The NHL’s trade board has already been shaken up by a wave of big names coming off it, but the noise is far from over. With free agency set to open on Wednesday, teams are still hunting for cap relief, roster fixes, and the kind of swing that can change the league overnight. At the center of it all are five names that would qualify as true blockbusters if they move: Zach Werenski, Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck, Jason Robertson, and Darnell Nurse.
Dylan Larkin is the first one to break wide open. The Detroit Red Wings captain has asked for a trade, and Steve Yzerman confirmed the request publicly.
Yzerman also said Larkin provided a short list of teams he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause for, but he didn’t commit to moving him, noting that Larkin still has five years left at $8.7 million per season. Minnesota and Vegas are the teams to watch, though the belief is that Dallas is the destination Larkin would most like.
Connor Hellebuyck is another name that could move soon, and the sense around the league is that a deal may be close. Buffalo and Carolina are the frontrunners, and there were reports that Carolina put together an offer to Winnipeg that included a first-round pick and defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
Buffalo, meanwhile, reportedly laid out a major package of its own, one that included the fourth overall pick, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Jack Quinn, and additional assets. Elliotte Friedman said talks between Buffalo and Winnipeg are not dead, even if the two sides remain far apart.
For now, Hellebuyck is still a Jet.
Jason Robertson’s situation took a sharp turn when he turned down an eight-year offer from Seattle worth $15 million per season after Dallas gave the Kraken permission to negotiate. That shut down what would have been a huge trade.
The Stars then spoke with Pittsburgh about a possible deal, and Dallas is said to be looking for a Rantanen-caliber return. Robertson becomes a restricted free agent on July 1, and he’s making it difficult for Dallas to move him.
Whether that means he’s leaning toward a new deal in Dallas or simply has a different plan, the Stars clearly have work to do.
Werenski may be the biggest prize of the bunch. The reigning Norris Trophy winner has drawn interest from Dallas, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Carolina, with Dallas and Philadelphia described as the most serious suitors.
Toronto remains involved, but the challenge there is assembling a package Columbus would actually accept. Werenski has full control over where he goes, which makes this one of the most unpredictable situations heading into free agency.
Columbus has been slow to move on talks, and other teams are waiting to see what happens because his status could affect the entire market.
Then there’s Darnell Nurse, who has also asked for a trade out of Edmonton. He has given the Oilers a list of three to five teams he’d waive his no-movement clause to join, and the believed teams on that list are Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Nothing sounds especially close right now, which leaves Edmonton with a few paths: Nurse could widen the list to include teams such as Anaheim or San Jose, or he could wind up staying put. As of Monday, Anaheim is still interested, San Jose is moving in, and Pittsburgh and Philadelphia remain on his approved list.
In Other News...
Flyers Suddenly Face A Claude Giroux Decision That Feels Bigger Than Nostalgia
Claude Girouxs next move is starting to matter again in Philadelphia, not because the Flyers have forgotten what he meant to the franchise, but because his career has reached the kind of offseason that forces old questions back into the room. Since being traded in 2022, Giroux has played for Florida and Ottawa, and the possibility that he could be available down the line has naturally revived the thought of a reunion with the only NHL team many fans still associate him with.
For the Flyers, the appeal goes beyond sentiment. A return would be judged against roster fit, role and timing, not just nostalgia, and that makes the conversation more complicated than a simple homecoming pitch. Giroux has remained productive into his late 30s, and if free agency opens the door, Philadelphia would at least have to decide whether this is the right moment to revisit a familiar face or let the past stay where it is. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Suddenly Have A Bobby Brink Question Nobody Saw Coming
Bobby Brinks move to Minnesota has already turned into one of those NHL stories that could boomerang quickly, and the Flyers are suddenly in a position where patience might matter as much as the original trade. Philadelphia dealt Brink for David Jiricek, but Brink is now nearing free agency, and the Flyers still have the kind of cap flexibility that keeps them in the conversation if the Wild cannot lock him up first.
From the Flyers side, the fit is more interesting than it looked at the time of the trade. They are also chasing other roster upgrades, which means the summer could still reshape the depth chart in ways that leave room for familiar names to come back into the picture. Brinks value, meanwhile, is tied to what he might command elsewhere and whether Minnesota can get its own business done before the market opens. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers May Have Another Blue Jackets Difference Maker In Sight
The Flyers have been linked to another look at Columbus as they try to add a difference-maker on the back end, with Zach Werenski a name that keeps surfacing in trade conversations. For a Philadelphia roster still searching for more impact and more finish from the blue line, the appeal is obvious: a defenseman who can help tilt the ice and give the power play a needed jolt is exactly the sort of swing this front office has been weighing.
There is also a broader sense that the Flyers are not limiting their attention to one avenue as they explore ways to sharpen the lineup. Columbus has the kind of talent that can change the conversation around a rebuilding or retooling club, and Philadelphias interest reflects how urgent the need remains after a power play that sputtered badly in the playoffs. Whether those talks lead anywhere is still unclear, but the Flyers are clearly looking for more than just depth pieces as they map out the next step. [Read more 🡒]