The trade board is starting to buzz in three different spots, and each situation comes with its own wrinkle. Detroit still has Simon Edvinsson on the clock, Toronto is sniffing around another blue-liner in Calgary, and Montreal’s pursuit of Dylan Larkin picked up a little extra noise after a night at the Bell Centre.
Edvinsson is the one with the most immediate deadline hanging over everything. Chris Johnston reported that he has left Sweden and is headed back to North America, with a photo of him online showing bags packed and ready to go.
That trip home doesn’t mean a deal is done. According to Johnston, Edvinsson wants to work with a trainer he knows well, which puts him closer to the NHL and, in his own mind, a better game-ready shape.
Johnston still said the move “symbolizes some good things.”
Detroit, meanwhile, is running out of runway. If Edvinsson wants to play this season, he has to sign with an NHL team by December 1.
The Red Wings say they want to keep him and are not considering a trade, even though multiple teams have reached out to interim GM Shawn Horcoff. The asking price is high, and some clubs say they can’t get a clear answer out of the organization.
Toronto’s situation is less urgent, but it has the same feel of a team checking every available option for help on the back end. David Pagnotta said the Maple Leafs have had “exploratory” talks about Calgary defenceman Zach Whitecloud.
He added that he is not sure whether Toronto has called since Chayka took over, but noted the Leafs had interest in Whitecloud last season and would figure to be among the teams keeping tabs on him. One thing Toronto likes is the physical edge he brings - they see that he has “some jam” to his game.
Whitecloud has also become a familiar name around the league since Calgary acquired him in the Rasmus Andersson trade, and general managers have been calling about him ever since. The fit makes sense for Toronto, especially with Chris Tanev’s injury adding to the need on defense.
Whitecloud is 29, owns a Stanley Cup ring and has played 404 NHL games, but he has gone scoreless in five games so far for a struggling Flames club. Calgary is listening, but nothing has moved yet.
Montreal’s chase for Dylan Larkin took on a different kind of life after the Bell Centre crowd made itself heard. The Canadiens are still looking for a second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, and Larkin is believed to sit near the top of their list.
Fans chanted “We want Larkin” during the visit, and Larkin later called it the best atmosphere in hockey. Frank Seravalli said that moment could have planted a seed, and he wondered whether it might eventually push Larkin to think differently about waiving his no-trade protection.
Montreal would still have to pay a steep price if Larkin ever became available. Seravalli pointed to the Canadiens’ earlier offer for Kirill Marchenko, which included two NHL forwards, an NHL defenceman, a first-round pick and a conditional pick, and said the team might have to go even further if it wants to land someone at Larkin’s level of need.
There is also the obvious obstacle: Detroit is in the division and probably would not want to send him there. For now, the biggest decision sits with Larkin himself.
In Other News...
Flames Finally Got The Response Fans Needed After That Start
After a season-opening skid that had Calgary looking for any kind of traction, the Flames found a response in Anaheim. They built an early lead, lost it when penalties opened the door for the Ducks, then settled back in and played with more purpose over the second and third periods. The result was a 4-2 road win that at least gave the club something to point to beyond the frustration of its first few outings.
Aydar Suniev helped turn the night around with the tying goal and a key setup on the go-ahead score, while Martin Pospisil added the late game-winner after beating the Ducks off the rush. Dustin Wolf also had to be sharp when the game was still hanging in the balance, and the Flames eventually closed it out with Yegor Sharangovich sealing it into an empty net. The penalty issues still stood out, but for one night Calgary looked more like a team willing to push through the mistakes instead of being buried by them. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Trade Buzz Is Growing But One Frustrating Reality Remains
Early-season trade chatter is starting to pick up around the league, and the Calgary Flames have a name in the middle of it. Connor Zary has drawn attention from Vancouver, part of a broader stretch of roster movement and lineup uncertainty across the NHL as teams try to sort out needs before the market settles. For Calgary, it adds another layer to a season already being watched closely, since interest in a young forward can say as much about outside perception as it does about the player himself.
Zarys situation is especially notable because the Flames are not dealing with this in isolation. While other clubs are juggling injuries, extensions and possible trade targets, Calgary has a developing player who appears to be on the radar of another Pacific Division team. The question now is whether that interest becomes anything more concrete, or whether it remains another example of a player attracting attention without any easy answer for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Fans Have A Reason To Watch Torontos Defensive Search
Chris Tanev landing on injured reserve has left Toronto with an obvious hole on the blue line, and the Maple Leafs are already digging through the market for short-term help. The names surfacing in reports from The Athletic and NHL insider David Pagnotta include Ian Cole, Zach Whitecloud and Rasmus Ristolainen, a mix that suggests the Leafs are weighing both stopgap help and something a little more durable if the opportunity is right.
For Calgary, the interest is worth watching because Torontos search could ripple beyond one roster. A team trying to stabilize its defense for this season and beyond has to balance fit, cost and timing, and the options being discussed come with very different profiles. If the Leafs decide to press harder on one of those targets, the move could shape the market for other clubs looking to add on the back end too. [Read more 🡒]