The Anaheim Ducks’ choice to hand the captaincy to Mikael Granlund instead of Leo Carlsson has turned into one of the louder talking points in the NHL rumor mill, and it’s not hard to see why. On OverDrive, TSN’s Bryan Hayes suggested the move might have had less to do with leadership and more to do with Carlsson’s contract situation, floating the idea that Anaheim could have gone with Carlsson had he not signed an $18 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Hayes went a step further, saying the Ducks may have picked Granlund “out of spite” as a way to send Carlsson a message. That take did not sit well with the rest of the panel.
Jeff O’Neill called it an “idiotic take” and said GM Pat Verbeek was the one who let the contract situation get to that point. Jamie McLennan also raised an eyebrow at the decision, pointing to Granlund’s age.
Elsewhere in the division, Dylan Larkin is back on the ice for the Detroit Red Wings after sitting out the opening stretch of training camp with an upper-body injury. Larkin picked up the injury during an off-ice workout, and there was no firm timetable when he first went down.
Ansar Khan noted, “Here’s Larkin in battle drills. No word yet on whether he’ll be ready for either of the final two preseason games but probably not since this is his first practice.”
Larkin’s return comes at a time when his situation is already under the spotlight. He requested a trade this offseason, Detroit stripped him of the captaincy, and he said earlier this month that the request was not an easy call and that he did not regret making it.
He also would not say whether the request is still active. Detroit, for its part, has said Larkin could still stay with the team for the entire season.
In Ottawa, owner Michael Andlauer offered his bluntest comments yet on Brady Tkachuk’s departure from the organization and his move to the Florida Panthers to play alongside his brother Matthew. Speaking with Pierre LeBrun, Andlauer made it clear he believes family was a major factor in how the situation played out.
Andlauer said:
“Blood is thicker than water, and let’s just say that his father and his brother got in his kitchen. Ultimately, the decision was made to go and play with his brother.
It’s a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree. But you have to want to play for Ottawa.
And right to the end, our fans were behind Brady - even after Team USA won gold. I have no doubt in my mind.”
Brady has already said his trade request “wasn’t about” his brother, but Ottawa clearly doesn’t see it that way. Thomas Chabot was also asked about the topic and pushed back on the constant questions, saying, “If we keep answering those we will answer about Brady all season long. The only person in position to answer that question would be Brady.”
In Other News...
Simon Edvinsson Contract Talks Put Early Focus On Red Wings Camp
With camp opening, the Red Wings have one of their most important young defensemen in the building while his next contract remains a central talking point. Simon Edvinsson is taking part in training camp, and for now Detroit is getting the benefit of having him around as the team sorts through what comes next for a player who has become a key part of the blue-line picture.
The bigger issue is the shape of the deal itself, with discussions continuing and the stakes pointing well beyond a short-term solution. A long-term contract would carry major financial weight for Detroit, and the sides are still working through a path that reflects Edvinssons role and future value without making the process any simpler for a team trying to settle its roster early. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkins Preseason Status Suddenly Matters Even More For Detroit
The Red Wings' preseason picture got a little clearer and a little more complicated at the same time. Buffalos defensive depth took a hit when Mattias Samuelsson went down with a lower-body injury and will be out on a week-to-week basis, while Olen Zellweger also landed in concussion protocol after an upper-body injury. For Detroit, the bigger immediate note came from head coach Todd McLellan, who said Dylan Larkin is progressing in his recovery and is inching closer to a return.
That matters because Larkins preseason timetable has become one of the more closely watched storylines in camp, especially with Detroit trying to sort out its lineup and get its top center back into game shape. McLellan indicated Larkin could be available for the preseason finale against Columbus, which would give the Red Wings one more chance to see him before opening night preparations really tighten up. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Pettersson Buzz Comes With One Massive Catch
Elias Pettersson keeps surfacing in trade chatter as NHL insiders poke around what Vancouver might do next, and Frank Seravalli has added more fuel by casting doubt on the Canucks forward finishing his current run there. For Detroit fans, the intrigue is obvious: a player of Petterssons talent would instantly change the conversation around the roster, and his name has already been tossed into broader speculation that also includes Minnesota and Dallas.
The catch is the kind that makes this more theory than blueprint for now. Petterssons recent play has made his market harder to pin down, and his contract situation only complicates matters further, especially with a no-movement clause in the mix. Any real path for the Red Wings would need to clear another major hurdle first, so for the moment this remains a reminder of how quickly a big-name rumor can run into practical limits. [Read more 🡒]