Connor Bedard has made his pitch, and Patrick Kane is back in the conversation for Chicago.
Fresh off a $15 million per year contract extension, Bedard is among the Blackhawks voices hoping Kane returns to the organization where he won two Stanley Cups. Chicago has been trying to put a proven scoring presence around Bedard, and that mission has not landed yet.
Kane, who posted 56 points last season while playing through injury, would fit that need immediately. For now, reports have Chicago and Kane’s hometown of Buffalo as the likeliest landing spots.
Meanwhile, Detroit is about to get a close look at some of its newest talent. The Red Wings will host the US National Junior Team starting tomorrow at the Belfor Center, and three of their most recent draft picks are set to be there, including the top two members of their 2026 class.
J P Hurlbert, Detroit’s first-round pick in the latest Entry Draft, headlines that group. The University of Michigan commit has already spent much of the summer in the area as he prepares for his future with the Wolverines.
Victor Plante will also be in attendance after the Red Wings took him 47th overall this year, following the same path as his brother Max Plante two years ago. Victor has committed to University of Minnesota Duluth, the same school as his brothers Zam and Max. Whether all three will ever skate on the same line remains to be seen.
Brent Solomon rounds out Detroit’s trio. The Red Wings picked him in the fourth round in 2025, and he arrives after a strong USHL season with the Sioux Falls Stampede, where he put up 53 points with 24 goals and 29 assists in 54 regular-season games. The 6’0″ winger
There is also more on the junior hockey front in Duluth. The University of Minnesota-Duluth has agreed to an exhibition game against the US Under 18 National Team, according to an announcement from the school’s social media.
UMD will face the US National Under-18 Team on Saturday, Dec. 5 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, with puck drop set for 7 PM.
The Red Wings will have plenty to monitor in that matchup as two of their top prospects go against the best from the US National Development Program. Detroit will also be watching the other side closely, where centers Carter Meyer and Sammy Nelson are set to play. Both are considered top prospects for next year’s draft.
In Other News...
Red Wings GM Search Just Got More Complicated At The Worst Time
The Red Wings front-office search has already become one of the more delicate jobs in the league, and the timing only adds to the pressure. With the organization still sorting through possible general manager candidates, the list includes familiar internal options Kris Draper and Shawn Horcoff as well as outside names such as Ryan Martin and Scott White, a reminder that Detroit is weighing both continuity and a different voice for the next phase.
There is also the broader market to consider, because the remaining free-agent board still has some recognizable names attached to it. Patrick Kane, Patrik Laine, Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting, Cam Talbot, John Klingberg and David Perron are among the players still out there, with ages and cap hits that help frame what kind of value is left as teams settle roster plans and front offices try to line up their priorities. [Read more 🡒]
Another Goalie Twist Leaves Red Wings Fans Watching One Spot Closely
Jack Campbells brief run through the Red Wings organization has reached a new turn, and it comes at a time when Detroits goaltending picture is already under a microscope. The 34-year-old former Dallas draft pick never got into an NHL game for the Red Wings, but he did spend time in the system, logging 14 regular-season appearances for Grand Rapids and two playoff games while trying to carve out a role.
His move out of the crease and into coaching adds another layer to a position group the Red Wings have been sorting through for a while. With names like Michal Postava, Sebastian Cossa, Daniil Tarasov, John Gibson and Trey Augustine all part of the broader conversation, Campbells decision is one more reminder that the organizations goalie depth chart is still very much a moving target. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Just Put Red Wings Fans In An Unthinkable Spot
Dylan Larkins situation has turned into the kind of uncomfortable offseason storyline the Red Wings would rather avoid, especially with their captain now at the center of a dispute that goes beyond simple roster talk. The organization is said to be frustrated with the way the matter has been handled, and the lack of communication around it has only added to the tension for a team that still has to think about leadership, direction and what comes next.
For Detroit, the bigger issue is not just the immediate fallout but the uncertainty hanging over one of the most important players in the room. Larkins future with the club is now clouded enough that the next step could shape how the front office approaches the rest of the summer, and the path forward is not a clean one. Whether this gets resolved by a change in stance, a long wait or a change behind the desk, the Red Wings are suddenly dealing with a problem they never wanted on their doorstep. [Read more 🡒]