Aleksander Barkov’s latest injury has already set the rumor mill spinning, and the name that keeps coming up is Dylan Larkin.
If Barkov’s setback turns out to be serious enough to cost him the season, the Florida Panthers could find themselves in a tricky spot at center - and with the kind of cap flexibility that invites a big swing. That’s where Larkin enters the conversation.
The Detroit captain is reportedly open to Florida as one of his preferred destinations, and the Panthers have had little reason to chase a major move until now. Barkov’s awkward fall Thursday changed the tone fast, especially because it brought back memories of the torn ACL and MCL that kept him out all of last season after surgery.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said the injury is unrelated to Barkov’s previous knee problem, but if Florida ends up putting him on LTIR, the club would be staring at both a hole down the middle and the space to try to fill it. The catch is obvious: Detroit would want a player who can step right into the lineup, while Florida reportedly has no interest in moving Anton Lundell.
The no-trade clause debate also flared back up this week, with Gary Bettman arguing that the system has drifted from what it was supposed to protect. He said those clauses were meant for players who gave up something - usually term or money - in exchange for the security of staying put. In his view, the issue now is that some players use those protections to control where they can go when they want out, which wasn’t the point.
Brad Marchand didn’t let that sit. He called the system “broken” and pushed back hard, saying the standard cuts both ways. Marchand questioned why teams should be able to sign a player long term and later decide they want to move him, while the player is expected to live with that arrangement and can’t look for a change himself.
That debate lands in the middle of a few familiar names. Larkin reportedly has a short list of preferred destinations.
Brady Tkachuk wanted Florida. Connor Hellebuyck has reportedly preferred a U.S. destination.
Out in Edmonton, the Oilers are dealing with a different kind of pressure: their own end of the ice. Jake Walman’s start has put him squarely in the conversation after he logged just over 13 minutes Thursday, and the noise around his role is growing. Ryan Rishaug said he wouldn’t healthy-scratch Walman after one rough night, but Rob Brown made the case that if there’s ever a time to sit a defenseman who’s supposed to be in the top four, this is it.
The bigger issue, though, goes beyond one player. Martin Biron said the Oilers’ problems aren’t just about goaltending. Too many Grade-A chances, breakaways, rebounds, screens and scrums are getting through, and the defense has to take more of the load off the goalies.
Walman was also singled out by Mark Spector during Edmonton’s 9-7 win over Vancouver, and Dennis King suggested the leash may not be as long as the one Darnell Nurse once had before eventually being run out of Edmonton. Walman came into camp believing he could handle a bigger role. Right now, that opportunity looks a lot less secure.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Trade Talk Now Hinges On One Massive Detroit Decision
Dylan Larkins trade request has turned every Detroit conversation into a search for leverage, because the Red Wings captain is not just asking out, he also holds the kind of control that narrows the field fast. The Panthers have emerged as a logical landing spot on paper, helped by Larkins familiarity with some of their players and management from past international play, and the fit is easy to understand for a club trying to stay competitive while dealing with injuries.
The harder question is what Florida would need to give up to make a deal realistic under the salary cap. Any pursuit would likely force the Panthers to move real roster money out the door, and that is where the conversation gets complicated for a contender already juggling short-term needs and long-term flexibility. For Detroit, that means the next step in the Larkin saga may hinge less on sentiment than on whether one massive decision in Florida ever gets made. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Just Made Their Simon Edvinsson Stance Pretty Clear
Detroits offseason picture has already shifted around Alex DeBrincats long-term extension, but the next priority on the agenda is harder to miss for a team trying to steady itself in more than one area. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has made it clear the Red Wings view restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson as part of the solution, not a movable piece, and that matters for a club still searching for more stability on both sides of the puck.
Edvinsson has been seen internally as a valuable defenseman who could help a group that has struggled to find consistency. The organization is still working toward getting the 23-year-old back into game action, which adds a little more urgency to the situation and makes Detroits posture around him even more telling as the roster takes shape for the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Got An Encouraging Line Breakthrough But A Bigger Problem Remains
Emmitt Finnies move to center gave the Red Wings something they have been looking for, at least for a night. Playing between Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Alex DeBrincat, Finnie helped spark a line that produced four goals in Detroits 5-4 overtime loss to the Devils, and the group looked dangerous enough to hint at a more balanced look for Todd McLellans club. Anton Johansson also picked up his first NHL point on Finnies goal, a small but meaningful moment in a game where the Wings found offense from an unexpected source.
Still, the bigger issue did not go away. Jack Hughes ended it for New Jersey in overtime, and Detroit was left with another reminder that one productive line is not enough when the rest of the lineup is uneven. McLellan has been pushing for more consistent play and more contributions across the roster, and the Red Wings will need exactly that if this breakthrough is going to mean more than a near miss. [Read more 🡒]