Atlantic Notes: Larkin, Svrcek, Eakins

One of the three teams on Dylan Larkin’s original trade list has made its pitch to get him.  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported on The Fan Hockey Show (audio link) that the Panthers have made an offer to Detroit to try to acquire the veteran.  No details on what was included in the proposal were mentioned.  That said, it stands to reason that the ninth-overall pick is likely to be a core part of the package, especially since Florida doesn’t have a particularly deep prospect pool to move from.  While Detroit’s likely preference is to secure a similar talent to Larkin to aid in their efforts to get back to the postseason, their best chance at maximizing the return would probably come from accepting some future assets.  In that case, GM Steve Yzerman might have to do some wheeling and dealing this offseason, turning some future pieces into the win-now help they’d prefer to land.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic:

• Red Wings prospect Michal Svrcek will have a new team next season. OHL Windsor announced that they’ve signed the 19-year-old for the 2026-27 campaign.  Svrcek was a fourth-round pick last year, going 119th overall after playing in Brynas’ system in Sweden.  Windsor used a first-round Import Draft selection on him soon after but Svrcek elected to stay in Sweden.  This season, he played at three different levels, putting up strong production at the junior level (18 points in 11 games) but was held off the scoresheet in the pros across a dozen SHL games and 10 Allsvenskan appearances.  Svrcek also suited up at the World Juniors for Slovakia, picking up a goal and an assist in five contests.
• As the Maple Leafs enter the next phase of their coaching search, they’re starting to whittle down their list of candidates. One coach who appears to still be in the thick of things is Dallas Eakins, as TSN’s Darren Dreger recently reported in an OverDrive segment (audio link) that Eakins is believed to still be in the mix.  Eakins has some familiarity with the organization having previously worked for them for eight seasons in various capacities.  He also has NHL head coaching experience with Edmonton and Anaheim, albeit without a lot of success, as his rebuilding teams played to a 136-210-58 record.  Eakins is currently the head coach and manager of Adler Mannheim in Germany.