A few of the NHL’s biggest offseason storylines are starting to sharpen, and the pressure points are easy to spot: Toronto’s social media tease, Minnesota’s all-in bet on Dylan Larkin, Chicago’s quick work with Connor Bedard, and Dallas staring down a July 25 deadline with Jason Robertson.
The Toronto Maple Leafs got people talking over the weekend when they posted a highlight video of former forward James van Riemsdyk. Van Riemsdyk, 37, is still unsigned, and the timing naturally sent fans down the reunion rabbit hole. He did score 15 goals last season, so the fit is easy enough to imagine if Toronto wanted a short-term option with some net-front value and veteran scoring touch.
But the post appears to be exactly what it looks like on the surface: nostalgia content. The Maple Leafs also made videos for Tyler Bozak and Justin Holl, and the expectation is that they’ll keep doing the same thing.
Minnesota’s offseason, meanwhile, may be where the real risk is showing up. The Wild reportedly put Dylan Larkin at the center of their plans and shifted away from other possibilities while trying to land him. GM Bill Guerin’s focus on the Red Wings captain meant Minnesota passed on other options, including Vincent Trocheck, who ended up in Utah, as well as Anders Lee.
That gamble now looks shaky. With Steve Yzerman stepping down in Detroit, any possible Larkin deal is in limbo.
And in Detroit, the search for a new GM is either already underway or about to be. Several candidates are expected to come up, and Brendan Shanahan’s name has surfaced.
Elliotte Friedman said the former Maple Leafs president would be interested in the opening.
In Chicago, the chain reaction may have gone the other way. The Blackhawks’ trade for Bowen Byram appears to have played a major role in Connor Bedard’s five-year extension.
Bedard and Byram are close, have trained together in the offseason, and both have represented Canada internationally. Reports say Bedard was thrilled with the move and reached out to Byram right after the deal.
Dallas has its own clock ticking. The Stars and Jason Robertson are still nowhere near anything final, whether that ends up being an extension or a trade.
Robertson’s arbitration hearing is set for July 25, and that date now looms as the key marker. He’s holding firm on his asking price, and contracts like Leo Carlsson’s give him reason to stay put.
The Stars, for their part, remain reluctant.
If nothing breaks soon, the noise is only going to get louder. Trade talk could heat up, and Pittsburgh has been mentioned as a team with interest. At this point, it feels like one of those situations where something has to give - either a major extension or a surprise move.
In Other News...
This Wild Leafs Trade Idea Would Divide The Fanbase Fast
A social-media trade idea has been making the rounds involving one of Torontos longest-tenured defensemen and a high-profile veteran forward in Nashville, and it is the kind of proposal that instantly splits a fanbase. On paper, the cap math is not as messy as it might first seem, but the bigger issue is that there is no real indication this is anything more than internet speculation.
No major insider has reported talks, and there is no sign the front offices have actually discussed a deal. Even if the framework were to gain traction, both players hold full no-movement clauses, so any move would require their approval, and Toronto would likely need to add more to the package to get it across the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Brutal Max Domi Cap Dilemma
Max Domis injury has left the Maple Leafs staring at a cap problem that is bigger than the usual early-summer bookkeeping. Toronto is weighing whether to park him on long-term injured reserve for temporary relief while it waits to see how his status develops, a move that would help in the short term but does not solve much if he is able to return later.
A trade would create a cleaner path, but it would not come cheaply. Moving Domi would likely mean giving up something else of value to make the money work, and the Leafs would still need to keep trimming the roster in other places to stay compliant. For a team trying to preserve flexibility, the choice between a temporary fix and a more painful transaction is exactly the kind of cap squeeze that can shape the rest of the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Another No. 1 Pick Just Sent A Message To Gavin McKenna
As Gavin McKenna gets ready for his first NHL season, he has already heard from a recent No. 1 pick who knows the pressure that comes with the label. Matthew Schaefer, the 2025 top selection and Calder Trophy winner, offered the kind of early guidance that usually matters most to a young player stepping into the league for the first time, urging McKenna to enjoy the experience, stay confident and keep developing with the help of teammates and coaches.
The timing makes the message even more interesting for Toronto fans, because the two are set to meet early in the season and provide an immediate look at how the next wave of talent stacks up. For McKenna, the spotlight will only grow from here, and for Schaefer, it is another reminder that the No. 1 pick conversation does not end on draft night. [Read more 🡒]