There’s a new trade rumor making the rounds, and it’s a big one: The Fourth Period is reporting that Dallas and Detroit may have discussed a Jason Robertson-for-Dylan Larkin swap. Take that one with a shaker of salt, but it’s the kind of idea that stops you in your tracks.
The ripple effects from Leo Carlsson are still being felt too. Sportsnet is now looking at which star players could be next to cash in, with max contracts potentially putting a strain on budgets around the league.
In Columbus, GM Don Waddell is pushing back hard on the wave of Zach Werenski trade chatter. According to TSN, Waddell said the reporting around the situation and the organizational conversations has been off base. Elsewhere at TSN, Claude Giroux spoke after signing a new contract with Ottawa last week and said none of the Senators saw the Brady Tkachuk trade coming, calling it a shock for the room.
The Penguins made a couple of moves Tuesday as Kyle Dubas continued shaping the front office and roster. After director of hockey operations and legal affairs Vukie Mpofu left for the Nashville Predators last week to become their assistant GM, Dubas filled the opening by adding the fourth member of his former Toronto inner circle. That means the Penguins’ front office is now complete.
On the ice, Pittsburgh also signed Nick Robertson to a two-year contract that came in as a somewhat surprising deal in size.
The Penguins prospect countdown rolled on as well, with Nos. 15 through 11 featuring a group of all-or-nothing types who could either break through in a big way or disappear from view. The broader Top 20 list is still taking shape, and three players who might belong won’t be included.
Ville Koivunen is out because he’s no longer waiver-exempt and has already played more than 40 NHL games, which means his career has moved beyond prospect status. Rutger McGroarty and Owen Pickering remain waiver-exempt and could still show up.
Around the league, Boston added another familiar name to its hockey operations group. Dennis Bonvie, who was a fan favorite in the Penguins organization and spent time in Pittsburgh before becoming a fixture in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, is now the new assistant general manager for the Bruins.
Florida also added depth on July 1, bringing in Lars Eller to fill its fourth-line center spot. He spoke to Panthers media after the signing, with Florida Hockey Now noting the move came after the team targeted an intense pivot who remains one of the better bottom-line centers in the game.
And there’s still one more question hanging out there: Patrick Kane make sense?
In Other News...
Penguins Could Have Another Ducks Deal Fans Will Definitely Debate
The Penguins have made a habit of turning salary-cap room into future assets, and that approach has become one of the more recognizable parts of Kyle Dubas roster-building playbook. Instead of sitting on unused space, Pittsburgh has been willing to help other clubs solve their cap problems if it means adding draft capital, even when the deal is more about bookkeeping than immediate help on the ice.
Anaheim now looks like the kind of team that could fit that pattern, with enough pressure on its books to at least make the idea worth discussing. If the Ducks decide they need relief, Pittsburgh could be the kind of partner that takes on a contract and asks for a sweetener in return, and the debate for Penguins fans would be whether another future pick is worth absorbing that kind of money. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins May Have Found A Goalie Prospect Worth Watching Closely
The Penguins added a goalie prospect worth a closer look in Matvei Nikonovich, the Minsk-born netminder they took in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. At 160th overall, he was not the kind of pick that turns heads immediately, but his recent work in the Rus-MHL with Tolyatti Ladia gave the organization a reason to pay attention.
Nikonovichs numbers last season were strong enough to stand out, and his development now comes with a layer of uncertainty because of what happens next in Russia. He could remain overseas for a while before the Penguins even begin thinking about bringing him to their North American pipeline, which makes him one of those late-round goalie bets that can take patience before the payoff comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins May Have Found A Trade Fit For Life After Crosby And Malkin
As the Penguins keep sorting out what life will look like after Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, one recent trade idea points them toward a younger center with some offensive upside. A Daily Faceoff piece from Mike Gould named Pittsburgh as a possible destination for a Seattle forward who could help bridge that gap, the kind of move that would fit a team trying to stay competitive while also thinking a step ahead.
The appeal is obvious enough: the Penguins need more long-term help down the middle, and this player has already shown he can contribute at the NHL level. He put up 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games last season, and after a stronger scoring year before that, he looks like the sort of upside swing that could make sense for a club trying to balance the present with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]