What happened: Winnipeg's July 1 signing of goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year, $3.75 million deal pushes prospect Thomas Milic further down the depth chart behind Skinner and three-time Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck. The 23-year-old Milic had been positioning himself to compete for the backup job after Eric Comrie left in free agency to sign with the San Jose Sharks.

Why it matters: With a crowded crease, Winnipeg could look to trade Milic for future assets rather than let him sit behind two established NHL goaltenders. The Toronto Maple Leafs offered a template this offseason, packaging third-string goaltender Dennis Hildeby with draft picks to land forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

What to watch: Watch whether Winnipeg fields trade offers for Milic as teams around the league continue to shop for goaltending depth ahead of the 2026-27 season.