The NHL Entry Draft may have wrapped up its second day, but the trade winds are still blowing, albeit with a shift in the ground rules. Elliotte Friedman, a trusted voice in the hockey world, highlighted some intriguing chatter, particularly around Zach Werenski.
Columbus has made it clear there's no promise of extending Werenski's contract once his current deal winds down, leaving the door ajar for teams to start circling. While Friedman didn't make any bold predictions, he did suggest that once Columbus even hints at a trade, expect teams like Detroit and Philadelphia to be at the forefront, with Dallas potentially joining the fray as an aggressive suitor.
Switching gears to Jason Robertson, Friedman shed light on the situation in Dallas. The Stars and Robertson were close to sealing a deal with Seattle for a hefty "8 years at about $15 million," but Robertson didn't bite.
As a result, he's still on the trade block, presenting an intriguing but risky proposition for interested teams. With just a year left on his contract, acquiring Robertson is a gamble-one that hinges on whether he’ll commit to a long-term deal afterward.
The conversation then turned to the goalie market, focusing on Connor Hellebuyck. The buzz was that Winnipeg and Buffalo were on the verge of a deal, but things fell apart when Buffalo balked at the price. This serves as a reminder that in the world of trades, close doesn't count; a single disagreement can derail the entire process.
Friedman also touched on the broader challenges in the current trade landscape. With the draft behind us, trading has become trickier, especially when it comes to first-round picks. These picks are now being pushed further into the future, complicating the packages teams can offer and slowing down the pace of deals.
Lastly, when the conversation shifted to Dylan Larkin, Friedman noted that things were quiet, but in the world of trades, silence can be deceiving. All it takes is one phone call to change everything. The key now is patience and pressure-whoever can balance these will likely come out on top in this evolving trade market.
In Other News...
Jason Robertson Trade Saga Just Took A Much More Serious Turn
Jason Robertsons contract standoff has already outgrown the usual restricted-free-agent drama, and the latest reporting only adds another layer to it. Elliotte Friedman reported that Dallas and Pittsburgh did discuss the winger in trade talks, a sign the situation has moved beyond simple leverage play and into real league-wide maneuvering. Robertson remains one of the biggest names still in limbo, and the fact that other teams are circling tells you how complicated this has become for the Stars.
The Penguins make some sense on paper because they have the cap room to chase a player of Robertsons caliber, but the harder part is always what Dallas would actually want back. For the Stars, this is no longer just about keeping a star winger happy, it is about deciding whether any return would justify moving one of their most important offensive pieces. And with Robertsons future still unsettled, that question is only getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Suddenly Linked To A Franchise Shifting Werenski Pursuit
The latest chatter around Dallas has turned into something bigger than a single-name rumor, with Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman floating the idea that the Stars could be in the mix for both Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin. It is the kind of wide-reaching speculation that immediately gets attention in a market chasing a championship window, especially because both players are established stars and both remain under long-term extensions with their current clubs.
Friedman also underscored how difficult a pursuit like that would be, which is part of what makes this one worth watching instead of dismissing. If Columbus ever seriously entertained moving Werenski, the conversation would almost certainly start with major assets, and Dallas would have to weigh how far it is willing to go to chase a package that would reshape the roster in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]