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NHL Notebook: Could captains Brady Tkachuk or Auston Matthews be traded this summer?
Ottawa Senators Brady Tkachuk Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Apr 10, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 10, 2026, 19:41 EDT
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As the Edmonton Oilers prepare for the playoffs, and other players around the league get ready for vacation, front offices will start their work on planning for NHL free agency and the NHL draft.
Much like every year, there will surely be some fireworks along the way, and there are already two captains of Canadian teams who are being suggested as potential players who could be traded: the Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk, and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews.
In a mailbag on Daily Faceoff, columnist Anthony Di Marco answered a question about them, as well as other big names that could be on the move.
You nailed the two: the Ontario-team captains in Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk. Speculatively speaking, the Ottawa Senators’ feet are probably closer to the fire in having to move Tkachuk based on the off-ice drama that has gone on this year and his brother’s decision to exit stage left from the Calgary Flames four summers ago. Matthews’ situation feels far more up in the air and might be determined by the Leafs’ hiring decision on their next GM.
Beyond those two, St Louis Blues center  Robert Thomas should be tracked as well after being front and center leading up to the Trade Deadline. The Blues have a regime change (of sorts) coming with Alex Steen set to take on GM duties from Doug Armstrong, but groundwork may have already been laid for a potential deal in the summer.
The Buffalo Sabres are surging right now, but defenseman Bowen Byram may still ultimately want a new destination in the long run. Signing just a two-year contract extension last summer and rumored to want to have more of an opportunity to be a legit no. 1 defender, he may chase another situation. Oh, and the Sabres still are overloaded with top-four, left-shot defensemen.
It’s clear that moving either Tkachuk or Matthews would be massive, franchise-altering moves, and it’s hard to imagine the Oilers being in on them. Both players have two years left on their contracts, with Tkachuk making $8.21 million per year and Matthews making $13.25 million per year.
Would the Oilers consider taking a swing at Thomas or Byram? Thomas has five years of term left at $8.125 million, and at 26 years old, is only really entering the prime of his career. But with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl up the middle already, would it really make sense? They would likely need to be able to move on from Darnell Nurse’s $9.25 million contract for it to.
At 24-years-old, Byram is already an impact defenceman who is only going to get better, but will need a new contract after next season.

Ducks extend general manager Pat Verbeek

On Friday, the Anaheim Ducks announced that they’ve extended general manager Pat Verkbeek to a multi-year deal.
It’s unclear how long the extension is for, but Verbeek took control of the Ducks back in February 2022. After a few seasons of finishing near or at the bottom of the NHL, the Ducks have been one of the biggest surprises in 2025-26, occupying the third spot of the Pacific Division after leading for most of the year.
They’ve drafted well over the years, with 2023 second overall pick Leo Carlsson breaking out this season with 28 goals and 65 points. Their leading scorer, Cutter Gauthier, was traded for defenceman Jamie Drysdale and leads the team with 38 goals this season.
Verbeek and the Ducks have also added veterans Mikael Granlund, Jacob Trouba, and Chris Kreider over the past year and a half, giving the team some experience. Barring a collapse of epic proportions, the Ducks will be in the postseason for the first time since 2018, when they were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round.

Teams clinch

Speaking of the postseason, several teams managed to clinch something after Thursday’s games. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1, clinching the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time since moving to Denver. 
Moreover, the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a postseason spot, the first time they’ll be in the playoffs since 2022. For the first time since moving to Salt Lake City, the Utah Mammoth have clinched a berth to the postseason. Other than the pandemic season in 2019-20, it’s the first time the franchise has clinched a spot in the postseason since 2011-12.
Five teams in the Eastern Conference have been clinched, they are: the Buffalo Sabres, the Canadiens, the Lightning, the Hurricanes, and now the Penguins. In the west, the Avalanche clinched, and so have the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and Mammoth.
Entering the final week of the season, battles wage on for the third in the Metropolitan Division, currently owned by the Philadelphia Flyers. The New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals are all within three points. There are also two wild card spots up for grabs, currently occupied by the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators. The Detroit Red Wings are also in the mix for that spot, three points behind the Senators.
In the Western Conference, the top spot in the Pacific Division is contested between the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Ducks, with the three teams being within one point of one another. The final wild card is contested by the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, and San Jose Sharks.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

The Nation Playoff Draft Party — Team Sign-Up Now Open

Edmonton hockey fans — think you and your crew know playoff hockey? Prove it at the Nation Playoff Draft Party on Friday, April 17th at the River Cree Resort & Casino. Build your playoff roster, compete against other teams throughout the postseason, and battle for $2,500 cash and Nation bragging rights. Team entry is $1,000 for groups of 8, which includes dinner and your first bevy. The night will be hosted by Ryder & Lisa from The Sauce and Tyler & Liam from ON Everyday, so expect plenty of energy, competition, and chirps. Spots are limited — sign your team up now at nationgear.ca. All proceeds from the event support KidSport Edmonton, helping ensure local kids can stay in the game.

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