The Edmonton Oilers may have a Darnell Nurse trade on the table, but the real wrinkle is how much salary would go with him. According to David Pagnotta on Hello Hockey, the retention piece depends on where Nurse lands.
“My understanding if this trade does happen with the Ducks, there would be no salary retention. I think there is retention in place if he goes to Philly…I don’t think it’s overly significant”
In Detroit, the Patrick Kane question is still alive, even after Steve Yzerman opened the door a little wider on the future of Dylan Larkin. Helene St.
James of the Detroit Free Press reported that Yzerman confirmed over the weekend that Larkin requested a trade shortly after the Red Wings’ season ended, while also saying he wouldn’t guarantee that Larkin would be traded. That leaves Kane’s situation in the mix, since the pending UFA is someone Yzerman said they’d love to have back next year.
Kane finished last season with 16 goals and 57 points, and he had 21 goals and 59 points in 72 games the year before. After the season, Kane said he’d like to come back and be a part of the solution, though that was before Larkin’s trade request became public.
He’s also been on two straight one-year deals, both signed on June 30, the day before free agency.
In New York, the Rangers appear set to keep Alexis Lafreniere rather than use him as a trade chip. Peter Baugh and Vincent Z.
Mercogliano of The Athletic reported that two league sources said Lafreniere is expected to remain with the Rangers going into next season. The team is still chasing more scoring up front, but not at the expense of subtracting one.
There hasn’t been much noise around Braden Schneider’s contract talks either. Heading into draft weekend, sources said discussions with the pending RFA’s camp had been quiet.
The Rangers did look into moving him, but they weren’t interested in draft picks. Their focus is on landing a young, offensive forward.
Potential names for New York could include Ville Heinola, a puck-moving defenseman, and Beck Malenstyn for the bottom six, though Malenstyn re-signed with the Sabres this morning. The Rangers are also looking for a fourth-line center to replace Sam Carrick, who was traded to Buffalo at the deadline.
In Other News...
Red Wings May Be Near A Roster Decision Fans Saw Coming
With the NHL buyout window set to open June 30, Detroit is already weighing whether it makes sense to shake up the roster for the sake of flexibility. The Red Wings are looking at one of their recent contract decisions with a colder eye now, because a move like this would not be about escaping a cap crisis so much as creating a little more room to maneuver as they sort out the next wave of players.
The appeal is straightforward: a buyout would clear a spot for younger talent and give the front office more options as it balances the present against what comes next. It would also push the financial pain further down the road, which is why this is the kind of decision teams only make when they believe the short-term roster gain is worth the longer cap trail. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Yzerman Just Turned Up The Pressure In Dylan Larkin Saga
Steve Yzermans latest comments only added more weight to a situation that already had the attention of every Red Wings fan. The Detroit general manager said Dylan Larkin still has five years left on his contract, a reminder that this is not a simple matter of timing or convenience. It is the kind of awkward star-player crossroads that can force a front office to balance loyalty, leverage and the long view all at once.
Yzerman also made clear he is not promising to hand over control of the outcome, which is where the tension now sits. Larkins camp, through agent Pat Brisson, has stayed engaged in the discussion and is working toward a resolution, but there is no neat finish line yet. For a team that has built so much of its identity around Larkin, the next move matters far beyond one contract situation. [Read more 🡒]