NHL Rumors: Oilers’ Coaching Twist, Werenski Drama, and Penguins Plans

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, one reporter suggests the Edmonton Oilers may have missed out on their top coaching target by one week. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t necessarily done with the Zach Werenski drama. Finally, the Pittsburgh Penguins are facing questions about their long-term direction after a quiet offseason.

Oilers Pivot to Babcock After Missing on Cassidy

The Edmonton Oilers made headlines by hiring Mike Babcock as their new head coach, but most believe he wasn’t their first choice. Edmonton had strong interest in Bruce Cassidy of the Vegas Golden Knights and even sought permission to speak with him. Vegas declined, forcing the Oilers to pivot.

Veteran broadcaster Rod Pedersen suggested that had Edmonton waited just one more week, Cassidy might have become available. While that remains speculation—as there’s no guarantee Vegas would have allowed a division rival to hire him—Pedersen said multiple agents told him that’s exactly how it would have gone down.

Ultimately, the Oilers moved forward with Babcock after discussions with team leadership. While Babcock brings a strong résumé, and he could be fine in the role and the “perfect fit” for the Oilers, Cassidy was the original plan.

Werenski Situation Calm—For Now—in Columbus

After weeks of speculation, things have settled down between the Columbus Blue Jackets and star defenseman Zach Werenski—but the situation may not be fully resolved. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic joined SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Power Play this week and said that while Werenski never formally requested a trade, there were internal discussions about his future and the team’s direction.

Werenski, who has two years remaining on his deal, is believed to want proof that Columbus can become a playoff contender before committing long term. There’s also the uncertainty surrounding Kirill Marchenko and the extension for Adam Fantilli. While tensions with Werenski seem to have softened, the drama in Columbus is far from over. Insiders believe this could quickly become a storyline again if the Blue Jackets struggle early in the season.

For now, both sides seem aligned in wanting to move forward together. Columbus faces a pivotal season in convincing its top defenseman that the team is on the right track.

Penguins’ Offseason Splash Became a Bellyflop

The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the offseason with intentions of making a splash but ultimately came up short. GM Kyle Dubas reportedly hoped to move up in the first round of the draft, potentially by dealing players like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell. However, the market proved tougher than expected, with teams demanding significant returns for top-tier assets.

He also wanted to trade for Jason Robertson and couldn’t get that deal done before the forward ultimately signed a one-year extension to stay with the Dallas Stars.

Dubas ultimately chose not to “sell the farm,” signaling that the Penguins may not see themselves as true contenders just yet. Despite that, there’s cautious optimism surrounding the roster. Dubas may also pivot to a focus on next summer.

Josh Yohe of The Athletic writes:

“Next summer, the Penguins could have in excess of $70 million in cap space. The market will be much better. They’ll have a better feel for which of their aging players can still be helpful down the road. They’ll have a feel for just how good [Sergei] Murashov is. They’ll have a feel for which of their young players and prospects are ready for the NHL.”

source – ‘Penguins fans, Kyle Dubas face another test of patience after a quiet summer’ – Josh Yohe – The Athletic – 07/27/2026

Still, with the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang aging and no playoff series wins since 2018, Pittsburgh finds itself walking a fine line between competing and retooling.