Pierre LeBrun checked in on Wednesday with a batch of trade updates, headlined by the ever-evolving Dylan Larkin situation in Detroit. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has gone back to agent Pat Brisson to expand Larkin’s original three-team list: the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers, and Brisson was at least somewhat receptive, meaning the pool of potential suitors is no longer confined to those three. By all accounts, Yzerman has seemingly handled the request without rancor, staying in steady contact with Brisson as the two sides work toward a resolution.
Beyond the formal list, plenty of other clubs have called to gauge the situation, giving Larkin’s camp more to weigh. The Dallas Stars are among those that have checked in, a dynamic worth watching given that they’ve yet to extend restricted free agent Jason Robertson. There’s also the possibility of a third team entering any deal to make the assets work for Detroit; a scenario that could be especially relevant with Minnesota, which may not have the pieces the Red Wings would want on their own. Larkin’s appeal is obvious: the 29-year-old captain just posted 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games, his fifth straight season with at least 30 goals, and carries five more years at an $8.7MM cap hit, making him both a premium asset and a complicated one to move. With his market in flux, Pro Hockey Rumors is asking readers to weigh in on where Larkin ultimately lands. Cast your vote.
Additional Notes:
- All signs are pointing to Auston Matthews returning to Toronto next season. Matthews’ agent Judd Moldaver hasn’t formally told the Leafs as much, but talks with newly hired GM John Chayka have been cordial, and there’s a growing comfort level with the direction of things. Matthews managed just 27 goals and 53 points in an injury-wrecked campaign that ended with season-ending knee surgery, well off his usual standard, as Toronto missed the playoffs and finished last in the Atlantic. If his return to Toronto becomes official, it figures to disappoint a list of suitors that had been monitoring the situation surrounding the three-time Rocket Richard winner.
- Despite speculation linking Zach Werenski to a move in the wake of Larkin’s request, as the two are close friends and Team USA gold medalists, no such request has been communicated to the Blue Jackets. The timing of the chatter is notable given the year he just had. Werenski won his first Norris Trophy after recording 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games while logging the NHL’s second-most ice time at 26:37 per game. He has two years left on his deal, though a conversation about his long-term future in Columbus will come at some point.
There are certain teams that baseball-hat wearing podcasts bros seem to regard as “bad” no matter how good they actually become, and any Werenski trade rumours come strictly from that camp of beer-guzzling, Pokemon card scalper-lookin’ guys.
You’ll see something like “Sharks open to trading Celebrini” trend on social media and it’s some jabroni’s podcast fanfiction about how he winds up on the Leafs.