The NHL rumor mill has two big names at the center of it right now, and both situations have plenty of moving parts. The Buffalo Sabres are still trying to pry Dylan Larkin out of Detroit, while Nikita Kucherov’s trade request out of Tampa Bay has already put a long list of teams on alert.
Buffalo’s push for Larkin remains alive, but the Red Wings captain is still holding firm on his current stance. Emily Kaplan of ESPN said the Sabres, along with Montreal and Boston, are among the clubs trying to persuade Detroit to get Larkin to rethink his preferred destinations list. Chris Johnston reported that Buffalo has already put a substantial offer on the table, but the Red Wings couldn’t really take it seriously because Larkin isn’t willing to go there.
Even after a strong playoff run last season, Larkin hasn’t moved off that position. Elliotte Friedman reported that could eventually change, though. Darren Dreger of TSN added that Buffalo is still a no-go for Larkin, while noting he might be open to them if he remains on the sidelines and isn’t making any money.
Kucherov’s situation in Tampa Bay is a different kind of mess. He said his trade request isn’t about salary or doubts about the Lightning’s chances. Instead, the three-time Stanley Cup champion pointed to his relationship with general manager Julien BriseBois, saying the breakdown came from how contract talks were handled.
Speaking with reporters Monday, Kucherov said communication had been poor and that he had only two conversations with management over four months. He also took issue with BriseBois telling him he was free to leave when his contract expired July 1.
His agent, Dan Milstein, also pushed back on the idea that Kucherov thinks Tampa Bay is no longer a contender. Milstein said Kucherov loves the organization, his teammates, and head coach Jon Cooper, and that the issue is strictly between the player and management.
The tension has naturally invited comparisons to Steven Stamkos’ departure in 2024, when BriseBois also chose not to meet the captain’s contract expectations.
Around the league, interest in Kucherov is already building. Pierre LeBrun reported that at least 25 teams could have internal interest, with several clubs standing out as possible landing spots.
The Maple Leafs would make sense as a fit next to Auston Matthews, while the Canadiens could appeal because of Kucherov’s relationship with head coach Martin St. Louis.
Other teams mentioned as possible suitors include the Utah Mammoth, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Seattle Kraken. The Red Wings could also get involved, especially with their connection to Kucherov through Larkin.
For now, Tampa Bay looks prepared to keep Kucherov through the rest of the season. As LeBrun wrote:
“The most important thing to know at this early stage is that, as far as I understand, Kucherov does not yet have a short list of teams. He has been focused on making this difficult decision with Tampa Bay, but in terms of letting his mind wander to other teams, Kucherov will need to take his time over the next few months and do a deep dive with his agent on potential fits.”
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Let A Vital Home Point Slip Over One Costly Mistake
Jack Roslovic did enough to give the Maple Leafs a chance, scoring both Toronto goals in a tight 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 33 of 36 shots, and for long stretches the game looked like the kind of home effort that should at least have produced a point.
Instead, one late mistake changed the night. A penalty in the final stretch handed Utah a power play in a tied game, and the visitors made Toronto pay with the decisive goal. For a Leafs team trying to bank every point it can at home, it was the sort of lapse that lingers because the margin was so thin. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Still Need More From Darren Raddysh In One Key Area
Darren Raddysh has already shown he can help the Maple Leafs in a few different ways, and his early profile with the club reflects that. He is tied for third on the team in shots on goal, a sign that he is getting involved offensively, but his own focus has been broader than just finishing chances. After reflecting on his scoring last season, Raddysh said he is willing to contribute however he can to Torontos success, including in his own end.
Coach Jim Hiller has noticed the defensive work and the way Raddysh helps move the puck on the power play, which has been one of the teams strengths. The next step, though, is finding a little more assertiveness as a shooter, because the Leafs could use him to turn more of those looks into actual attempts. For a player trying to carve out a bigger role, that balance between supporting the attack and becoming more direct could matter as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs May Be Falling Behind In The Dylan Larkin Sweepstakes
The Dylan Larkin chatter around the league has taken on a new shape, and it is not one that favors Toronto. Minnesota has reportedly put together a serious trade pitch to Detroit for the Red Wings captain, one built around high-end prospects and a pile of future draft capital, which is the sort of package that can change a front offices thinking in a hurry. For the Maple Leafs, who have been monitoring the situation like everyone else, the issue is less about interest than about whether they can realistically match the kind of return another contender is lining up.
From Torontos perspective, this is where the market gets tricky. The Leafs have long been linked to star-level upgrades, but the assets needed to win a bidding war are not always there, and this one appears to be tilting toward a team with more flexibility. Nothing is settled and no agreement is in place, but if Detroit is weighing offers purely on upside and volume, Toronto may already be on the outside looking in. [Read more 🡒]