The Dylan Larkin situation in Detroit is still murky, but the latest reporting points to a front-office split over what a trade might actually have returned.
Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast that Steve Yzerman warned Red Wings ownership that moving Larkin probably wouldn’t deliver an immediate boost. The return, according to that report, would have been more about future help than instant impact, and management apparently wasn’t on board with that direction.
Friedman stopped short of saying that disagreement directly led to Yzerman’s departure, but he did note that interim GM Shawn Horcoff now has a chance to make a case for the full-time job.
Larkin himself still isn’t opening up much. After speaking with the media on Thursday, he said he is not ready to “go there yet” when asked about the trade request, and he would not say whether that request has been taken back. For now, his status in Detroit remains unsettled.
In Winnipeg, Kevin Cheveldayoff pushed back hard on reports tying Connor Hellebuyck to a “gentlemen’s agreement.” The idea was that Hellebuyck had been promised a chance to chase a Stanley Cup and that the Jets would help work out a trade if that didn’t happen.
Cheveldayoff shut that down.
“A contract is a contract in the National Hockey League. Period,” he said, making clear there are no side deals and no loopholes. He added that the reports have no merit, though he did acknowledge the Jets have been trying to trade the goalie since Hellebuyck’s request.
The backdrop there isn’t pretty: Winnipeg missed the playoffs last season, and Hellebuyck put up the worst statistical season of his career.
Quinn Hughes, meanwhile, says there’s no drama with the Minnesota Wild as extension talks continue. As training camp opened, Hughes brushed off any suggestion of friction, saying it’s still September and that plenty of stars have signed later in the offseason.
He said he’s happy in Minnesota, loves the team and feels good with his teammates. Hughes also admitted the idea of eventually playing with brothers Jack and Luke Hughes has some appeal, but he made it clear he won’t walk away from a “great spot” in Minnesota just to make that happen.
The contract itself could become the real headline. Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic reported that Minnesota has signaled a willingness to offer Hughes the maximum eight-year term at an annual value above Cale Makar’s NHL-record $20.4 million. If that happens, Hughes would become the highest-paid defenseman in the league.
And in Columbus, there are still some uncomfortable questions looming over the Blue Jackets. Zach Werenski has made it plain that there are no guarantees he’ll sign another extension with the team when his current deal runs out after the 2027-28 season.
Kirill Marchenko may be headed in the same direction. His agent told ESPN and NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes in June that the winger plans to move on when his current contract expires, which would make him a restricted free agent after this season.
In Other News...
Wild Camp Just Raised The Stakes For A Roster Full Of Questions
The first official practice of the 2026-27 season brought an immediate look at how the Wild are trying to sort out a roster with plenty of moving parts. New faces were mixed in right away, with Maxsim Shabanov getting a spot on the top line next to Kirill Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman, while John Hynes and his staff remained in place behind the bench to provide some continuity for a group that is still being assembled.
Goalie plans are already part of the early camp conversation, too, with Jesper Wallstedt and Calvin Pickard expected to handle preseason starts while Filip Gustavssons return is delayed. Off the ice, Quinn Hughes added another layer to the opening-week intrigue by addressing contract talks, saying he feels good about where things stand and does not sound in a rush to force a resolution, which only keeps more attention on how the Wilds roster picture will take shape from here. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Opening Night Roster Comes With One Huge Question
The Wild head into the 2025-26 season with a roster that looks noticeably different, and in a better place than it was a year ago. Minnesota kept its goaltending tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt intact, added Quinn Hughes to a defense that already had a chance to get tougher, and brought in forwards Bobby Brink, Blake Coleman and Maxim Shabanov as part of a broader overhaul.
The blue line and crease now project as strengths, but the forward group is where the most uncertainty sits. With several new faces mixed into a lineup that also saw departures, the real question for Minnesota is how quickly those pieces fit and whether the offense can settle into something dependable early in the season. [Read more 🡒]