agent signings will significantly impact the league's landscape.
