Defensemen in Contract Limbo | NHL News

NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 26, 2026 · 1m

Erik Karlsson could be headed to Toronto as a rental, with the Leafs circling him since Kyle Dubas’ days, especially if Pittsburgh slips and he’s chasing his first Cup; meanwhile, Detroit’s stuck in limbo with Simon Edvinsson, waiting for a new GM to even start contract talks before the September 16 deadline; in Minnesota, Quinn Hughes’ contract drags on, with Olympic buzz slowing progress, and if unsigned by season start, things could heat up; over in Colorado, Cale Makar’s deal is looking likely, with GM Joe Sakic confident, though the length—possibly a short-term deal to set up a bigger…