Dylan Larkin’s future in Detroit may not be as urgent as the noise around it suggests.
According to Chris Johnston on NHL Watcher, even after Larkin added the Dallas Stars to the list of teams he’d waive his no-trade clause for, the Red Wings still might not be in any rush to move him. Johnston said, “It might take more than that quite honestly…it would not surprise me if you and I take a little break for the summer here and we fire up the podcast first week of September, and Dylan Larkin is still a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings are just not in a position where they’re going to trade him to get rid of the headache or get rid of the storyline, the distraction, if you want to go that far.”
On Long Island, the Islanders are staring at a busy stretch of contract decisions, even if the offseason itself may be close to done. Stefen Rosner and David Kolb of The Eel Monsters noted in a mailbag that defenseman Matthew Schaefer becomes extension eligible after July 1st, 2027, and they don’t expect a bridge deal. Instead, they could see a long-term contract in the $12 million to $14 million range.
The Islanders also have a number of UFAs coming off the books next year, and Alexander Romanov’s no-trade clause kicks in July 1st, 2027. That means the team will need to make a call on him before then, though his value is down after a rough year. Jean-Gabriel Pageau could also become a trade candidate, with next season’s trade deadline likely helping determine how many players get moved out.
There’s also some uncertainty around the supporting cast. Ondrej Palat would attract interest, while Casey Cizikas probably wouldn’t have much of a market, though some playoff teams could still be interested despite his $2.5 million cap hit. Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield will see their no-trade clauses turn into modified ones next offseason.
The Islanders were also linked to another notable name on July 1st. Two sources said the team talked to Patrick Kane that day.
For now, though, the sense is that the Islanders may already be close to done for the summer unless they decide to add someone on a one-year, bonus-laden deal such as Kane or Patrik Laine. The possibility of an Alex Killorn deal from the Anaheim Ducks was also raised, with Anthony Duclair potentially going the other way.
In Other News...
Islanders Linked To Risky Scoring Gamble Fans Have Been Begging For
The Islanders are still looking for a way to juice a scoring attack that has too often left them searching for answers, and the trade market is naturally part of that conversation. Around the league, one name surfacing in the rumor mill is a high-profile Vancouver forward whose production has slipped from the level that once made him one of the more dangerous scorers in the NHL, but whose pedigree still makes him an intriguing swing for a team desperate to add offense.
The appeal is obvious, even if the price tag is not. Any deal of that magnitude would come with serious cap implications and real risk, especially with his recent numbers trending well below his earlier peak seasons. Some analysts have even framed the kind of return Vancouver might seek as a best-case scenario comparable to the Darnell Nurse trade, which tells you plenty about how complicated this kind of gamble would be for the Islanders. [Read more 🡒]
Anders Lee Opens Up On The Islanders Exit He Never Saw Coming
Anders Lees departure from the Islanders landed as one of those rare offseason twists that still feels a little unreal, even with the calendar already turned. After 14 seasons in New York and a long run as captain, Lee has signed a three-year contract with the Utah Mammoth, ending a tenure that had come to define both player and team. The split came after the sides could not find common ground on a new deal, but there was no bitterness in the way Lee framed it, only the kind of respect that usually lingers when a chapter closes before anyone expected it to.
Lee said he never really saw himself wearing another sweater, which is part of what makes this move hit differently for Islanders fans. He also made clear that the decision was not made lightly, with several clubs involved in free agency before Utah emerged as the fit that made the most sense for him and his family. Even so, the emotional weight of saying goodbye to teammates he called "my guys" is hard to miss, and it leaves the Islanders facing the familiar challenge of moving on from a player who was supposed to be part of the ending. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Bailey Just Received The Kind Of Recognition Islanders Fans Love
Josh Baileys name has been part of the Islanders fabric for so long that it is easy to forget how rare that kind of run has become. Over 15 seasons, he carved out a place in franchise history by staying put, piling up 1,057 regular-season games and becoming only the third player in team history to reach 1,000, while also earning an All-Star nod in 2017-18 during one of his strongest seasons.
For Islanders fans, the lasting value of Baileys career was never just about durability. He was there for meaningful playoff moments, too, the kind that stick in the memory long after the regular season ends, and his connection to the Long Island hockey community only deepened the sense that he was one of their own. Now that recognition has followed him in a new way, with another honor underscoring just how much he meant to the organization and the people around it. [Read more 🡒]