The Detroit Red Wings are drawing a hard line with Simon Edvinsson, while the Philadelphia Flyers remain stuck in the same ugly spot: still winless. On top of that, trade talk is starting to build around Philly, and a report out of Montreal says there’s already a standing offer Detroit would take if Dylan Larkin agreed to go.
That’s the NHL landscape right now, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are also pulling their share of the attention. PHN dug into the team’s current form with a full look at what’s going wrong, and the takeaway is clear enough: after seven games, something isn’t right with Pittsburgh. It’s not the same level of damage as the mess that existed in Toronto in December 2024, but it’s enough to raise alarms.
Detroit’s situation comes with a firmer stance. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff said not to expect a trade involving Edvinsson, a move that at least provides clarity even as it underscores the wider instability in the organization. Meanwhile, the Flyers are the team most willing to stir the market, with Will James laying out which trade rumors make sense and which ones don’t.
There’s also a note from The Sheet podcast that Montreal has a deal ready to go for Larkin if he agrees to head there. As reported, the offer would be accepted by Detroit under that condition.
Elsewhere, one familiar face is nearing the end of a long run. Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw said his TV career is almost over, calling it the end of a ride that’s stretched across the years.
And yes, the Flyers are still winless. Until that changes, it’s the headline they’re going to wear.
In Other News...
Penguins Road Trip Is Turning Up The Pressure On Key Roster Battles
The Penguins road trip rolls on with tests against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, and the trip is arriving at just the right time to sharpen a few roster questions. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has given the organization some encouragement with strong recent road wins, but the NHL club is still sorting through who can steady things at this level, especially after Sergei Murashovs costly mistake against the Chicago Blackhawks put a spotlight on the margin for error.
Ville Koivunen remains one of the names worth watching as the Penguins keep evaluating the bottom and middle of the lineup, and his place is not locked in as the games get tougher. The addition of Ryan Johnson was meant to help fortify the blue line, so these next stops on the trip should tell a lot about how the team wants to balance development, depth and immediate needs as the roster battle continues. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Still Searching For Answers As Power Play Problems Grow
The Penguins power play has gone cold at an awkward time, sliding to 0-for-16 after a strong start and forcing the club to devote a chunk of practice in Chicago to cleaning it up. Dan Muse spent the session working through adjustments, a sign that the issue has become more than a short-term blip and is now something the coaching staff feels it has to address directly.
Muse also used the day to tinker with the broader lineup picture, including giving Elmer Soderblom a regular place in the fourth-line mix after what the staff has seen from him in game action. The changes suggest Pittsburgh is looking for a little more rhythm and balance across its forward groups while it searches for a power-play spark, but the exact combinations Muse settles on will be worth watching going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Erik Karlsson Just Became A Penguins Question Fans Cant Ignore
Erik Karlsson has quickly become one of the more interesting names hanging over the Penguins this season, not because of anything he has done on the ice in Pittsburgh, but because of where the team stands and what comes next. The veteran defenseman has been viewed as a potential trade candidate in a league where contenders always keep an eye on mobile, high-end blue liners, and his situation only gets more layered with the Penguins off to a 3-3-1 start and sitting fourth in their division.
For the Penguins, the question is less about whether Karlsson still matters and more about what kind of team they will be by the time the market starts to tighten. If Pittsburgh stays in the thick of the playoff chase, there is a path for this to remain a hockey decision rather than a transaction one. But if the standings slide and the deadline picture changes, Karlsson becomes the kind of storyline that can follow a club for months before reaching a resolution. [Read more 🡒]