The trade board is starting to buzz in three different spots, and each situation comes with its own wrinkle. Detroit still has Simon Edvinsson on the clock, Toronto is sniffing around another blue-liner in Calgary, and Montreal’s pursuit of Dylan Larkin picked up a little extra noise after a night at the Bell Centre.
Edvinsson is the one with the most immediate deadline hanging over everything. Chris Johnston reported that he has left Sweden and is headed back to North America, with a photo of him online showing bags packed and ready to go.
That trip home doesn’t mean a deal is done. According to Johnston, Edvinsson wants to work with a trainer he knows well, which puts him closer to the NHL and, in his own mind, a better game-ready shape.
Johnston still said the move “symbolizes some good things.”
Detroit, meanwhile, is running out of runway. If Edvinsson wants to play this season, he has to sign with an NHL team by December 1.
The Red Wings say they want to keep him and are not considering a trade, even though multiple teams have reached out to interim GM Shawn Horcoff. The asking price is high, and some clubs say they can’t get a clear answer out of the organization.
Toronto’s situation is less urgent, but it has the same feel of a team checking every available option for help on the back end. David Pagnotta said the Maple Leafs have had “exploratory” talks about Calgary defenceman Zach Whitecloud.
He added that he is not sure whether Toronto has called since Chayka took over, but noted the Leafs had interest in Whitecloud last season and would figure to be among the teams keeping tabs on him. One thing Toronto likes is the physical edge he brings - they see that he has “some jam” to his game.
Whitecloud has also become a familiar name around the league since Calgary acquired him in the Rasmus Andersson trade, and general managers have been calling about him ever since. The fit makes sense for Toronto, especially with Chris Tanev’s injury adding to the need on defense.
Whitecloud is 29, owns a Stanley Cup ring and has played 404 NHL games, but he has gone scoreless in five games so far for a struggling Flames club. Calgary is listening, but nothing has moved yet.
Montreal’s chase for Dylan Larkin took on a different kind of life after the Bell Centre crowd made itself heard. The Canadiens are still looking for a second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, and Larkin is believed to sit near the top of their list.
Fans chanted “We want Larkin” during the visit, and Larkin later called it the best atmosphere in hockey. Frank Seravalli said that moment could have planted a seed, and he wondered whether it might eventually push Larkin to think differently about waiving his no-trade protection.
Montreal would still have to pay a steep price if Larkin ever became available. Seravalli pointed to the Canadiens’ earlier offer for Kirill Marchenko, which included two NHL forwards, an NHL defenceman, a first-round pick and a conditional pick, and said the team might have to go even further if it wants to land someone at Larkin’s level of need.
There is also the obvious obstacle: Detroit is in the division and probably would not want to send him there. For now, the biggest decision sits with Larkin himself.
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Hurricanes Suddenly Face A Major Problem Without Their Captain
The early-season trade chatter around the league is already starting to pick up, and for the Maple Leafs it comes with a familiar backdrop: they are at least keeping tabs on help for the blue line. Toronto has explored a possible move for Calgary Flames defenceman Zach Whitecloud, a player who has yet to register a point this season, as teams across the NHL continue to sort out their own problems and possibilities.
The interest in Whitecloud is not brand new, either. Torontos previous management group had strong interest in him, and the Canadiens have also been loosely linked, which gives the situation a little more texture as the market starts to take shape. For a Leafs team always weighing defensive depth and future fit, it is another name worth watching even if nothing is close right now. [Read more 🡒]