Dylan Larkin’s name lit up the rumor mill again on Wednesday, but the latest word out of Detroit points to something far less dramatic than a trade breakthrough. Helene St. James reported that the Red Wings forward was simply taking a maintenance day after missing practice, even as the noise around his future keeps building.
That noise hasn’t gone away. Elliotte Friedman reported that Larkin and defenseman Simon Edvinsson are both hoping to be moved, with Edvinsson still unsigned to an extension.
Larkin, meanwhile, has reportedly widened his trade list to 10 teams. Friedman also believes Detroit is becoming more willing to make a deal instead of waiting for the kind of huge return that might never come.
Darren Dreger added that the number of teams interested in Larkin that are not on his list is likely bigger than the number he’s open to joining. He said the Red Wings’ pro scouting group is still tracking clubs that could work their way into the conversation, including the St.
Louis Blues and the Montreal Canadiens.
In Edmonton, Zach Hyman’s injury has moved him onto injured reserve after Monday’s game against the Red Wings. Head coach Mike Babcock spoke about Hyman’s status before Wednesday’s morning skate, after the forward left the game following a hit along the boards from Andreas Englund.
Hyman appeared to knock the back of his head against the glass, which immediately raised concern about a possible concussion. He went down slowly, held his visor and needed help leaving the ice before being ruled out for the rest of the night.
The Oilers have described the injury as a “stiff neck”, and the IR move may be tied just as much to opening space for Jason Dickinson as it is to any serious concern about Hyman.
In Pittsburgh, the early-season struggle could push the Penguins toward a major reshaping of the roster. Darren Dreger reported that Dubas is taking calls on several veterans, including Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. New ownership reportedly wants the team to get younger, while Dubas also has to manage under a tight cash budget in addition to the salary cap.
Karlsson stands out as the most fascinating name in the group. The 36-year-old has been Pittsburgh’s most productive player, but he’s also a pending unrestricted free agent with a $10 million cap hit. His no-movement clause means he controls where this goes, and Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos believes a trade could happen down the road.
Rust and Rakell may be easier to move. Rust is expected to miss several weeks with a lower-body injury, while Rakell carries an eight-team no-trade list and has reportedly been available since the summer.
Letang is also drawing interest, but a deal would be tougher to pull off. The 39-year-old is under contract through next season at a $6.1 million cap hit, and his full no-movement clause gives him significant say over any possible move.
In Other News...
Oilers Just Sent A Brutal Early Message About Jake Walman
Jake Walmans season with the Oilers is already hitting an uncomfortable checkpoint. Edmonton is set to make him a healthy scratch for its upcoming game against the Calgary Flames, with head coach Mike Babcock saying the move comes down to performance and team needs after Walman has struggled to find much traction this season. For a player brought in to help stabilize the blue line, being on the outside looking in this early is not the kind of message anyone in that room wanted to send.
The timing only adds to the sting because Walman is still in the opening year of a long-term deal, the sort of contract that usually comes with a steadier runway than this. Instead, his ice time and effectiveness have been in question, and Edmonton now appears ready to lean elsewhere as it tries to get its defense in order. How long this lasts will tell the real story, but for now the Oilers have made their point. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Fans Just Got More Clarity On That Zach Hyman Injury
Zach Hymans injury situation looks a little clearer after the Oilers forward was placed on injured reserve following the stiff neck he sustained against the Detroit Red Wings. What had the feel of an uneasy postgame concern now comes with a bit more optimism, as head coach Mike Babcock suggested the issue may not be as serious as it first appeared.
Even so, Edmonton will have to manage without one of its regular forwards for the immediate future. Jason Dickinson is expected to come off injured reserve and step into Hymans roster spot, giving the Oilers a needed short-term replacement while they wait to see how quickly Hyman can work his way back. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Face A Battle Of Alberta Lineup Question
The latest injury traffic around the NHL is starting to ripple beyond Anaheim, where the Ducks are juggling a few moving parts of their own. Pavel Mintyukov remains day-to-day, Ian Moore has resumed skating and Troy Terry is tracking toward a return from hip surgery sooner than originally thought, a development that has the Ducks adjusting their lineup plans as they wait on one of their most important forwards. Around the league, teams such as Nashville and Edmonton are also working through their own return-to-play updates, with coaches and team media offering the kind of incremental news that can reshape a depth chart in a hurry.
For Edmonton, that matters with the Battle of Alberta approaching and the roster picture still in flux. The Oilers have one more wrinkle to monitor as they sort out who is ready and who still needs time, and it comes at a moment when every lineup decision feels amplified by the stakes of the rivalry. The broader injury news is encouraging in spots, but it also leaves Edmonton with at least one important question still hanging as it prepares for Calgary. [Read more 🡒]