All eyes are on the Red Wings’ search for their next general manager. Detroit reportedly faces an urgent timeline to hire its new GM amid the Larkin trade request saga, but all hope isn’t lost just yet. In fact, if the Wings land the right candidate, Larkin might think twice before waiving his no-trade clause.

“I think maybe the change in management might—and I’m not speaking for Larkin—but it might change the dynamic a little bit to make him want to stay. I’m not sure that he ends up being traded,” Kevin Weekes said about Larkin’s future with the Red Wings on Off The Roster.

If the Red Wings want to keep Larkin, they might be down to their last bullet in the chamber. Parting with Yzerman was a move in the right direction, but they must seal the deal now. However, while it would do wonders for the lineup, retaining Larkin after the captain cost them so much in the offseason and dragged the franchise’s reputation through the mud may not sit well with the fanbase.

Fans could oppose

Although Larkin walking back his trade request and starting the 2026-27 NHL season with the Red Wings remains a possibility, it wouldn’t come without a price. Most fans in Detroit have turned on Larkin and believe there is no going back.

It has been made clear time and again throughout the offseason. Red Wings fans are returning the favor. Larkin asked to leave the organization, and the fanbase isn’t counting on him anymore.

No way back for Larkin

Thus, even if Larkin changes his mind and decides he wants to stay in Motor City, he will likely be treated to a hostile welcome when the puck drops. Some fans don’t agree and believe having Larkin on board makes the team better.

In fact, most will share that thought. Detroit is better with Larkin, but many don’t care. They feel betrayed by the home-state captain and want him gone. It’s no longer about doing what’s best for the organization; pride and pettiness are involved now.

Staying with Red Wings could be for the worse

If Larkin is to start the season in Detroit, he will likely be booed all night long. It may wane as the days pass, but that would require the team to string together wins and Larkin to get off to the best start of his career. In more ways than one, by staying put, Larkin would be facing a lot more pressure than if he were to leave.

It’s been a long time since he asked out, and he hasn’t given the Red Wings many options to trade him in the NHL. The time for refunds is over, and it appears to be too late for Larkin to have a change of heart—at least, to do so and expect love and mercy from the fans. If he ends up staying, he will have to win them over.

Still, there may finally be progress. After months of slow-moving business and refreshing his inbox only to see everything stay the same, Laine may actually be getting interest from teams across the NHL. A report at least suggests that four teams are showing interest.

Namely, and in no particular order, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning. This is according to Ottawa Citizen reporter Bruce Garrioch, who also hinted that the Ottawa Senators looked into Laine but that it may only be a false alarm.

Maple Leafs and Panthers seem favorites

The Maple Leafs have long been linked to Laine. So much so that a trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buds stopped sounding like a crazy thing to happen in the NHL. That’s how much the Leafs were rumored to be testing the waters around Laine.

Still, for whatever reason, a trade involving Laine between the eternal Canadian foes never happened. Laine’s contract has expired, and he is now up for grabs. Toronto doesn’t have much to lose, so it could be the perfect opportunity.

As for the Panthers, we’ve talked about how great a fit the two are countless times and why it makes sense on virtually every front. The fact that Florida is set to miss Brad Marchand for some time only makes Laine an even more appealing solution.

Question marks around Laine

Every team is aware of what a healthy Laine can bring to the ice. Toronto, Florida, Dallas, Tampa Bay, and even those franchises that haven’t expressed interest know what he is capable of. However, the real dilemma is how much an NHL organization might be willing to pay and commit, and whether the once 40-plus-goal scorer will accept it.

Laine running out of options

Running out of time in the hourglass, Laine may have no option but to sign a professional tryout deal (PTO). There doesn’t seem to be a bidder with a better offer, at least not in North America. It’s either that or traveling across the Atlantic to the Old World.

Laine is still relatively young, so a strong season in Europe could land him back in the NHL, but it remains a risky gamble. Oftentimes, there is no coming back, and a year out of the league doesn’t always pan out.

However, there’s a big difference, and perhaps the reason why Hellebuyck might be traded and Larkin may not, or at least why Hellebuyck could be shipped off faster or more smoothly from Winnipeg ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season. Both have five years left on their contracts and hold no-trade clauses. But while Larkin has only submitted a three-team trade list (Minnesota, Florida, and Vegas) for the Red Wings to work with, Hellebuyck is much more open-minded and willing to waive his NMC.

“It does and has continued to sound like [Hellebuyck is] a lot more open to different scenarios than some of the other guys like Dylan Larkin, which is why you’re hearing teams like Utah and San Jose [for Hellebuyck],” as stated by David Pagnotta on Jets at Noon.

The goaltender has learned the lesson. Being picky about his next club hasn’t done Larkin any good, he’s still in Detroit months after asking out, and fans in his home state have turned on him. Thus, Hellebuyck is reportedly going with a different strategy. Maybe it will help him reach his end goal—being traded—faster and without completely burning a bridge along the way.

Hellebuyck and Jets face less tension, but tense regardless

Hellebuyck going public with his trade request will come at a price for Winnipeg, which lost virtually all its leverage when the news broke. But still, Hellebuyck is giving the Jets a bit more leeway to explore the market and come away with the offer they feel is best. Larkin, on the other hand, hasn’t given Detroit that privilege, and there is little hope he will.

The Red Wings hold on to a sliver of hope that Larkin will walk back his trade request, but he isn’t budging for the time being. When all sides of the U.S. Olympians’ trade requests are put together, it’s clear to see Hellebuyck and the Jets are in a better place than Larkin and the Wings.

For starters, Detroit currently has no general manager in place, directionlessly wandering through a crucial stage of the NHL offseason and set to embark on a nerve-wracking stretch. In fact, a report reveals the Red Wings face an urgent timeline to hire a new GM amid Larkin’s situation.

Which teams could be in on Hellebuyck?

Long story short, about 25 of the 31 teams (not counting the Jets) in the NHL would love to land Hellebuyck. However, not every team is a good fit for him or can actually pull the trade off. That leaves the favorites: the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, and New Jersey Devils.

Other teams to keep an eye on are the San Jose Sharks and Utah Mammoth, who are on a steady upward trend. A blockbuster move for arguably the best goalie in the NHL could be what puts them firmly in the conversation and opens their championship window.

Lastly, fans can’t overlook the usual suspects in the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers. Both have some cap and roster dilemmas to figure out, but that rarely stops them from making moves.

Still, a report indicates that the average annual value range for the defenseman’s next contract is set, and it may only be a matter of ironing out the final details and getting Hughes’ signature. It may sound easy, but Wild fans should know that’s usually one of the hardest things to do. For the time being, they might be better off staying wary than becoming overconfident.

“What does [Hughes] want? Because the money is going to be the money. It’s going to be probably somewhere in between Macklin Celebrini [18.8m AAV] and Cale Makar [20.4m AAV]. That’s going to be his number, we all strongly suspect,” Jeff Marek stated on The Sheet with Jeff Marek.

Hughes could match Makar

It was always expected that Makar and Hughes would mirror or at least take inspiration from each other’s contracts. Whoever signed first would set the bar, and it was wise to think Makar would put pen to paper first.

At the end of the day, the Colorado Avalanche’s blueliner never hinted he wanted to leave the Mile High City, while Hughes has left the door to his future virtually wide open. Now that Makar has put pen to paper on the largest contract in NHL history, and by a wide margin, Hughes could follow suit.

However, although Hughes could match Makar’s AAV, there’s no way he reaches Makar’s $163.2 million total value because the Olympic gold medalist has no interest in signing a max-term contract. Most likely, he will agree to a mid-term deal, around two or three years long. Still, what exactly Hughes wants to see from Minnesota to be convinced remains a mystery.

Hughes leaves Wild in the dark

“Is it [Hughes] needs [GM Bill] Guerin to show him he has the team to be competitive for the next, however many, years? What is it as when Guerin mentions ‘[Hughes] may want different things’? What are those things?” Jeff Marek said.

For the time being, the Wild remain clueless about Hughes’ needs and wishes. As a result, Minnesota remains in the dark, and rumors continue to haunt them with the prospect of losing him soon. In the meantime, the New Jersey Devils can’t help salivate and steeple their fingers. It might finally go down.

“Not finalized just yet, but closing in. [The Rangers] adding 27-year-old Eeli Tolvanen to the mix,” Mollie Walker of the New York Post stated. According to PuckPedia, the deal got done on a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

The 27-year-old right winger is coming off a 36-point season in the 2025-26 NHL campaign. Although far from a household name, Tolvanen has built a steady resume in the last seasons. Tolvanen didn’t get off to a hot start with the Nashville Predators, but found his footing with the Seattle Kraken.

Still, he was allowed to walk into free agency by the Kraken and could take things to the next level in the Big Apple. Over the last three seasons, Tolvanen registers 112 points thanks to 51 goals and 61 assists.

NY Rangers need depth scoring

Averaging only 2.87 goals for per game—10th worst in the NHL last season—the Rangers know they must turn things up a notch in that department. Of New York’s 235 goals last season, 35 belong to former stars Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.

Somebody will have to make up for that lost production, likely newcomers Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Moreover, most of those goals came from the top-six forwards, with Mika Zibanejad (34 goals), Gabe Perreault (12), Alexis Lafreniere (24), and J.T. Miller (17) accounting for most of them.

In fact, only 171 of New York’s 235 goals last season were scored by players still in the organization. That means 50.9% of last season’s goals came from the four-man group of Zibanejad, Perreault, Lafreniere, and Miller. Tolvanen may help as he can provide goals while playing in the bottom six. He did lose his scoring touch last season, dropping from a career-best 23 goals in 2024-25 to a 12-goal output in 2025-26, but could find his mojo in the City That Never Sleeps.

In which line will Tolvanen play in New York?

That remains to be seen, but it’s likely he could join the highly effective third line alongside Noah Laba and Will Cuylle. Tolvanen could replace Taylor Raddysh in that group. A top-six role may be too much, at least on paper and before he even hits the ice in New York.

On the other hand, Tolvanen, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds, may not be the best fit for the energetic fourth-line. Having Matt Rempe patrolling the ice could help him, but it still feels like Tolvanen would be better off on another line, and the third line appears to be the best natural fit.

Still, a report around the Red Wings suggests neither the start of the new NHL season nor training camp is putting Detroit on the clock. Instead, it’s the timeline set by the organization, which is now scrambling to meet the deadline and take the first step toward solving the situation surrounding Larkin and the overall uncertainty surrounding the Winged Wheel.

“They were endeavouring to have the next person in place by Labor Day, so we’re coming up on that this week,” Frank Seravalli stated on Sportsnet’s The FAN Hockey Show.

With Labor Day in 2026 falling on September 7, the Red Wings are running out of time. Whether Larkin is running out of patience as well remains to be seen, but it’s clear the deadline is coming up and failing to meet it would only bring more trouble Detroit’s way—and it’s not like the Red Wings haven’t had enough of it already.

Larkin’s presence at training camp could raise eyebrows

The Red Wings will kickstart their training camp ahead of the 2026-27 NHL campaign on Sept. 17, exactly 10 days after the reported timeline to hire Steve Yzerman’s successor as general manager. Even if the Red Wings meet the deadline, the new leadership group would have little time to work with and would have to either trade Larkin or convince him to stay.

Thus, it’s very likely the disgruntled captain—whose status as captain is at stake for next season—will be on the ice for the start of training camp, making everything much more chaotic than it has to be. Perhaps Larkin holds out of training camp and makes his desire to leave even more noticeable. Either scenario is far from ideal and would leave Detroit in a pickle.

Clearly, the best plan is to figure things out before the team reunites at the Belfor Training Center. Whether it’s trading Larkin or convincing him to stay, that’s where the problem is—and what the new general manager will have to figure out in a little over a week, if he even has that much time.

The Red Wings are standing in front of a high-stakes domino effect. Mixed with thrill, anxiety, and fear, Detroit must let the first chip fall before watching everything unfold. It can be disastrous or magically healing, but there’s only one way to find out. And the reported timeline indicates the Red Wings have less than a week left before things kick off.

Yzerman is long gone

While many remain wary of Yzerman’s new role as senior adviser to governor and CEO Chris Ilitch after he stepped down (or was forced to do so) as executive vice president and general manager, a report states Yzerman is no longer a loud voice within the organization. His new role may be nothing more than a formality and a charming title to soften the fall for one of the best players in franchise history.

“Even though Yzerman is still technically part of the organization, he really has no influence, no say, nothing,” Ansar Khan said during an appearance on the Oilers NOW with Bob Stauffer podcast. “It’s just a figurehead position of consulting that he’s in. Yzerman is out of the way.”

Still, a replacement has yet to be named. The clock is ticking, the pressure is on, but the Red Wings haven’t disclosed much. If they made any progress in their search, they sure have kept their cards close to the vest.

According to a report around the league, the Red Wings are holding on to hope that Larkin isn’t too far gone yet. Maybe parting with Steve Yzerman proves to be the history-changing decision Detroit thought it would be. Of course, however, the Winged Wheel’s brass would have to nail the new general manager hire. It would all be in vain if not.

“Dylan Larkin has not rescinded his trade request, but I think there is at least a little bit more optimism that maybe the new GM comes in, has a meeting with Larkin, and is able to maybe patch up the differences. Really his main issue was Steve Yzerman,” Ansar Khan said during an appearance on Oilers NOW with Bob Stauffer.

Larkin still holds his ground

Larkin hasn’t publicly said or hinted at anything related to staying in Detroit. In fact, he appears set on leaving. However, he remains under contract for years to come, and a new general manager is—or at least should be—on the way to Motor City. That might be enough for the Red Wings to have faith.

Not every fan in Detroit wants Larkin to stay, but the organization is much better off with Larkin than without him, especially when the Wings are tied up in trade conversations. In order to figure things out, Larkin must help out Detroit.

Larkin holds an NTC and is only willing to waive it for three teams in the NHL: the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights. The Dallas Stars are another option, based on reports, but it’s still only a four-team list at best.

More of the same between Larkin and Red Wings

Long story short, it’s all stayed the same in Detroit. Other than the fact that Steve Yzerman is no longer making the decisions inside the organization, everything else looks much like it did when Larkin came forward and asked to be traded to a new team before the 2026-27 NHL season.

The Wings are only weeks away from the start of training camp, but Larkin is still on the roster. Fans may not like it and may make themselves heard on social media, but they have no access to the red button in Detroit that would complete Larkin’s move. As things stand, actually, no one has access to it. And because of it, Larkin is still a Red Wing—even if against his will.

Hellebuyck’s trade list has yet to be disclosed, but there may be no need for it. According to most reports around the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres have been linked to Hellebuyck for a while. Maybe now is the time a deal actually gets done. However, the Sabres aren’t alone, and there will be other teams all over the 33-year-old netminder, who is under contract through the 2030-31 NHL season.

Carrying a more-than-reasonable $8.5 million cap hit and with a maximum total salary of $10 million in the next five seasons, there are no salary-cap concerns around Hellebuyck. However, most of the teams being linked to him may have to work some magic in order to land the Michigan native. When there’s a will, there’s a way, though, and some of Hellebuyck’s potential suitors have a history of making moves even amid a cap crunch.

Potential suitors for Hellebuyck

Buffalo is the favorite. It possesses the prospects, draft picks, and, most importantly, the cap space to land Hellebuyck. However, with the goalie holding the key to his exit, it may not come down to who has the best offer.

The Sabres saw their magical 2025-26 campaign come to a crushing end, in part because they could never firmly establish their starting goaltender. Hellebuyck would solve that, not only for next season but for five straight years, and perhaps even longer.

In addition to the Sabres, other teams who could be all over Hellebuyck include: the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Vegas Golden Knights. Let’s take a closer look at each of these Stanley Cup contenders, and why they could be Hellebuyck’s next destination.

Panthers could add yet another Infinity Stone

The Panthers have been favorites to land Hellebuyck ever since reports broke of the goalie’s frustration in Manitoba. What’s not to like about Florida? Playing for arguably the best team in the NHL when healthy, joining an undeniable Stanley Cup contender, reuniting with fellow Team USA teammates Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, and, to top it off, joining a franchise in a no-income-tax state.

From the Panthers’ standpoint, the main deterrent is that they just signed Jacob Markstrom to a two-year, $12 million contract ($6 million cap hit). They could always trade Markstrom to Winnipeg, but that would hinge on whether Markstrom hasn’t included the Jets on his 20-team no-trade list.

The Cats also have less than $35,000 available in cap space, which complicates a move for Hellebuyck. But that doesn’t feel like as big of an issue when they have Bill Zito working his craft behind the scenes. Adding Hellebuyck could be Florida’s best chance at replacing Sergei Bobrovsky and getting back to a Stanley Cup Final next year.

As for Hellebuyck, the Panthers may give him the best chance at winning a Stanley Cup in his NHL career while reuniting him with former head coach Paul Maurice. It just makes too much sense.

Hurricanes plus Hellebuyck: Back to back dream

In addition to the suspense around RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, the reigning Stanley Cup champions face a large, unavoidable question in net. Frederik Andersen left for the Edmonton Oilers, and although Brandon Bussi proved he can hold his ground, the Hurricanes are missing a bona fide elite goaltender to cruise their way through the flagging Metropolitan Division and be firing on all cylinders by the time the postseason starts.

Carolina has roughly $9.8 million available in cap space, via PuckPedia, so that won’t prevent it from going after Hellebuyck. In Raleigh, Hellebuyck could reunite with fellow Team USA member Jaccob Slavin. That seems to be a trend among the gold medalists who asked out of their organizations after the national team provided them with the long-yearned-for feeling of being on a championship team.

Lastly, the Hurricanes own three of their next four first-round picks in the NHL Draft, which could come in handy in negotiations with the Jets. Entering a new season, no team is more favored to win than the reigning champs, and judging by the fact that there have been two back-to-back champions since the turn of the decade, if Hellebuyck wants to win now, Carolina might be his safest bet.

Hellebuyck can become a Golden Knight

Falling just short of the Stanley Cup last season, Vegas isn’t going anywhere. Bruce Cassidy and John Tortorella are gone, Ryan Craig is now in charge, but these are still the same old Golden Knights. If there’s a big name out there making himself available, best believe they will be all over it—and especially a goaltender like Hellebuyck.

However, Vegas has a lot of hurdles in the way. The organization in Sin City is currently $8.6 million over the salary cap, but it could always gain some ground by making timely long-term injured reserve (LTIR) decisions. The Knights could also clear some space by moving Adin Hill, maybe in exchange for Hellebuyck while giving up something more. Hill carries a $6.25 million cap hit. As long as Winnipeg’s name isn’t written on his 10-team no-trade list, the deal could happen.

The Golden Knights can’t trade either of their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, as both have already been dealt on conditional terms. All in all, the Knights face a steep climb to make a trade for Hellebuyck, with battles on several fronts. However, if there’s one thing an organization named the Vegas Golden Knights will never back down from, it’s a fight and a gamble. Making a move for Hellebuyck provides both in perfect measure, so expect the Knights to be a player at this table.

The Cats, however, make a lot of sense as an NHL landing spot for Laine—even if it’s only on a professional tryout contract (PTO). It’s been reported that Laine and his camp have no wish to sign such an uncertain deal.

However, seeing how tough the market is out there and with no better offer guaranteed to come forward, it may be only a matter of time before Laine accepts such terms. That the Panthers will offer him such a deal, however, is far from certain, and a report states that nothing has actually happened between the two sides.

“There has been some speculation that Florida could make such an offer to Patrik Laine. That, as of right now, is simply just speculative,” George Richards reported on Florida Hockey Now.

Panthers could use someone like Laine

With Brad Marchand expected to miss time—how much exactly remains unknown—during the 2026-27 NHL season, the Panthers are staring at a glaring hole on their third line. Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen are two of the most underrated two-way forwards in the league, but could really use some scoring help. Provided he finds his footing, who better than Laine?

That’s not to say Florida expects the former Montreal Canadiens forward to score 44 goals like he did in his sophomore season (2017-18), but rather somewhere in between that career year and his recent 20-goal season in 2024-25 with the Habs. In addition to the obvious need in the top nine for Florida, there is another link between Laine and the Panthers.

Maurice could reunite with Laine in South Florida

Head coach Paul Maurice was in charge in Winnipeg when the Jets drafted Laine second overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. With Maurice, Laine had the best seasons of his career. Under Maurice’s orders, Laine appeared in 306 games, scoring 140 goals and assisting on another 110 for a total of 250 points.

Laine would be in for a steep climb in Florida, but that would apply to any new destination. In Sunrise, he could reunite with the head coach who got the best out of him while joining forces with fellow Finns Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola. Not just that, but he could complete an all-Suomi line with Lundell and Luostarinen.

The ball is in Florida’s court now. It remains to be seen if they move beyond the rumor phase and go through with a deal, or if it all stays a case of what could’ve been—yet another in the long list in NHL history.

“Larkin to Montreal is what makes sense. But Larkin has got to come around to it and, obviously, he hasn’t as of now,” as stated by Bryan Hayes on TSN. “But the idea of having [Nick] Suzuki and Larkin as your one-two in Montreal with all the firepower on the wing and all of the prospects on the system. That just makes too much sense. And [Larkin] is locked up, like all the other players.”

Out of the four teams Larkin has reportedly given the green light to, only the Minnesota Wild are serious about acquiring him. However, that seriousness can’t help them grow prospects or NHL-ready centers out of trees and reach an agreement with Detroit.

That’s where the Canadiens could enter the conversation. The Habs have it all: the cap space, the prospects, and the trade package. All they are missing, however, is Larkin’s thumbs-up.

Larkin must waive his NTC for Montreal

Signed to a No Trade Clause (NTC), Larkin has the final say. He decides where he will go next. He can’t determine when, though, and is now forced to wait for Detroit’s hiring resolution. Until then, he won’t be headed anywhere in the NHL.

Regardless, sooner or later, the Red Wings will hire Steve Yzerman’s successor, and when that happens, the floodgates may open for Larkin’s trade. If Montreal shows interest in Detroit’s captain, a trade could happen. But it will come down to Larkin and whether he waives his NTC for the Habs.

Moreover, trading Larkin to an Atlantic Division rival might be frowned upon in Motor City, so it won’t exactly be the best way to introduce the new front office in town. Still, the other viable option may be the Wild, and the latter likely won’t have a better offer than the Canadiens. Just like Detroit is wary making a deal with Montreal, Larkin might have his doubts about moving to Canada, as well.

Larkin may not want to move to Montreal

Larkin’s reported four-team trade list paints a clear picture of everything the disgruntled captain is after. His selection of Vegas, Florida, Minnesota, and Dallas hints at three things. Larkin wants to join a Stanley Cup contender and a team with major presence of fellow Team USA gold medalists.

Although his main option is the Wild, the three other choices hint that Larkin also favors an NHL organization in a no-income-tax state. While Stanley Cup contenders, the Canadiens, Montreal, and playing for a Canadian team don’t meet any of the other criteria. In fact, they might all be at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Moreover, the latest trend in the NHL hints that Team USA players are on their way out of the Great White North. Brady Tkachuk asked out of the Ottawa Senators despite being the team captain, while both Auston Matthews and Connor Hellebuyck are surrounded by trade speculation with their respective Canadian clubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets.

Who Larkin could reunite with

In Montreal, Larkin could still join forces with Americans Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, who weren’t Team USA representatives at the 2026 Olympics—which was a controversial decision in its own right and one that led to social media backlash. Larkin and Caufield usually skate together during the offseason, but it remains to be seen if the former would want to join him in Quebec.

At the end of the day, it still feels unlikely that Larkin pulls the trigger on a move across the border. However, judging by how the buzz around him has dried up and considering his main options are unrealistic, Larkin might change his plans.

Minnesota is interested but has its hands tied behind its back. Florida, Vegas, and Dallas are staying idle with their arms crossed. Montreal, on the other hand, has its arms open wide. It’s up to Larkin whether he will accept the hug.

Addressing the middle of the ice is an absolute must for the Rangers, especially from a long-term perspective. Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller won’t be in Manhattan forever, and at some point, a top-six center must come up through New York’s ranks. Beaudoin could very well be the franchise center of the future.

Considering Beaudoin is the second-highest-ranked prospect in the Rangers’ pipeline (behind the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, LHD Alberts Smits), there are enough reasons for fans in New York City to be anxious to watch him take the ice at Madison Square Garden. However, all signs point to his NHL debut having to wait—at the very least, until Beaudoin makes his first professional appearance in the AHL.

According to Dan Rosen of NHL.com, the 20-year-old center may not make his Rangers debut until the 2027-28 season. Perhaps Beaudoin debuts in 2026-27 but only plays a couple of games before returning to the AHL, where he is expected to have a strong first year with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Beaudoin has yet to make pro debut

Spending the past four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Barrie Colts, Beaudoin has yet to join a professional hockey club for a full season. The OHL is one of three major junior ice hockey leagues under the Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) umbrella.

Although he was drafted by the Utah Hockey Club with the 24th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and signed his entry-level contract shortly after, Beaudoin was never called up to the NHL or AHL by Utah. As a result, his contract slid past its first two seasons.

As he joins the Rangers, Beaudoin’s three-year, $2.92 million rookie deal remains untouched. This means he will become a restricted free agent in 2029, when the Ottawa native will be 23 years old.

Beaudoin’s stats

Beaudoin registered 88 points (33 goals and 55 assists) across 54 games with the Colts last season, as well as a seven-point performance with Canada at the World Juniors. Clearly, he has the ingredients to succeed, but it may come down to how the Rangers develop him, and that’s been an issue of its own in the Big Apple.