The NHL rumor mill had plenty to chew on October 29, 2026, with Edmonton, Detroit and Toronto all finding themselves in the middle of very different kinds of mess.
In Edmonton, the Oilers are at least kicking around the idea of a reunion with Evander Kane, and the thought comes with a very specific role in mind: a fourth-line job that would give them some bottom-six grit. Nothing concrete is out there yet, so this remains a “what if” more than a real pursuit. But Kane is a free agent, which means the Oilers wouldn’t have to send out a pick or a prospect to make it happen.
The appeal is easy to see. Kane still brings size, some finishing ability around the net and a track record that matters in Edmonton, where he produced six goals and 12 points in 21 games during the 2025 playoffs.
Last season in Vancouver, he posted 13 goals and 31 points. The downside is baked right into his profile: 92 penalty minutes last year, plus questions about his speed and whether he’d be willing to accept a much smaller role.
If the price is right and the discipline holds, it could make sense. If not, it’s just noise.
Detroit’s situation is far more serious. Dylan Larkin has made his stance clear through his agent, Pat Brisson: he won’t play for the Red Wings again until he’s traded.
Detroit responded by suspending him without pay, a move that costs about $41,000 a day. GM Shawn Horcoff said the club will continue to explore trade options, but any deal still has to fit the Red Wings’ long-term plans.
There are at least a few clubs in the mix. Minnesota is reportedly sitting on one of the stronger offers, while Washington, Utah and New Jersey are also in the picture. For now, it’s a stalemate, and neither side seems eager to back down first.
Toronto’s headline was different, but the frustration looked familiar. The Maple Leafs dropped a 5-4 decision to Seattle and came away with a split verdict on the night.
Gavin McKenna stood out with two power play goals and three points, and he helped set up Auston Matthews’ tying goal with 1:30 left. Toronto also controlled parts of the game by out-shooting and out-hitting the Kraken.
Still, the ugly part is hard to ignore: the Leafs gave up five goals on 17 shots, and Brandon Montour’s late winner with about 30 seconds left landed like a hammer. The larger concern is that only two of Toronto’s seven wins have come when the team scored fewer than five goals, and the lines still aren’t settled without Tavares and Marchenko.
Saturday’s trip to Vancouver to face the 3-10-1 Canucks may look manageable on paper, but those are exactly the kind of games that can turn sideways fast. Clean up the turnovers, and Toronto should be fine.
In Other News...
Red Wings Just Reached A Surprising Turning Point Without Larkin
Dylan Larkins suspension without pay has pushed the Red Wings into a strange new stretch, one that could mark the end of his run in Detroit. With the captain suddenly out of the picture, the team has also stumbled into an unexpected milestone on its own roster: Michael Rasmussen is now the longest-tenured player in Detroit professional sports, a role that says plenty about how much the franchise has changed since his arrival.
Rasmussen has been part of the organization since he was drafted in 2017 and has grown into a steady presence through a lot of turnover around him. Across 467 games for the Red Wings, he has logged 67 goals and 90 assists, and now his place in the teams timeline feels even more notable as Detroit moves forward without one of its defining figures. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Suddenly Face Real Pressure In The Simon Edvinsson Talks
The clock is suddenly working against Detroit in the Simon Edvinsson situation, and the stakes are a lot higher than a routine restricted free agent negotiation. The Red Wings have until Dec. 1 to get Edvinsson under contract, with interim GM Shawn Horcoff making it clear that signing the young defenseman remains the priority as the team tries to sort out its next move.
But the talks have not stayed neatly between player and club. Trade discussions involving Edvinsson have reportedly taken place, with San Jose among the teams that have shown interest, which adds another layer of pressure to a situation already carrying a hard deadline. If Detroit and Edvinsson cannot reach an agreement, the Red Wings may be forced to weigh whether to keep pushing on a contract or explore a market that appears to be forming around him. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Make Another Blue Line Change After Tough Early Decision
The Red Wings are making another adjustment on the blue line, recalling Jacob Bernard-Docker from Grand Rapids and sending Axel Sandin-Pellikka back to the Griffins. It is the latest shuffle for a defense group that has already been in flux early this season, with Detroit trying to find the right mix while balancing development and immediate help.
Bernard-Dockers return gives the Red Wings another option after his season got off to a delayed start, while Sandin-Pellikka heads back to the AHL after a limited run in Detroit. The former first-round pick showed enough promise to earn a look, but the club is clearly opting for a reset after his minutes were hard to come by and the defensive results were uneven. [Read more 🡒]