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...
Penguins Latest Malkin Line Test Says A Lot About Their Young Forwards
Early in the 2026-27 season, Dan Muse is already in lineup-reshuffling mode, with injuries and uneven play pushing the Penguins to keep searching for the right combinations. That search has made the young forwards especially important, and it has also underscored how much Kyle Dubas has been willing to adjust the roster after bringing in defenseman Spencer Stastney from Edmonton while losing Filip Hallander.
One of the more interesting tests has come with Ben Kindel centered between Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin, a trio that did not offer much in limited looks last season. Muse has also had reason to lean into Hendrix Lapierre at center, where he has looked more productive and shown real chemistry with Ville Koivunen, while Andrei Kuzmenko has not found the same level of effectiveness so far. For a Penguins group trying to sort out its depth, those combinations may say as much about the young players as they do about Malkins line. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Prospect Carter Sanderson Is Forcing A Bigger Conversation
A year after hearing his name called in the 2025 NHL Draft, Carter Sanderson is starting to make the kind of noise that gets noticed far beyond junior hockey circles. The Penguins prospect arrived in Calgary and immediately looked like more than a developmental project, bringing the same blend of edge and skill that helped him captain the Muskegon Lumberjacks to a USHL Clark Cup and earn a spot at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase.
Whats turning heads now is how quickly Sandersons game is translating in the early going of the WHL season, where he has piled up production at a pace that demands attention. For Pittsburgh, the bigger question is no longer simply whether the 169th pick has upside, but how much traction hes gaining in the conversation for Team USAs World Junior Championship roster. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Roster Shuffle Puts New Focus On Whos Available Next
Justin Brazeau is finally back in the mix for Pittsburgh after spending the start of the season on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, giving the Penguins another forward option as they continue to sort through an early-season roster. To make room, the team placed Elmer Sderblom on injured reserve after an upper-body injury, while also sending Avery Hayes and defenseman Chase Pietila to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The shuffle leaves the Penguins with a little more clarity on the immediate lineup picture, but not much margin for error as the injuries keep stacking up. Brazeaus return is a timely boost, yet the roster movement also opens the door to more questions about who might be available next and how long Pittsburgh can keep piecing things together without further setbacks. [Read more 🡒]