Alex Ovechkin has delivered the biggest NHL news story of the week, confirming that the 2026-27 season will be his final year in the NHL. For a league that has spent more than two decades watching No. 8 redefine goal scoring, this immediately turns every Capitals road stop and every Washington home game into part of a farewell tour.
Ovechkin enters his 22nd NHL season with an NHL-record 929 career goals, all accumulated with the Washington Capitals. He broke Wayne Gretzky’s seemingly untouchable record in 2025, won the Stanley Cup in 2018 and has become one of the defining players of his generation. His message to teammates was simple: “This is going to be my last year.”
Why does it matter now? Because Washington’s entire season suddenly carries another layer of urgency. This is no longer simply about chasing a playoff berth. It is the final opportunity for the Capitals to make another postseason run with the greatest goal scorer in NHL history wearing their sweater.
Latest NHL News and NHL Rumors: Demidov Hurt, Larkin Nears Return and Detroit Trade Buzz Grows
The Montreal Canadiens were dealt an early-season blow Tuesday when the club announced Ivan Demidov will miss approximately two to four weeks with a lower-body injury. Demidov produced 62 points, including 43 assists, over 82 games last season and was a Calder Trophy finalist. Florian Xhekaj is expected to receive an opportunity in the lineup with Demidov unavailable.
For Montreal, I think this is one of those injuries that can tell us quite a bit about the roster. Losing an elite young playmaker for several weeks is manageable in October, but the Canadiens can’t allow the absence to turn into a prolonged offensive drought. Their depth was one of the reasons expectations rose entering this season. Now it gets tested.
Detroit, meanwhile, remains the NHL’s most fascinating pressure point.
Dylan Larkin is likely to make his season debut Tuesday against Ottawa, provided he clears one final medical hurdle. Larkin missed Detroit’s opening two games after suffering an upper-body injury during offseason training. The bigger story hasn’t disappeared, however: Larkin requested a trade during the offseason and remains at the center of one of the NHL’s biggest unresolved roster situations.
Frank Seravalli reported Tuesday that Montreal would like to find a way into the Larkin sweepstakes. The problem is significant: Larkin’s expanded list of acceptable destinations reportedly still doesn’t include a Canadian team. One NHL front-office executive told Seravalli that Montreal is a contender capable of giving Detroit the type of return it wants, but Larkin controls the process.
That is important. A team can have the prospects, picks, cap space and motivation for a blockbuster, but a no-trade clause can erase all of it.
Simon Edvinsson Trade Rumors Add Another Layer to Detroit’s Problems
The Simon Edvinsson situation may be even more intriguing because of his age.
Elliotte Friedman has reported that Detroit initially tried to sign the 23-year-old restricted free-agent defenseman to a bridge contract before making longer-term proposals. Friedman also reported over the weekend that Edvinsson would prefer a trade, while Detroit has apparently gauged his value around the NHL. Frank Seravalli has connected the Utah Mammoth to Edvinsson as a potential suitor.
From my perspective, Detroit has to be extremely careful here. Larkin is 30. Edvinsson is 23 and should theoretically be part of the next competitive Red Wings core. Moving a young, 6-foot-6 defenseman because negotiations deteriorated is a very different organizational decision than trading a veteran who has explicitly asked out.
That makes Edvinsson one of the names I would watch most closely over the next several weeks.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Heat Index
Ranking the NHL players generating the strongest trade buzz right now, based on reported interest, contract situations, roster fit and the likelihood of talks developing.
Dylan Larkin
Detroit Red WingsLarkin’s trade request continues to drive speculation, and teams capable of putting together a major package remain connected to the situation. His trade protection, however, gives him significant control over where any deal could happen.
Simon Edvinsson
Detroit Red WingsEdvinsson’s contract situation and reports that Detroit has gauged his trade value make him one of the most interesting young players on the NHL rumor market.
Rasmus Ristolainen
Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia’s early struggles and the club’s reported activity in the defense market make Ristolainen a name worth monitoring as the season develops.
Elias Pettersson
Vancouver CanucksPettersson remains a major name whenever Vancouver’s direction is questioned, but a stronger start and his contractual control make an immediate trade less likely than some of the NHL’s other headline situations.
Philadelphia is also starting to appear in the trade conversation. Seravalli reports that the Flyers have begun exploring the defense market, with an emphasis on larger defensemen, after their 0-2-2 start. Philadelphia reportedly does not currently plan to extend Rasmus Ristolainen, while other teams are monitoring David Jiricek’s usage.
That is exactly how October trade markets begin to form: one team struggles, another has a contract dispute, and suddenly players who appeared unavailable in September start becoming possibilities.
More NHL Injury News to Watch
The injury list is also growing. Nashville placed goaltender Justus Annunen on injured reserve and recalled Matt Murray. Detroit forwards Mason Appleton and Marco Kasper are week to week, while J.T. Compher is day to day. Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson remains unavailable, and Connor Bedard has progressed to non-contact drills following offseason shoulder surgery.
San Jose also received a scare Monday when Macklin Celebrini was scratched after warmups because of a lower-body injury. Without him, the Sharks generated just 13 shots in a 5-0 loss to Dallas.
My read: Celebrini’s status may be the injury update with the biggest short-term fantasy hockey implications. San Jose’s offense runs through him, and the drop-off was obvious Monday.
NHL Scores From October 5, 2026
There were four NHL games Monday. Tampa Bay kept Philadelphia winless, Winnipeg produced a dramatic third-period comeback in Pittsburgh, Ottawa remained perfect behind Tim Stutzle, and Dallas shut out San Jose.
NHL Scores — October 5, 2026
Final scores and the biggest story from every game
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