DETROIT - The NHL trade market got a lot louder Monday, with several of the summer’s biggest storylines moving from rumor to something much more real.
Teams are calling the Winnipeg Jets about Connor Hellebuyck, but the price hasn’t matched the interest. Darren Dreger reported on TSN TV that clubs are making offers, yet Hellebuyck is not willing to waive his no-trade clause for a Canadian team, and the offers have stunk.
Dylan Larkin is another name drawing attention. Michael Russo said on a radio hit in Minneapolis that the Minnesota Wild understand they may be the only serious team in the mix, and Russo believes Larkin really wants Minnesota. That leaves the situation in a waiting-game stage.
Alex Nikishin is still pushing to get out, but he remains in Carolina.
There was also movement on a couple of contract fronts. Eric Engels reported that Chris Kreider chose Montreal and turned down more money from other teams to sign with the Canadiens. Pierre LeBrun added that Anaheim is making progress on Cutter Gauthier, while Columbus is not getting anywhere with Adam Fantilli.
Back in Pittsburgh, the Penguins are also in the middle of a camp battle that figures to sort winners from losers quickly. There are three second-chance players most likely to break through and make the roster, for different reasons, including one that could spark a stir if it happens. On the other side of that coin, there are three players most likely to leave camp disappointed, because this is a zero-sum business and roster spots don’t multiply.
The Penguins prospects play this morning at 10:30. Tommy Galvas is not expected to play, since all of the defensemen were scheduled to appear in only two games to fit the roster size. Still, there’s at least some curiosity about whether he might get in to keep his momentum going.
Today also offers another look at Tanner Howe, along with a chance to see whether the Rucks picked up anything from the first two games. Even so, the Penguins are the clear class of the tournament. The gap is so wide that it’s not really close, since the other teams are built more around older players, invitees, and free agents than true prospect talent.
Geographically, it’s a solid group, with Columbus and Detroit, plus Dallas. But when it comes to prospect quality, Pittsburgh is light-years ahead of the field.
As for Detroit itself, the day came with some decent food stops. Lunch was a couple of $4 chili dogs from American Coney Island, and dinner came from a small Italian spot near the baseball park. The acoustics there were rough enough to make the experience miserable, with conversations from the back carrying clearly while the bartender at the bar was harder to hear.
The dinner order was the Taglietelle “Ohhh passillo,” a dish with fettuccine, prosciutto, butter, cream, white wine, lemon, and lemon zest. It leaned too far into the lemon, with not quite enough cream to balance it out, landing in a strange middle ground between a Carbonara and an Alfredo, with a citrus orchard mixed in. It gets a 6.5/10.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is not scheduled to speak with reporters for a couple more weeks, but the new trade market has to be something he’s watching closely.
And one more name to keep an eye on: Drake Batherson is about to get paid.
In Other News...
Penguins Are Watching An NHL Standoff That Could Shift The Market
Connor Hellebuycks holdout has become the kind of early-season standoff that can ripple well beyond one roster, and the Penguins are among the clubs watching it with interest. If a goalie of that stature is unavailable while a potential trade hangs in the balance, it can alter the way front offices think about urgency, leverage and timing, especially with training camps already underway around the league.
Pittsburgh has its own roster questions to sort through after not inviting seven prospects to camp, while the organization also sifted through a mixed showing from its young players in a recent tournament. Around the NHL, teams have been busy locking up younger talent on long-term deals, from Anaheims new pact with Cutter Gauthier to recent signings in Washington, New Jersey, Carolina, Ottawa and Montreal, and that backdrop only adds to the sense that one unresolved goalie situation could still reshape the market. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Just Doubled Down On A Very Pittsburgh Identity
The Penguins are leaning even harder into a familiar Pittsburgh theme. United States Steel Corporation will become the clubs official helmet sponsor for the 2026-27 NHL season, with the U.S. Steel logo set to appear on every Penguins helmet, from home and road lids to alternates and practice gear. It is the latest step in a partnership that dates back to 2021, and one that feels especially on-brand for a team that has long embraced the citys industrial identity.
The sponsorship will not be seen in public right away, either. The logo is scheduled to debut when the Penguins take the ice for their preseason game on September 21, 2026, giving the organization a little runway before the change becomes part of the everyday look. For a franchise that has always been tightly tied to its city, the move is another reminder that some team partnerships go well beyond branding and land squarely in the civic DNA of Pittsburgh. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Are Giving A Familiar Defenseman One More Chance To Matter
Training camp season is bringing the usual flurry of low-risk auditions, and for the Penguins, one of the more notable name to land in that mix is goaltender Collin Delia on a professional tryout. PTOs rarely generate much noise on their own, but they can matter for a team sorting through depth, insurance and competition before the preseason settles into a clearer picture. Around the league, the Lightning brought in veteran forward Luke Glendening on the same kind of deal, while Ottawa added goalie Vadim Zherenko.
The most interesting wrinkle for Pittsburghs perspective is how these tryout agreements can open a door without guaranteeing anything beyond a chance to be seen. Delia will get that opportunity in camp and preseason, and Dallas is offering the same sort of shot to defenseman Ben Gleason, a familiar face trying to carve out a place in a crowded field. For teams and players alike, the appeal is simple enough: one more chance to matter, and one more round of evaluation before the roster decisions start to harden. [Read more 🡒]