The NHL trade market may already be heating up, and the most important development Sunday morning is coming out of Detroit.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday night that Simon Edvinsson would prefer to be traded by the Detroit Red Wings, adding another major layer to what has already become an uncomfortable start to the season in Detroit. The 23-year-old restricted free agent remains unsigned, and neither Edvinsson nor his agent has publicly commented on the report. Detroit, meanwhile, continues to insist its priority is getting the 6-foot-6 defenseman signed.
A player reportedly preferring a trade is very different from Detroit actively shopping him. General manager Shawn Horcoff has publicly called Edvinsson a priority, which tells me the Red Wings are still trying to repair the relationship rather than immediately maximize his trade value.
But from my perspective, Detroit is reaching the point where leverage becomes an issue. Edvinsson is young, left-handed, already an established NHL defenseman and produced 25 points last season. If rival general managers believe the relationship is deteriorating, the calls are going to come.
NHL News and NHL Rumors: Edmonton Starts Looking for Forward Help
The Edmonton Oilers are also beginning to explore the trade market.
Friedman reported that Edmonton has investigated the possibility of making a lateral defenseman-for-forward trade because injuries have hit the Oilers particularly hard up front. Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jason Dickinson, Matt Savoie and Mattias Janmark were among the forwards sidelined when the report surfaced.
This does not sound like a blockbuster search, at least not yet.
The wording is important. Edmonton reportedly isn’t panicking because several of those injuries aren’t expected to be long-term. That makes a depth-for-depth transaction significantly more likely than a major swing.
The Oilers also don’t have unlimited financial flexibility. We currently list Edmonton with roughly $303,334 in current cap space and a $1.43-million LTIR pool. That strengthens the argument for a relatively neutral-money transaction rather than simply adding another established forward.
My read: Edmonton is looking for insurance, not a saviour. But this is exactly how larger trade conversations sometimes begin. Once general managers start discussing available defensemen and forwards, opportunities can expand quickly.
NHLTradeRumor.com Cap Watch
Current trade flexibility following two major injury developments.
Florida Panthers
Edmonton Oilers
Aleksander Barkov Injury Creates Another Major Story in Florida
Aleksander Barkov has officially been placed on long-term injured reserve after suffering a lower-body injury against San Jose.
The LTIR designation requires Barkov to miss at least 10 games and 24 days, but the Panthers have not provided a definitive return timeline. The development is especially concerning because Barkov missed the entire 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery to repair the ACL and MCL in his other knee.
This also updates the original injury concern from Thursday: what initially required further testing has now resulted in an LTIR placement.
We list Barkov with a $10-million cap hit, while Florida currently has approximately $2.25 million in current cap space and a $4.84-million LTIR pool. It is important not to interpret Barkov’s $10-million cap hit as an automatic $10 million in available spending room, LTIR accounting is more complicated than simply removing a player’s salary.
The hockey question may ultimately become more important than the accounting question. Florida built its forward structure around Barkov’s ability to control difficult matchups. If his absence becomes lengthy, the Panthers could eventually become another team worth monitoring on the trade market.
One Elias Pettersson Rumor Worth Separating From Actual Reporting
Elias Pettersson’s improved start in Vancouver is also creating speculation.
Sportsnet raised the possibility Sunday that Pettersson rebuilding his value could eventually make a trade easier for Vancouver. He had four points through his first three games entering Sunday. However, this should be treated as analysis and speculation, not a report that Vancouver is currently shopping Pettersson.
That distinction is important when following NHL rumors. There is a major difference between identifying a player who could become movable and reporting that trade discussions have actually begun.
NHL Scores From Saturday, October 3
Saturday produced 13 games, including three overtime finishes, a six-goal Islanders shutout, another offensive explosion from Colorado and late drama in Edmonton and San Jose.
Some of the biggest individual performances came from Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther for Utah, Ilya Sorokin for the Islanders, Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes for Minnesota, Martin Necas for Colorado and Igor Chernyshov for San Jose.
NHL Scores — Saturday, October 3, 2026
Final scores, key performers and the biggest story from every game.
Among the results that stand out most, Pittsburgh somehow survived after watching a 5-1 advantage against Montreal disappear. Tommy Novak ultimately scored in overtime for the 6-5 Penguins win, while Nick Suzuki finished with four points for Montreal.
San Jose also remained perfect after Chernyshov scored his second goal of the game in overtime to beat Los Angeles 5-4. Macklin Celebrini contributed two assists, and the Sharks opened 2-0-0 for the first time since 2021-22.
Minnesota received two goals from Kaprizov and a goal and assist from Hughes in a 4-1 victory over Boston, while Colorado overwhelmed St. Louis 6-1 behind two goals and an assist from Necas and three assists from Nathan MacKinnon.
Vancouver provided another comeback story by scoring four unanswered goals in the third period to defeat Calgary 4-1.
There are five NHL games scheduled Sunday, including Winnipeg at Detroit, Utah at the New York Rangers, Florida at Anaheim, Calgary at Seattle and Vegas at Vancouver.
For me, though, the story to watch beyond today’s games remains Detroit. If Edvinsson’s preference for a trade does not change and contract negotiations remain stalled, teams looking for a young top-four defenseman won’t need much encouragement to contact the Red Wings.
That could quickly turn one of the opening week’s biggest NHL News and NHL Rumors and NHL Scores stories into the league’s first significant in-season trade chase.
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The post NHL News and NHL Rumors Today: Edvinsson Trade Request, Oilers Shopping and Saturday NHL Scores appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
