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Latest NHL Trade Buzz: Oilers, Penguins, Quinn Hughes Fallout

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Dec 16, 2025 1:43 PM ET

The floodgates opened on NHL trade season Friday, and there’s a lot of buzz swirling around the league as a result. Tristan Jarry is an Edmonton Oiler, but don’t expect Stan Bowman to stop there. Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak are Penguins — for now. And Quinn Hughes is no longer a Vancouver Canuck, so how did it all go down, and what else was on the table for the superstar defenseman?

Let’s dive into it in the latest edition of NHL trade buzz.

After Landing Tristan Jarry, What’s Next For the Oilers?

Edmonton finally did it: they traded for a goalie they hope will be an upgrade capable of propelling them in their Stanley Cup chase. Giving up Skinner, Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick wasn’t easy to stomach, but the Oilers believe they’re better suited with Jarry in net and Spencer Stastney on the blue line.

Fans are still processing the moves, and questions remain about what else the front office might have up its sleeve. Elliotte Friedman linked the Oilers to Alex Lyon hours before the trades, and new Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen has already indicated he doesn’t want three goalies in Buffalo, making that a storyline to watch.

Beyond the crease, David Pagnotta has said Edmonton is comfortable letting Jarry handle the load, allowing them to focus on improving the rest of its roster, and more specifically, the top-six. Alex Tuch is a name that continues to draw attention, seen as a potentially perfect fit for that role.

More Trades Coming in Pittsburgh?

On the flip side, the Penguins continued their retool by trading away a veteran in Jarry while acquiring a draft pick and two potentially flippable assets in return.

Friedman has already mentioned the possibility that Kyle Dubas flips one or both of Skinner and Kulak ahead of the deadline; however, team insider Josh Yohe has reported that Skinner, in particular, has an opportunity to earn himself an extension in Pittsburgh.

While it may look like the start of a Penguins sell-off, given that they’re still in playoff contention, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust are unlikely to be moved, as long as that remains the case.

The Quinn Hughes Sweepstakes

After months of speculation linking Hughes to his brothers, Jack and Luke, on the New Jersey Devils, the superstar defenseman was dealt to the Midwest, now a member of the Minnesota Wild.

Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin did an excellent job recouping a haul of young players and assets, including Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi, and a 2026 first-round pick. It’s difficult to imagine any package beating that, though details have started to emerge about what other teams were willing to offer.

Friedman believes New Jersey’s best would have involved Simon Nemec, Dawson Mercer, and more, though he’s not certain they actually came to the table with it. He also mentioned that talks with the Detroit Red Wings didn’t get anywhere, wondering whether their unwillingness to include Simon Edvinsson was the holdup. On another note, in what shouldn’t come as a surprise, Friedman also said that Eric Tulsky and the Hurricanes made a legitimate offer, which fell just short in the end.

The Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers also poked around, but their reluctance to move players like Ryan Leonard, Aliaksei Protas, Matvei Michkov, and Porter Martone limited their ability to meet Vancouver’s asking price.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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