Connor Hellebuyck won’t be in the net for the New Jersey Devils against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, with the team saying last night that the former Winnipeg goaltender was not going to get the start because of a potential drop in win probability tied to his workload.
That news landed the same way it has for a lot of people around the league: with a familiar kind of reaction from insiders and fans alike.
Hellebuyck is now the last of the 2026 Team USA members to have been traded. At this point, Dylan Larkin is the only one still with his original team from that group of players who asked out of their NHL organizations after winning Olympic Gold.
Detroit had some roster movement of its own, sending goalie Michal Postava, 2023 first-round pick Nate Danielson, and John Leonard down. Danielson’s situation has been one to watch for a while, and the latest move is another sign that the Red Wings are stepping back from the experiment, at least for now.
The young forward has had a hard time settling in at the NHL level. Detroit has used him in the bottom six, shifting him between center and wing, and he was scratched for the team’s last two games.
His best trait has always been his responsible two-way game, but the Red Wings have wanted more offense from him than he has been able to provide. At the same time, he hasn’t exactly been put in ideal scoring spots, and he’s also had a couple of defensive lapses in recent games.
With Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton back from injury, Detroit has more proven options available, and that appears to have pushed Danielson out of the lineup for now.
Elsewhere in the organization, there’s still movement worth noting. Red Wings 2026 fourth-round pick Adam Levac has been rolling since returning from a four-game suspension handed down in early October.
The 6-foot-1 center has 15 points in 15 games this season and is riding a three-game points streak. The suspension in October was the second time this year that Levac has run into trouble with the rulebook, after an eight-game suspension in February last season.
Levac has plenty of offense in his game, but he’ll need to keep the edge in check if he wants to reach the next level.
In Other News...
Red Wings Just Sent A Chilling Message About Dylan Larkin
Dylan Larkins absence has already started to show up around Little Caesars Arena in ways fans can see before they even get to their seats. After his suspension and departure from the Red Wings, the team took down his banner and removed his cardboard likeness from the building, then shifted that spot to the Russian Five as part of the groups 30th anniversary celebration.
The move has added a sharper edge to an already awkward moment for a franchise trying to manage the fallout around one of its most recognizable players. Larkin merchandise has also been pulled from the team store, even as Patrick Kane Red Wings jerseys remain on sale despite his own departure, leaving the teams handling of the two situations looking noticeably different. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Standoff Is Suddenly Costing Everyone More Than Expected
Dylan Larkins situation has moved well beyond a routine trade request, and the financial cost is already adding up. The Red Wings have suspended him without pay after he refused to report to the rink, and the standoff has now cost him nearly $500,000 in salary while the sides remain stuck in place.
Detroit would like to widen the list of possible trade destinations so it can chase a stronger return, but Larkins camp has not budged. That leaves the Red Wings trying to work through a market that is still too narrow for their liking, with no clear sign yet that the impasse is about to ease. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Trade Buzz Leaves Bruins Fans With One Big Doubt
Dylan Larkins trade chatter has taken on a familiar NHL twist, with the Red Wings still waiting to see whether his list of acceptable destinations grows beyond the roughly ten teams already believed to be in play. Jim Biringer said on TSN Radio that Minnesota is the preferred landing spot, which has only sharpened the sense that Detroit is dealing with a very narrow market as it sorts through what comes next.
For a team trying to navigate a potentially complicated roster decision, that matters. The Red Wings are not just waiting on Larkins preferences to clarify, they are also weighing other ways to reshape the roster if the situation stays stuck, including the possibility of moving players such as Simon Edvinsson. For now, though, the bigger question is whether Detroit gets more flexibility from Larkin or has to start making its own moves without it. [Read more 🡒]