The Minnesota Wild are still pushing hard for Dylan Larkin, but the gap between what they’ve put on the table and what the Detroit Red Wings want appears to be the sticking point.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that the Wild have stayed active on the Larkin front and have already made more than one offer. The issue, from Detroit’s side, is that the proposals are heavy on futures and light on immediate NHL help. LeBrun said the packages have included multiple first-round picks, which gives the Red Wings real value to consider, but not necessarily the kind of roster help they may be after right now.
That leaves Detroit with a choice: take a futures-based return and try to convert those picks into players they can use sooner, or keep waiting and hope Minnesota eventually builds a package that fits better. Another path could involve a third team helping make the math work. The Philadelphia Flyers were mentioned as a possible facilitator, with Vladislav Trenin’s contract potentially being absorbed if the price is right.
Out in Edmonton, Jake Walman’s situation is trending in the wrong direction. He was the extra defenseman at Oilers practice on Friday, which pointed toward another healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders. Walman already sat out Edmonton’s 4-0 win over Calgary, and his role has clearly shrunk.
There’s still time for the Oilers to change course, but the concerns are obvious. His contract is costly, and the fit hasn’t looked right.
Babcock has been blunt about it, saying Walman keeps ending up in the wrong spots and that the team has talked to him about it. When asked how Walman would react to another scratch, Babcock said, “You should for sure ask him.”
In Nashville, Ryan O’Reilly is the name to watch. Elliotte Friedman reported that the veteran center could draw serious interest if the Predators decide to make him available. He’s nearing unrestricted free agency, and there hasn’t been much talk about a contract extension.
Friedman also pointed out that teams have had interest in O’Reilly for years, so Nashville would have no shortage of phone calls. New GM Chris MacFarland has already made several changes, and dealing O’Reilly would be another major move as the Predators reshape the roster.
Then there’s Jason Robertson in Dallas, where the Stars are facing a delicate decision. Pierre LeBrun said Robertson wants to stay with the team, but the timing still matters. If he remains unsigned as the March 1 trade deadline approaches, Dallas will have to decide whether to keep waiting or seriously consider a move.
LeBrun suggested the Stars may not want to trade a key piece while they’re in the middle of a Stanley Cup push, even if the risk is losing Robertson later. He also floated a wild hypothetical involving Connor McDavid leaving Edmonton next summer and landing in Dallas, a scenario that underscores why the Stars could prefer patience over panic.
In Other News...
Oilers Linked To A Reunion Fans Never Saw Coming
The Oilers are at least kicking around an idea that would have sounded unlikely not long ago: a possible reunion with Evander Kane. As free agency chatter continues, Edmonton is considering whether the veteran winger could fit back into the lineup in a reduced role, with the concept being a fourth-line assignment rather than the bigger offensive burden he has carried at other stops.
Nothing is locked in, and there is no confirmed interest from the club yet, which is why this remains more of a curiosity than a move on the verge of happening. Still, it is the kind of scenario that says plenty about how Edmonton is weighing depth, toughness and familiarity as it looks for ways to round out the roster, even if this particular thread is far from tied off. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Search Could Come Down To One Crucial Center Decision
The Oilers search for help at center appears to be narrowing around a very specific type of player: someone with size, some edge and enough versatility to deepen the middle of the lineup. Reports from Sportsnet and Elliotte Friedman have connected Edmonton to a handful of possibilities, including Matthew Rempe, Quinton Byfield, Kirby Dach and Shane Wright, a mix that shows how widely the club is casting its net while it looks for a better fit down the middle.
Theres a different level of intrigue attached to the younger names on that list, especially given the way trade chatter has swirled around them. For Edmonton, the appeal is obvious - a center who can bring physicality without sacrificing upside - but the question may be which player actually becomes available and at what price. Until that becomes clearer, the Oilers pursuit feels like it could hinge on one major decision that still sits just out of view. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Got Tied To A Concerning Flames Injury Update
The Oilers will have a little more than just the scoreline to monitor after their latest meeting with Calgary, because the Flames came out of that game with a significant injury update in net. Devin Cooley has been ruled week-to-week with a lower-body injury, with the setback coming after he was hurt during the game against Edmonton in a collision with Colton Dach.
Calgary is also dealing with more than one absence at the moment, as Brennan Othmann is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and Connor Zary is recovering from knee surgery. For Edmonton, it is the kind of cross-rival ripple effect that can linger beyond one night, especially when an opponent is suddenly forced to reshuffle its depth and goaltending plans. [Read more 🡒]