An injury to Aleksander Barkov could do more than shake up the Florida Panthers’ center depth. It may also reopen a familiar name in the Dylan Larkin conversation.
Barkov missed all of last season after surgery for a torn ACL and MCL, and his awkward fall Thursday immediately set off alarms because of how closely it resembled that previous injury. Panthers coach Paul Maurice said the latest issue is unrelated to Barkov’s old knee problem, but if Florida winds up putting him on LTIR, the ripple effects could be significant.
That would leave the Panthers with a major hole down the middle and, just as importantly, the cap space to chase Larkin. The Detroit captain reportedly has Florida on his list of preferred destinations, though the Panthers have not had a clear reason to swing for a move of that size. A long-term Barkov absence could change that quickly.
Even then, the real question is what Florida would be willing to give up. The Panthers do not appear eager to part with Anton Lundell, while Detroit’s side would be looking for players who can jump right into the lineup.
Elsewhere, Gary Bettman has put no-trade clauses back under the microscope. The NHL commissioner said the protections were meant for players who accepted long-term deals or team-friendly contracts in exchange for stability, not to let them control where a trade goes after asking for one. He suggested that if summers like this past one keep popping up, the league may need to sit down with the NHLPA.
Brad Marchand didn’t let that go unanswered. He called the system “broken” and said the issue cuts both ways, questioning why teams can decide they want to move a player after signing him to a long-term contract, while the player can’t seek a change of his own.
The debate lands right in the middle of several recent trade situations. Larkin reportedly has only a limited list of preferred destinations, Brady Tkachuk wanted Florida, and Connor Hellebuyck has reportedly preferred a U.S. destination.
In Edmonton, the early defensive mess is turning the heat up on Jake Walman. The Oilers’ blue line has been shaky enough that Walman’s place is suddenly under scrutiny after a rough start.
He played just over 13 minutes Thursday, and while Got Yer’ Back’s Ryan Rishaug said he would not healthy-scratch Walman after one bad game, co-host Rob Brown made the case that if there is a time to sit a player projected for the top four, this might be it. Martin Biron added that the problems are not just about goaltending, pointing to the amount of Grade-A chances, breakaways, rebounds, screens, and scrums Edmonton has allowed.
Mark Spector also called out Walman during Edmonton’s 9-7 win over Vancouver, and Dennis King suggested Walman may not get the same patience Darnell Nurse eventually lost in Edmonton. Walman arrived at camp expecting a bigger role. Right now, that opportunity looks a lot less secure.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Young Core Delivered On Patrick Kanes Big Night
Patrick Kanes first trip back to the United Center since February 2023 gave the Blackhawks a marquee backdrop for their home opener on Oct. 6, and the building had the feel of a night built around both memory and momentum. Chicago handled the St. Louis Blues 4-2, with the young core delivering enough timely energy to make the evening about more than just the former franchise stars return.
Sam Rinzel and Anton Frondell were among the names that stood out in a game where the Blackhawks kept leaning on their emerging pieces in key spots. Rinzel helped spark the response on a second-unit power play, and Frondell followed soon after on a setup from Artyom Levshunov, a sequence that underscored why this roster is so closely tied to what happens next rather than what happened in the past. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Finally Gave Fans Hope On A Night They Desperately Needed It
The Blackhawks finally gave their home crowd something to hold onto, beating the St. Louis Blues 4-2 for their first home win of the 2026-27 season. It was the kind of night that felt overdue in Chicago, with Sam Rinzel, Anton Frondell, Cole Smith and Frank Nazar all finding the net to power a much-needed result and give the building some life.
The response carried extra weight because the Blackhawks had to chase the game after falling behind early, then steadied themselves and kept pushing until the outcome was secure. Even so, the mood around the win was tempered when coach Jeff Blashill said Teuvo Teravainen left with an injury and will not travel for the next game, leaving a spotlight on a victory that came with at least one fresh concern attached. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Win Showed Exactly What This Young Core Still Lacks
The Blackhawks got a useful home win over the Blues, 4-2, and it came with the kind of fingerprints this season keeps pointing toward. Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov and Anton Frondell were among the young players helping drive the night, while Spencer Knight steadied things in goal with 26 saves as Chicago found a way to finish off a divisional opponent at home.
Even so, the game also laid bare the sort of rough edges that still follow this group around. Chicago had defensive lapses along the way and now has a difficult stretch coming up, which makes the margin for error feel a little thinner despite the points in the standings. The talent is showing up more often, but the Blackhawks are still searching for the cleaner, more complete performance that turns flashes into something sustainable. [Read more 🡒]