The two names hanging over the rumor mill this summer are Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin, and the question around both is the same: does something happen now, or does this turn into a mid-season story?
Anthony Di Marco of The Daily Faceoff addressed that on TSN Radio, and he drew a clear line between the two situations. Larkin, he said, is the more complicated case, especially with Steve Yzerman stepping down from his role last week. Di Marco said he believes that move was part of Detroit’s effort to either keep Larkin in place or at least make the process easier.
He also pointed to the kind of asking price Detroit has been throwing around. According to Di Marco, the Red Wings have been asking teams like Dallas for Wyatt Johnston, and asking Minnesota for Matt Boldy. He called those unrealistic asks, especially for a soon-to-be 30-year-old Dylan Larkin, whom he described as probably a worse player than either of those two.
That is why Di Marco thinks the Larkin situation could stretch out.
Hellebuyck, on the other hand, sounds more straightforward. Di Marco said there has been talk for a while about him going to Buffalo, and that Hellebuyck would waive his no-movement clause to join the Sabres. He added that a deal would have made sense at the draft, with Buffalo potentially using the fourth overall pick it got from Chicago for Bowen Byram as part of a package.
“If I were a betting man, I think that Hellebuyck would be moved sooner than Larkin just because of the management change we’re seeing right now going on in Detroit.”
That management change is the big wrinkle in the Larkin story. NHLRumors.com noted that the situation could be on hold until the Red Wings sort out their next general manager, and that the current question in Detroit is whether the relationship can still be salvaged.
For Hellebuyck, Buffalo still looks like a fit if he wants it. The catch is that any players involved in the original 2026 NHL Draft framework would need to waive their trade clauses to head to Winnipeg. Even so, the Sabres want to take the next step, and that keeps them in the conversation.
Both the Jets and the Red Wings are asking a hefty price for their stars, so neither deal is simple. But the read from Di Marco is that Hellebuyck has a better chance of getting done first.
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