“It’s not as if [Steve] Yzerman can say, ‘You know, you’ve only given us a couple of different teams. I don’t like the packages we’re getting, so you’re going to come back and play.’ Yzerman has got to move him. Detroit needs to do something here,” as reported on The Sheet with Jeff Marek.

Although Larkin’s trade request is often compared to the examples set by fellow Team USA teammates Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, and Matthew Tkachuk, the Red Wings’ captain may be setting an unforeseen precedent. If he gets his way and is moved by Detroit to one of the teams on Larkin’s reported trade list, then the veteran could pull off a move that completely changes the NHL landscape.

Why Larkin’s trade request is different

When a franchise player asks to be traded, the request often comes ahead of a contract year or when there are few years left on his deal. That way, leverage is granted to him because no team wants to risk losing a star to free agency.

However, unrestricted free agency is nowhere near for Larkin. Detroit’s captain is under contract through the 2030-31 NHL season. Regardless, he has managed to put the Red Wings on the clock. The fact the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft is right around the corner can also play to Larkin and his camp’s advantage.

Larkin’s example is one that sends chills down the spine of every league executive, especially those in organizations that, like Detroit, haven’t been able to break through the bubble and make the Stanley Cup Playoffs on a yearly basis. Perhaps, the true impact of max-term deals had been greatly exaggerated.

Larkin’s trade request was a long time coming in Detroit

Larkin has played only five career postseason games, all of which came during his rookie year back in 2016. A decade later, the Red Wings drag the longest active playoff drought in the league. For that, the Winged Wheel only has itself to blame.

Everybody points to the role played by Team USA’s camaraderie in leading several players to ask out of difficult situations around the league. While it might be a reasonable point to make, it’s clear Larkin’s frustration with the “Yzerplan” in Motor City existed long before he joined the Stars and Stripes at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics. If anything, it only accelerated the process.

But it was always going to be a foregone conclusion. Only Detroit could stop it by winning. The Red Wings didn’t. Larkin deserves a share of the blame for his performance, especially late in the season and at five-on-five, but the writing was on the wall long before, whether the front office in the 313 cared to address it or not.

Red Wings are out of options

It’s time for Detroit to face the music. The Red Wings can twist and maneuver their way through negotiations and trade packages, but there appears to be no avoiding the inevitable. Larkin has made up his mind: he wants out of Detroit.

The fact he is under contract for the next five years may matter little, and a precedent could be set that completely shifts how every struggling franchise handles its stars. If Larkin can free himself from Motor City without needing to flirt with free agency, then the rest of the league may be in trouble, and the NHL’s apex contenders could become unstoppable.

Turning point in NHL history

If the Detroits of the league can’t stop their Larkins from forcing their way to the Vegases, Minnesotas, and Floridas of the world, then it might be all she wrote for the so-called parity in the NHL. What good would long-term deals with full no-movement clauses be?

Larkin may be on the verge of creating a watershed moment. If he gets his way—which is reportedly the direction things are heading—the league may be past the point of no return.

At the end of the day, the Rangers are in a rough situation, but life in New York City may make it all worthwhile. Perhaps Fox would be interested in leaving the organization ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season, but not for the Sharks, who, for all the forward talent they possess, are still a ways away from becoming true Stanley Cup contenders. If he is to be traded, Fox might want to join a Cup favorite rather than a team that must first go through its growing pains.

“Fox appears unwilling to waive his NMC for any deal involving San Jose,” Jonny Lazarus of Daily Faceoff reported on his X account.

San Jose needs defensive help

Although Fox hasn’t openly admitted a desire to leave New York, he remains one of the Rangers’ biggest trade chips should the organization decide to hold a garage sale at Madison Square Garden.

The Sharks might be the most defense-needy team among the NHL’s playoff bubble clubs. With the likes of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa, and many others leading the forward group, San Jose saw its playoff hopes come crashing down due to a lack of balance between offense and defense.

General manager Mike Grier and the rest of the organization are determined to correct that flaw, arguably the only thing missing from an otherwise superb work at rebuilding the roster. However, it appears Fox will not waive his NMC for the Sharks, and that’s a deal-breaker.

Fox’s contract

In the 2026-27 NHL campaign, Fox will enter the fifth season of his seven-year, $66.5 million contract with the Blueshirts. Fox is signed to a full no-movement clause, which will convert into a 16-team no-trade list in 2027-28.

Perhaps the Sharks are willing to wait one more year for Fox, who will turn 29 next February. However, there might be nothing San Jose—or New York—can do if the blueliner includes the Sharks on his no-trade list.

Would New York want to trade Fox?

As for the Rangers, they may have little interest in parting with their best defenseman, but there are also several benefits to a potential trade. First and foremost, Fox could be the key to working out a deal with San Jose that includes the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Rangers are reportedly settling for a defenseman with the No. 5 pick, but their draft-night plans could change entirely if they acquire No. 2. If Fox is moved, New York may not even need to part with its own selection and could end up with two picks in the top five.

Pulling off such a move could cost Chris Drury some goodwill—which is already in short supply—with fans in Manhattan. But it could all be forgiven if the Blueshirts land their franchise-saving duo. Given how recent top draft picks have panned out in New York City, however, that might be wishful thinking.

Fox pushed to arrive in New York

Born in Jericho, New York, it was always Fox’s dream to play for the New York Rangers. He made that crystal clear when he urged the Carolina Hurricanes to trade him to the Broadway Blueshirts before he even made his NHL debut. Fox always wanted to stay home. In the league, that place is Madison Square Garden.

Whether the recent disastrous seasons in Manhattan have changed his thoughts on the Rangers remains unclear. Yet, if Fox is considering a fresh start, it seems clear he won’t leave just anywhere.

Unless it makes sense for him and his family, he’d rather stay in the City That Never Sleeps. As reports indicate, San Jose is not among the options for which Fox would give up his childhood dream.

According to a report from Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, the top three forwards—Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra—will all be gone by the time the Blueshirts are on the clock, leaving them to select the best available defenseman, who would, in turn, be the second-best prospect at the position in the class.

However, that’s entirely subjective. Maybe New York’s preferred choice ends up falling into its lap. For the time being, though, it appears the Rangers have yet to make up their minds about who to take with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Obviously, that decision will depend largely on how draft night unfolds.

According to Wheeler, if Chase Reid is still available at No. 5, New York will not pass on him. However, Wheeler also mentioned the Rangers may have a soft spot for Keaton Verhoeff and Alberts Šmits. The door is wide open for the Blueshirts, but it seems all roads lead to them bolstering their defensive corps with the fifth overall selection.

New York needs to address its defense

Obviously, the Rangers would much rather hold a higher pick and have the entire board at their disposal. However, being limited to the top blueliners isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Especially considering how badly New York needs help on the blue line.

While the Rangers risk reliving the K’Andre Miller situation with Braden Schneider, the defensive corps in the Big Apple is under the spotlight. If Schneider does leave (he is an RFA), New York will lose the only defenseman on its roster originally drafted in the first round by the organization.

Even if Schneider is re-signed in Manhattan, the Rangers need more help, and whether it’s Reid, Verhoeff, Šmits, or Carson Carels, the fifth overall pick in 2026 may be the franchise’s best opportunity to get things right on the blue line.

Everything is on the line for Rangers

If the Blueshirts get it wrong, they risk testing the patience of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, as well as their top forwards and goaltender Igor Shesterkin. For the time being, Chris Drury is still able to sell his vision for the retool to the players.

Yet, the 2026 NHL Draft represents New York’s best chance to truly put its money where its mouth is. The locker room will be paying close attention. One rough draft night on June 26 at KeyBank Center, and the Rangers may have to throw their plan out the window.

“You’ll see when we get out there,” Brind’Amour answered, as reported by Pat Welter on X, on who will be the starting goaltender for the Canes in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. As reported by Elliotte Friedman, Bussi will be in net whereas Andersen won’t even be serving as backup. Instead, Pyotr Kochetkov will be the second-string netminder in Game 4.

After posting the best numbers of any NHL goaltender throughout the 2026 postseason, Andersen has been exposed on several occasions by the Golden Knights. Game 3 was no different, and with rookie Bussi playing lights out, the decision has been made—one that could determine the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup hopes. Falling behind 3-1 in the series could very well be all she wrote for Carolina.

Is Andersen injured?

Although Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes have not reported anything of the sort, there might be reason for concern regarding Andersen’s health. During Game 3, Andersen was hit in the head by Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev on a goal that was taken off the board after Carolina challenged.

The concussion spotter didn’t intervene, but Andersen went on to allow four goals before being pulled from the game. Perhaps it was a combination of health and performance concerns.

The fact Andersen won’t dress for Game 4 brings everyone’s attention back to that crease-crashing play on Saturday. Perhaps a head injury slipped under the league’s radar, and the Hurricanes are now dealing with the aftermath. However, Friedman reports that Andersen is listed as a scratch rather than on the injured report. And it’s been a common sight for Andersen to be out of the lineup entirely in games he doesn’t start.

Andersen’s numbers

Through 16 games in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Andersen has been sensational, posting a 1.89 goals-against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage (SV%). However, those marvelous numbers hide an ugly truth.

Andersen’s stats are being carried by his superb form in the first three rounds. Since the Stanley Cup Final began, Vegas has had his number. Through the first three games of the championship series, Andersen posted an .806 SV% while allowing an average of four goals per game.

Bussi was the X-Factor in Game 3

In Game 3, Andersen was pulled after conceding four goals, and had it not been for an offside call and a goaltender-interference ruling, he could have allowed six. When Bussi entered the game, the story was much different for the Hurricanes. He stopped 18 shots, including a penalty shot from Mitch Marner, and was only beaten by a fluky own goal.

In his first career playoff appearance, Bussi proved the bright lights didn’t faze him, and his teammates fed off his confidence to mount a four-goal comeback. Although it ultimately wasn’t enough for Carolina, something clicked, and the Hurricanes went from looking hopeless to electric with Bussi between the pipes.

Bussi’s stats

The undrafted 27-year-old rookie was one of the biggest storylines of the 2025-26 NHL campaign. He was Carolina’s leading goaltender throughout the regular season, posting a 31-6-2 record in 39 appearances while recording an .895 save percentage and a 2.47 GAA.

However, Bussi was benched in the postseason in favor of the playoff-experienced Andersen, which initially proved to be the right call. Andersen’s form, though, is clearly waning, and Carolina believes it’s time to roll the dice with a bold call.

That’s the situation Brind’Amour faced, who was torn between riding the hot hand in Game 4—even if it means throwing the veteran netminder under the bus—or sticking with the 36-year-old, who still has something to prove in his pursuit of a first Stanley Cup. Now, there is no turning back. Carolina’s season is on the line, and it’s all in Bussi’s right glove and left blocker.

“A source close to the situation, who was part of the NHL Combine, tells me Toronto told Gavin McKenna during their interview with the player that they intend on drafting him with the first overall pick,” as reported by Shawn Hutcheon on X.

McKenna has been the consensus first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for quite some time, but recent buzz left the door open for Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg to leapfrog him and land in Toronto instead. Based on the latest report, though, that possibility appears to be off the table, as the Maple Leafs have made up their minds.

More signs McKenna is headed to Toronto

In addition to reports of the Maple Leafs’ straightforwardness with McKenna, a report from Scott Wheeler of The Athletic serves as further evidence that the Yukon native is bound for Ontario—and that the rest of the NHL is making peace with that outcome.

“People around the league are more and more convinced it’s going to be McKenna for the Leafs, and nothing I heard in Buffalo this week steered me in another direction. I know they like Chase Reid, but the sense I get is it’s McKenna,” Wheeler reported.

The report also noted that Toronto representatives visited McKenna’s hometown of Whitehorse, and the young winger is scheduled to visit The Six after the NHL Combine. It seems like a done deal, although it won’t become official until draft night in Buffalo.

When is the 2026 NHL Draft?

The 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Based on the latest indicators, it appears McKenna’s selection will kick off the first round in the City of Good Neighbors. How the rest of the board unfolds, however, remains the true mystery heading into the draft.

“According to several sources, Babcock has spoken directly with owner Daryl Katz. Babcock has met with or spoken to several members of the team’s leadership group. Whatever happened in those meeting(s) was enough to eliminate any potential objection,” Elliotte Friedman reported on Sportsnet.

With McDavid and the rest of the locker room open to welcoming Babcock, the Oilers await any notice from the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) that could put their plans on hold. If there is no risk of legal trouble, then the Oilers may hire Babcock to lead the group next season. Babcock last coached an NHL game in November 2019, when he was the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since then, his name has been synonymous with controversy.

Babcock’s drama in Columbus

After his stint with the Maple Leafs came to an end in 2019, Babcock took on an ad honorem role in college ice hockey. He returned to the NHL in July 2023, when he signed on to become the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

However, he resigned from the position before making his coaching debut amid allegations of improper behavior. Reports at the time stated that he invaded players’ privacy by going through their phones.

Since then, Babcock hadn’t set foot inside an NHL organization’s facilities. However, as pleased as he admittedly was in retirement, it seems Edmonton may lure him back to the NHL.

Oilers may have convinced Babcock

The reported conversation with Katz is a strong starting point, and the fact that McDavid and the players are on board with the potential hiring may present an opportunity too good to pass up. After all, Babcock may get a chance to coach the best player in the NHL, and who knows how much longer McDavid will remain in the Gateway to the North.

If he signs in Edmonton, Babcock will get the chance to determine whether the Oilers are reaching the end of the road with McDavid or if he’s there to stay. Either way, it appears McDavid is comfortable letting Babcock take the wheel and put his future in the Stanley Cup-winning head coach’s hands.

According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Larkin would be willing to waive his no-movement clause (NMC) for a trade to the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, or Vegas Golden Knights. Although the Red Wings will stand firm on their asking price for Larkin, the captain ultimately holds all the leverage. If Detroit won’t deal him to one of those three destinations, it can only sit him. Doing so causes more harm than good, though.

As for the Rangers, the reported trade list completely rains down on their parade. New York could have been a dark horse to trade for Larkin—they still can, but it seems highly unlikely. Larkin is asking out of Motor City because he wants to win and a move to Broadway would put those aspirations on hold for a while.

New York general manager Chris Drury and head coach Mike Sullivan, who were around Larkin on Team USA, would’ve hoped their national team connections could come in handy. Unfortunately, if they want to acquire Larkin, they won’t be able to cut any corners. And even that may not be enough.

Larkin favors Team USA connections

The fact that Larkin’s trade list features three organizations filled with Team USA teammates and executives only makes it a tougher pill to swallow for the Rangers. After all, those connections do play a role, just not to New York’s advantage. The overall struggles and concerns in Manhattan are too significant for Larkin to dismiss.

Moreover, leaving the Red Wings, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by fewer than 10 points, for the Rangers, who finished last in the East, wouldn’t exactly be considered an upgrade for the Winged Wheel’s hometown captain. If Larkin is to leave the Wolverine State for the first time in his hockey career and life, he would surely want to go somewhere he won’t regret.

Team USA connections in Minnesota

As soon as Larkin’s trade request went public, the Wild emerged as the obvious frontrunners. Bill Guerin (Team USA’s GM during the 2026 Olympics) was expected to be all over it, and it’s clear he’s done just that.

Plus, Minnesota’s lineup features Larkin’s fellow American teammates Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy. Combine that with the fact that the Wild are the most top-six center-needy organization in the NHL and that it’s the main obstacle preventing them from becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and the puzzle is complete.

Why Florida makes sense for Larkin

As for the Panthers, the fact they’ve been to three of the last four Stanley Cup Finals and have won back-to-back Stanley Cups should be enough to explain why any player would want to join the powerhouse in the beautiful, income tax-free Sunshine State.

From Larkin’s perspective, joining Bill Zito (Team USA assistant GM), Matthew Tkachuk, and a state-of-the-art roster built to win is just the cherry on top. Florida doesn’t really need another top center, but it seldom helps itself from going after NHL stars.

When in doubt, there’s always Vegas

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights continue to be the go-to franchise for players in search of fresh starts and immediate playoff success. The organization’s way of doing business leaves room for criticism, but the results speak for themselves.

Watching Mitch Marner become a Conn Smythe Trophy favorite less than a year after leaving another Original Six market might be enough to convince Larkin that Sin City is perfect for him. Plus, he’d get the chance to join Team USA friends Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin.

Eichel is another example of how leaving the team that drafted you and heading to the Entertainment Capital of the World can do wonders for a player’s career. They say the house always wins in Las Vegas, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for those that get to call T-Mobile Arena home.

Larkin is sending Detroit a message

Larkin’s trade list is very narrow. He sends a clear message to the Red Wings that way. Detroit may ask him to expand his list a bit to gain more room to maneuver and negotiate.

Larkin may indeed add a few more options, but the odds of the Rangers even making that director’s cut remain low. Still, if there’s one thing the Big Apple teaches its residents, it’s to shoot for the stars, and one has just become available in the 313.

“Peter Laviolette will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Kings,“ Elliotte Friedman reported through his X account. Laviolette will take over after interim coach DJ Smith, who in turn replaced Jim Hiller midway through the 2025-26 NHL campaign.

With Laviolette off the coaching carousel, Edmonton has been put on notice. Time is of the essence. Although recent buzz suggested the Oilers could run a one-year experiment with McDavid and company if Bruce Cassidy isn’t allowed to interview with them, the team may be steering in a different direction.

Apparently, roads are now leading Edmonton to Babcock, who has been out of the NHL since 2023. However, to go down that road the Oilers may have to evade a minefield.

Babcock could bring trouble

“The Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock,” Darren Dreger of TSN reported on X. “Further investigation may be required.”

The last thing the Oilers need heading into such a high-stakes season is more off-ice trouble. For Connor McDavid, who has two years left under contract, but could very well ask out of Edmonton at any given moment, such a controversial hiring could be the last straw.

In more ways than one, Stan Bowman could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire by hiring Babcock immediately after the polarizing firing of Kris Knoblauch. Bowman is walking on thin ice in the Gateway to the North, and such a hiring could be all she wrote for him—as well as McDavid’s patience with the organization.

What happened with Babcock?

Babcock was thrown into the eye of the storm in 2023, shortly after signing on to become the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Amid allegations that he invaded players’ privacy (reports stated he went through players’ phones and photos), he resigned from the position before he even coached a game in the Discovery City.

He’s been out of the league ever since and recently shut the door on McDavid and the Oilers by admitting he was loving his time away from the NHL. Whether something has changed for him or Edmonton comes up with an offer too good to resist remains to be seen.

A priori, it seems the two sides aren’t seeing eye to eye, but if Bowman and the Oilers’ brass are truly interested, there may be no mountain high enough and no legal trouble too risky to deter them.

“Negotiations with restricted free agent Braden Schneider, meanwhile, have not yet begun,” Peter Baugh of The Athletic reported.

Schneider is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) in the NHL. Coming off the recent experience with Miller, and subsequently watching him thrive in Carolina, one would expect Chris Drury and the Rangers to have learned their lesson. The fact that there has been no progress may indicate that isn’t the case.

Perhaps it’s still too early to tell. Or New York believes Miller’s and Schneider’s situations are not comparable, even if the similarities are there for the entire league to see.

Miller is thriving in Carolina

There’s no need to revisit how things went down with Miller, the former first-round pick in 2018 whom the Rangers signed-and-traded to the Hurricanes with a brand-new eight-year, $60 million contract.

Miller is now playing the best hockey of his NHL career and is in the Stanley Cup Final. New York is… Well, it’s still trying to figure out where it stands. Just as the Rangers are reportedly letting Jonny Brodzinski walk, they must make up their minds about Schneider.

With his two-year, $4.4 million extension expiring, Schneider, like Miller last year, will become an RFA. If the Rangers don’t get to work with his camp soon, they risk reaching June 30, when the rest of the league is allowed to speak with RFAs before the official start of free agency on July 1.

New York faces Schneider’s situation

Moreover, the silence can indeed speak volumes, and that could make up Schneider’s mind before New York draws its own conclusion. Schneider may feel the front office doesn’t really value him, choose not to re-sign in New York, and instead test the open waters of free agency.

He would still need another team to offer-sheet him and the Rangers to decline to match the offer—as to cash in the compensation draft pick. Many chips would have to fall into place, but Miller has some leverage to work things out in his favor.

That’s if he truly has had enough of the Rangers. It doesn’t seem to be the case, but with each minute he hears nothing from the organization that drafted him with a first-round pick in 2020, that possibility looms larger.

Offer sheet compensation

Projections for Schneider’s next deal vary greatly depending on whom you consult around the NHL. Still, for the sake of discussion, considering the 2026 compensation thresholds, it seems New York would receive a second-round pick at best in the event Schneider signs an offer sheet as an RFA.

According to Sportsnet, an offer sheet with an average annual value (AAV) between $1,575,969 and $2,387,832 results in third-round compensation, whereas an AAV ranging from $2,387,833 to $4,775,666 yields a second-round pick.

If the offer sheet’s AAV exceeds that figure but remains below $7,163,498, then the team losing its RFA receives a first- and third-round pick. Schneider’s next deal will likely be somewhere between $2 and $4.5 million. However, anything can happen in the NHL.

Rangers must get to work

In more ways than one, the sooner New York begins negotiations, the easier it will all go down. In order to do that, though, the Rangers must first decide what they are going to do. If they intend to keep him, then time is of the essence to get him under a new contract. The more days and weeks that pass, the greater the threat of arbitration (Schneider is eligible for it) becomes.

If the Rangers decide they are better off without him, then they must search for interested parties, perhaps the San Jose Sharks, who happen to hold the second overall pick in the NHL Draft, a position New York would love to be in.

Trading Schneider won’t be stress-free, though. In fact, it would cause an awful lot of extra headaches. As the Blueshirts have witnessed firsthand with Miller in Raleigh, if the defenseman finds success elsewhere, they never hear the end of it. If it happens twice in as many offseasons, New York may never live it down. Whichever route the Rangers go down, they will have to face the music.

“It sure sounds like there isn’t progress being made between Buffalo and Alex Tuch, and I’m hearing that Tuch is likely going to free agency,” Darren Dreger reported on First Up.

On paper, Tuch becoming available to the highest bidder should be great news for the Rangers, who have plenty of cap space to work with and want to accelerate their retool by landing one of the biggest fish in the ocean. Obviously, Tuch is no Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, or Brady Tkachuk, but if he indeed enters NHL‘s free agency, he’ll become the top winger available.

Meanwhile, McDavid, Matthews, and Tkachuk all remain under contract, and moving on from their respective Canadian teams remains only a theoretical possibility rather than an imminent reality. Still, Tuch leaving Buffalo doesn’t guarantee he’ll sign in Manhattan, and it could come back to bite the Rangers, who have their own matters to attend.

Tuch could affect interest in Trocheck

Although Tuch is naturally a winger, he’s always shown great adaptability throughout his NHL career. That extends to his ability to play all over the ice and at different positions.

Vincent Trocheck has already seen the center trade market, in which he was once the belle of the ball, turned on its head by Dylan Larkin’s trade request out of the Detroit Red Wings. If Tuch becomes available, there will be a clear No. 1 prize on the free-agent market, which is one of the shallowest in recent league history.

Tuch may draw interest from many teams that would otherwise be all over Trocheck. Make no mistake, though, Trocheck will still generate buzz. Executives across the league will be calling Chris Drury and asking about the second-line center. That’s not what’s at stake—the price is. That’s what matters most to New York.

All the Rangers care about

If it weren’t about the return package and simply a matter of shipping Trocheck away, the Rangers would’ve pulled the trigger on a trade a long time ago. The Blueshirts want to maximize their return. Their asking price reportedly remains around what they intended to get back in March, prior to the trade deadline: a first-round pick, a roster player, and a prospect.

Perhaps it’s gone up. Or maybe the Rangers are forced to lower their demands. They once held the golden goose at the trade table, but not anymore. New York is no longer on the driver’s seat—and becoming car sick.

Double-edged sword for New York

If Tuch re-signs in Buffalo, then interest in Trocheck may not face additional competition. If he doesn’t, however, then New York has a chance to sign the player who could make the wait worthwhile. It could come at the expense of the return in the seemingly imminent Trocheck trade.

What carries more weight? That’s what New York needs to be asking itself. Based on what the Rangers conclude, that’s how the team will digest the news of Tuch leaving Buffalo, if the reports prove true.

“The expectation is that Jonny Brodzinski will sign elsewhere after six seasons with the Rangers,” Peter Baugh wrote on The Athletic.

Brodzinski appeared in 55 throughout the 2025-26 NHL season, as he was in and out of the lineup. When he did play, he was mostly utilized in the bottom-six of the forwards group. Last season, Brodzinski registered 16 points (6 G, 10 A), so his production is one that shouldn’t take much time replacing.

Brodzinski becomes an UFA

Since joining the organization in the Big Apple in 2020, Brodzinski has signed three extensions with the Rangers, in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Coming off a two-year, $1.58 million contract with the Blueshirts, it looks like the 32-year-old (who will turn 33 on June 19) has reached the end of the road on Eighth Avenue.

Projected to sign a contract similar to his team-friendly deal ($787,500 cap hit), it’s clear money isn’t the issue. Both sides seem to favor a fresh start, and it might actually be for the best.

Wherever he heads next, Brodzinski is almost certainly in for more of the same and a role similar to the one he had in Manhattan. The Minnesota native may establish himself in a lineup, but it’s unlikely he’ll enjoy a late bloom into a top-six role.

Rangers’ pending free agents

In addition to Brodzinski, New York has several other names set to become UFAs and RFAs in the NHL. Conor Sheary, Trey Fix-Wolanski, Casey Fitzgerald, Connor Mackey, and Brandon Scanlin are the other players, both rostered and in the organization set to become unrestricted free agents.

Meanwhile, Braden Schneider, Vincent Iorio, and Dylan Garand headline the list of pending RFAs, which includes Lauri Pajuniemi, Karl Henriksson, Brendan Brisson, Brett Berard, and Scott Morrow.