August is shaping up to be another busy month on the NHL trade front, and a handful of teams still have real business to handle before training camps open. The pace of movement may have slowed, but the rumor mill hasn’t cooled off. Detroit, Montreal, Columbus, Vancouver and Buffalo all look poised to keep the conversation going.
In Detroit, the big question is Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings are still searching for a new general manager, and that makes the situation even murkier.
It isn’t clear who is handling talks with other teams on a potential Larkin deal. According to the source, Larkin wants to be moved, and the team appears open to it too, but the return has to be right.
Once Detroit settles on the person making the calls, this could jump to the front of the line. There’s also speculation surrounding Alex DeBrincat and a new deal for Simon Edvinsson.
Montreal is also in the market, but not for a roster overhaul. The Canadiens want one more piece, likely another forward who fits their core, and GM Kent Hughes would like to bring someone in.
Kirill Marchenko has been the name tied to them. With roughly $9.78 million in projected space and a full roster already in place, Montreal would need to make a trade rather than a signing if it wants to add.
That’s where Columbus comes in. Marchenko is the name drawing the attention, and the Blue Jackets would have to rethink things if he’s moved.
Zach Werenski would become a bigger topic in that scenario, though for now he’s staying put. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said it had been weeks since he’s discussed a possible Marchenko trade with another general manager, which suggests those conversations could pick back up in August.
Vancouver, meanwhile, feels like a team where something could still break loose even if nothing is immediate. The Canucks have a list of notable names that could wind up elsewhere: Elias Pettersson, Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland. With the way their situation is described, it’s hard to believe they’re done making moves.
Buffalo is still hunting for a major addition, too. The Sabres are no longer in the Patrick Kane picture after he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, but Connor Hellebuyck remains a name to watch.
The trade seemed close enough that the idea shouldn’t be dismissed, even if the draft has changed the return package. Buffalo is still interested, and the sides could still find a way back into discussions.
If the Sabres land Hellebuyck, it would be the biggest move they could make.
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Patrik Laines first season in Montreal gave Canadiens fans plenty to chew on, starting with a 20-goal output in 52 games that reminded everyone why his shot still changes the look of a power play. The rest of the package was less tidy, though, with uneven even-strength play and the familiar injury concerns still attached to his name, which is part of why his future keeps drawing fresh attention around the league.
Now there is another wrinkle for Montreal to sort through. Ottawa is reportedly exploring the idea of bringing Laine in on a low-cost deal, and the Senators interest comes with a very specific purpose: they want a pure finisher who can help their power play. For Canadiens fans, it is the kind of rumor that does not just reopen the debate about Laines fit in Montreal, it raises the uncomfortable possibility that a division rival could be the one to take the next swing. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Risk Chasing The Wrong Upgrade With Kirill Marchenko
Kirill Marchenkos name is starting to surface in trade chatter again, and for clubs like Montreal the appeal is obvious. He is young, productive and still has room to grow, which is exactly the kind of profile that can tempt a team looking to add offense without waiting through a full rebuild. But the conversation around him is not just about talent, it is about fit, and that is where the Canadiens have to be careful about what kind of upgrade they are actually chasing.
The bigger question is whether Marchenko addresses the right need for Montreal at all. He brings a scorers touch and the kind of game that can help a lineup, but some of the analysis around him points to a broader roster issue for the Canadiens, one that goes beyond adding another skilled winger. If Columbus and Don Waddell decide to move him, the market could get interesting fast, yet Montreals challenge will be resisting the urge to solve one problem while leaving the more important one untouched. [Read more 🡒]