Aleksander Barkov’s latest injury has already set the rumor mill spinning, and the name that keeps coming up is Dylan Larkin.
If Barkov’s setback turns out to be serious enough to cost him the season, the Florida Panthers could find themselves in a tricky spot at center - and with the kind of cap flexibility that invites a big swing. That’s where Larkin enters the conversation.
The Detroit captain is reportedly open to Florida as one of his preferred destinations, and the Panthers have had little reason to chase a major move until now. Barkov’s awkward fall Thursday changed the tone fast, especially because it brought back memories of the torn ACL and MCL that kept him out all of last season after surgery.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said the injury is unrelated to Barkov’s previous knee problem, but if Florida ends up putting him on LTIR, the club would be staring at both a hole down the middle and the space to try to fill it. The catch is obvious: Detroit would want a player who can step right into the lineup, while Florida reportedly has no interest in moving Anton Lundell.
The no-trade clause debate also flared back up this week, with Gary Bettman arguing that the system has drifted from what it was supposed to protect. He said those clauses were meant for players who gave up something - usually term or money - in exchange for the security of staying put. In his view, the issue now is that some players use those protections to control where they can go when they want out, which wasn’t the point.
Brad Marchand didn’t let that sit. He called the system “broken” and pushed back hard, saying the standard cuts both ways. Marchand questioned why teams should be able to sign a player long term and later decide they want to move him, while the player is expected to live with that arrangement and can’t look for a change himself.
That debate lands in the middle of a few familiar names. Larkin reportedly has a short list of preferred destinations.
Brady Tkachuk wanted Florida. Connor Hellebuyck has reportedly preferred a U.S. destination.
Out in Edmonton, the Oilers are dealing with a different kind of pressure: their own end of the ice. Jake Walman’s start has put him squarely in the conversation after he logged just over 13 minutes Thursday, and the noise around his role is growing. Ryan Rishaug said he wouldn’t healthy-scratch Walman after one rough night, but Rob Brown made the case that if there’s ever a time to sit a defenseman who’s supposed to be in the top four, this is it.
The bigger issue, though, goes beyond one player. Martin Biron said the Oilers’ problems aren’t just about goaltending. Too many Grade-A chances, breakaways, rebounds, screens and scrums are getting through, and the defense has to take more of the load off the goalies.
Walman was also singled out by Mark Spector during Edmonton’s 9-7 win over Vancouver, and Dennis King suggested the leash may not be as long as the one Darnell Nurse once had before eventually being run out of Edmonton. Walman came into camp believing he could handle a bigger role. Right now, that opportunity looks a lot less secure.
In Other News...
Red Wings Open Season With A Dylan Larkin Problem Already
Dylan Larkins injury is forcing the Red Wings to make an early-season adjustment to a lineup already carrying plenty of baggage. The captain is sidelined with an upper-body injury, and Detroit will have to start the schedule without its top center while also trying to move forward after his trade request and a round of management changes that have already put the organization on edge.
Andrew Copp is the most obvious candidate to absorb more of the center load, with J.T. Compher, Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson also in the mix for expanded roles. It is not the kind of opening-week test Detroit wanted, especially with hopes that Larkin can be back quickly, but it does give the coaching staff an immediate look at how the rest of the forward group handles added responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Open A Season With One Huge Question Hanging Over It
The Red Wings open their 84-game season against the Rangers with the kind of familiar optimism that comes from a roster built around youth and the hope that a new year can move the franchise closer to where it wants to be. Moritz Seider is among the voices carrying that tone into the opener, and the defensemans enthusiasm for the start of the season reflects a team eager to get rolling in front of its home crowd while still operating under the weight of bigger organizational questions.
What makes this season linger a little differently is the sense that Detroits direction may not be settled for long. With several players under 25 giving the lineup its edge and energy, the club also enters the year with veterans drawing plenty of outside attention as the trade deadline approaches, a reality that could touch a number of familiar names if the season takes a certain turn. For a team trying to climb while also managing its future, the first game is only the beginning of a much larger conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Sidney Crosbys Contract Situation Just Took A Different Turn
Simon Edvinssons contract situation has become a quiet but notable subplot for Detroit as the restricted free agent remains unsigned and continues skating in Sweden while the Red Wings keep talking with his camp. The sides are still in discussions, and the longer this drags on, the more it stands out as one of the teams lingering business items with the season approaching.
There is no public sign of panic from Detroit, but there is enough movement around the league to keep the situation worth watching. With other teams monitoring the broader market for young defensemen, the Red Wings are left balancing patience with the need to settle a deal on a player who remains part of their future plans. [Read more 🡒]