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.

With Larkin taking over the trade market, the Red Wings realize there can be a positive out of the bad. Larkin is the top centerman sort of available in the NHL and teams interested could offer a more than appealing package for him. Detroit doesn’t love—nor does it have to—the idea of trading away its franchise captain.

However, the Winged Wheel has no other option. One thing is clear, though, the Red Wings will make their stance and not be pressured into a deal they don’t believe is fair.

“[Yzerman] could just say: ‘No, I’m not doing it and [Larkin] can sit. I don’t think he’s going to do that, but I also don’t think he’s going to allow himself to get lowballed or bullied,” Elliotte Friedman commented on the FAN Hockey Show.

Larkin’s probable price

Ahead of the trade deadline in the 2025-26 NHL season, the New York Rangers held the biggest trading chip in the centermen market. According to multiple reports, the Rangers were asking for a first-round pick, a roster player, and a prospect in return for Trocheck. Ultimately, no team footed the bill, but all signs suggest that price still stands—if it hasn’t gone up.

Considering Larkin is three years younger than Trocheck, has five years left in his contract (at a cap hit of $8.7 million), and is the better player, it’s only reasonable to believe Detroit will be after a higher price than the one New York set on its second-line center. However, there’s a catch for the Red Wings.

Larkin’s public trade request changes a lot

Although the Red Wings may get a king’s ransom for Larkin, the fact the captain requested a trade changes things. Detroit will try to stand firm on its ground, but teams will be reluctant to give away the house for a player knocking on the door to leave.

Most suitors believe they are pushing against an open door. They only have to convince Detroit, and the Red Wings hold little leverage as Larkin’s desire to leave is common knowledge around the NHL. Had things gone down under the radar, it could all be different for the Winged Wheel.

Detroit could have gone around asking teams what they’d be willing to give up for Larkin until it found the perfect bid. Instead, they are now in need of some mercy from a Stanley Cup contender that feels philanthropic enough to lend a hand to an organization set to enter crucial hours.

“Patrick Kane probably will be the only UFA [the Detroit Red Wings] keep,” Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now stated on his X account.

The Red Wings have five pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) in Patrick Kane, David Perron, James Van Riemsdyk, Travis Hamonic, and Cam Talbot. Setting Kane aside, the four remaining UFAs accounted for a total of $8.5 million last season. The average age among the five veteran UFAs is 36.8. If Detroit wants to rejuvenate the lineup, it might be better off letting some of its seasoned players leave in free agency.

Veterans may want out of Detroit

Some of the veterans may eye a fresh start elsewhere. They may look to chase one last Stanley Cup run, but the Red Wings might not be able to provide them with such an opportunity.

For the past decade, Detroit has not even been able to provide its players with a postseason appearance. Or perhaps it is the other way around: the Red Wings players have not given Detroit something to cheer for come spring.

Kane’s contract

Kane has been in this situation before. He has signed three one-year contracts with the Red Wings over the past three years. Kane signed for $2.75 million in 2023, $4 million in 2024, and $3 million in 2025. In 2026, he could be headed for his fourth consecutive offseason in which he re-signs on a prove-it deal with Detroit.

So far, Kane has passed his exams, but the team has yet to get over the hump and snap its playoff drought—the longest active streak in the NHL at 10 consecutive seasons. At some point, Detroit’s front office may have to go down a different route. Still, it seems the Red Wings are not done exploring the Kane highway just yet.

Kane’s numbers

Kane is coming off a 57-point season (16 goals and 41 assists) in 2025-26, his 19th in the NHL and third with the Red Wings. The American winger ranked fifth in points among Detroit skaters, behind Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin, and Moritz Seider.

Kane recorded just 16 penalty minutes (PIM), but fans still remember his costly minor penalty late in the 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild, which proved damaging to the team’s playoff hopes. Still, most fans in the 313 would take him back in a heartbeat. All signs indicate Steve Yzerman and company would, too. Whether it’s the right decision or not, only time will tell.

When it comes to the Detroit Red Wings and the “Yzerplan,” rinse and repeat seems to be the formula. It has not yielded success, but who knows? Maybe if they keep throwing it at the wall, it will finally stick.

The Red Wings now hold the longest active Stanley Cup Playoffs drought in the NHL. A disheartening end to the 2025–26 campaign saw to that, as did the Buffalo Sabres finally making it to the postseason. Now, fans demand change—mostly at the front-office level. As for Kane, the jury is still out on whether Detroit wants him back. One thing was made clear, though: Kane still believes the 313 is where he wants to be.

“I’d love to be part of the solution that helps us get over the hump for sure,” Kane admitted during his exit press conference after the 2025-26 NHL season, via Detroit Free Press. “I think there is mutual interest to come back, continue my career here.”

Kane is interested despite rumors

Although names like Steve Yzerman, Todd McLellan, and many others are in the eye of the storm in Motor City, Kane still hopes to be back with the Red Wings during the 2026–27 campaign. The rumors around Little Caesars Arena in Hockeytown are loud, but Kane is playing deaf to them.

If Detroit indeed undergoes major structural changes, though, it remains to be seen whether a veteran like Kane would be highly regarded by a potential new front office and executive group. If it all stays the same, Red Wings fans may light their torches.

Kane was in this exact situation before

In more ways than one, fans in Detroit may start to believe they are living in a simulation. There must be a broken record somewhere, because the Red Wings are dealing with déjà vu time and again. In addition to gut-wrenching endings to seasons that leave them playoff-less, watching Kane sign a deal in the offseason has also become a yearly tradition in Detroit.

Kane signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings in 2025, ahead of the 2025–26 campaign. He signed a one-year deal with Detroit in 2024, too—and the year before that as well.

Kane’s potential next contract

Coming off a 57-point season and set to turn 38 midway through the upcoming campaign, Kane could be on track to sign a very similar deal to the one he put pen to paper on back in June 2025 (one-year, $3 million contract). All signs indicate Detroit will continue its trend of handing prove-it deals to Kane until the wheels come off or he calls it a career.

However, the Red Wings are in for another long offseason—one that hurts even more than in previous years. Much can change, and anything can happen. It’s trending in that direction, but “Showtime” is far from guaranteed to be a Red Wing in 2026–27.

“It hurts to not get anything out of this game,” McLellan admitted, via NHL.com. “Especially on a penalty 150 feet from our net and away from the play.” McLellan’s comment was a clear shot at Kane‘s stick infraction that handed the Wild a late power play opportunity.

Being booed off the ice at the sound of the second-period horn certainly served as a wake-up call for the Red Wings. In the third period, they found their footing and tied the game at 4–4 after trailing 4–1. However, there was still time left for the Red Wings to trip over the same stone once again.

Kane had scored the equalizer, yet he followed it up by committing a nonsensical tripping penalty on a possession-less Quinn Hughes. Minnesota went on the man advantage, Kirill Kaprizov cashed in with 1:51 left in the game—and that was all she wrote for Detroit.

Playoff implications for Detroit

A win would’ve put the Red Wings in a playoff spot with five games left in the 2025–26 NHL season. Instead, they remain in the jam-packed fight for a wild-card spot. A divisional ticket is no longer available, as the loss to the Wild meant the Montreal Canadiens punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The only way into the postseason for Detroit is now through the wild card. However, there are six teams fighting for those two spots, so the Wings’ odds decrease tremendously.

Red Wings’ playoff drought

With the Buffalo Sabres clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2011, and snapping their 14-season playoff drought, the Red Wings could now carry the burden of the longest active playoff drought. For a franchise that once prided itself on making the postseason 25 years in a row, these are unforeseen levels of misery in Motor City. Detroit’s last playoff appearance was in 2016, and its last playoff series win came in 2013.

The Red Wings can still turn things around, but the loss against the Wild had the feel of a playoff-elimination defeat, even if it was in a regular-season outing. Needless to say, McLellan, Kane, and company can’t afford to point fingers around the locker room. Instead, they must figure out a way to make the postseason and avoid yet another heartbreaking end to the season.

It’s been a common theme all season long for the Rangers in the NHL. Good times don’t last long for Miller and the Broadway Blueshirts, and the fanbase in New York City can’t take any more letdowns. Following the 2-1 defeat against Original Six rivals, the Red Wings, the captain didn’t mince words on his postgame admission.

“Today wasn’t good enough,” J.T. Miller bluntly admitted after the loss, via NHL.com. “They outplayed us. If wasn’t for [Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick] that game could have been wide open.”

Rangers struggle at MSG again

For the seventh time in nine home outings, the Rangers scored one goal or fewer. Their shortcomings in Manhattan are becoming impossible to ignore. With each new disappointing night in NYC, the pattern looks less like a slump and more like a harsh reality. Something is wrong with the Rangers, who have now been outscored 27–13 by visiting teams at Madison Square Garden, carrying the weight of a 1–7–1 home record.

Contrary to almost every other team, the Blueshirts would be much better off spending their season on the road, where they are 9-1-1. Without Sullivan, who took a personal leave, the Rangers performed just like they have accustomed fans to do on home ice, and the Red Wings took advantage to improve to 11-7-1 in the 2025-26 NHL season.

Home bitter home

Fortunately for Miller and the Rangers, their schedule now gives them a chance to escape The Big Apple. Beginning a three-game road trip out West—with visits to three contenders in the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Utah Mammoth—New York has an opportunity to reset and get back in the win column before returning to the city that never sleeps, where nightmarish outings continue to haunt them in the world’s most famous arena.

The Columbus Blue Jackets know the clock is ticking for them in the NHL. Though the franchise in Ohio has managed to settle the drama with forward Yegor Chinakhov, he still wants out of the Discovery City. The Blue Jackets are knocking on doors, but it seems no one is answering to their calls. Perhaps, they are looking desperate, and no team wants to hand them a lifesaver.

The Red Wings and Panthers may fit right into that category. According to reports, neither franchise plans to surround Kane or Marchand—respectively—with the 24-year-old Russian, at least not at the current price set by Columbus.

If the price drops, or if Detroit and Florida find themselves under more pressure, their answer might change. For now, they’re staying put. At the end of the day, the Blue Jackets are sitting on borrowed time, so there’s no reason for the Wings or Cats to take the weight off Columbus’s shoulders.

“Several teams have recently kicked the tires on Yegor Chinakhov, 24, who still wants out of Columbus, including the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings,” insider Pierre LeBrun reported on The Athletic.

New phone, who this?

Chinakhov raised alarms in Columbus during the summer as his agent Shumi Babaev went public with his client’s trade request. Since, Chinakhov has switched agents, as he is now represented by Rick Komarow.

Still, it might be old wine in new bottles. With Komarow in charge, Chinakhov’s intentions remain the same. He still wants out of Columbus, and The Athletic reports the Blue Jackets have given his new agent permission to talk business with the rest of the NHL. So far, however, it’s been to no avail.

Give it time

It’s still very early in the NHL season. Many organizations are keeping their cards close to the chest, but give it time and true intentions will come to light. For now, Columbus must play the waiting game. Still, much can change as the season progresses. Teams like the Panthers and Red Wings could find themselves under pressure later on and might have second thoughts about shutting the door on Chinakhov.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets forward may continue his upward trend—he scored his first two goals of the season in back-to-back games on Oct. 25 and 28. Additionally, Chinakhov recorded his first multi-point performance in over a year, with fans having to go back to Oct. 13, 2024, for his last two-point night in the NHL. Who knows? Maybe similar performances could change Chinakhov’s mind about playing for Dean Evason and calling The Arch City home.

It’s playoffs or bust for Kane and company. They wouldn’t have it any other way, though. Detroit is desperate for success, but it must first actually make it to the postseason dance.

In Chicago, the demands aren’t as stark, but progress is much-needed for fans to stay hopeful. The pressure is mostly on Bedard, who can feel the weight lay on his shoulders. After struggling during his sophomore year, the former first overall pick is eyeing redemption, bouncing back in commanding fashion.

Kane can relate to some of the feelings Bedard has gone through in his young NHL career. The American ‘Heartbreak Kid’ has recently broken his silence on his thoughts about Bedard, the heir to Kane’s legacy in Chi-town.

“[Bedard’s] still a young kid, but he’s got some experience in the league now. He’s probably understanding a little bit more of what to expect on a nightly basis,” Patrick Kane stated, per CHSN’s Blackhawks Breakaway. “There was definitely some phases when I was younger where you feel you hit a little bit of a wall. It might be five, six, seven games, but you don’t want to have that slump during the season.“

No worries

While fans in Chicago are anxious about extending Bedard’s contract before the end of the 2025-26 season, Kane believes they have nothing to be concerned about.

“I think he’s got a really bright future,” Kane added. “If I was a Blackhawks’ fan or someone in the organization, that’d probably be the last of my worries. He’s a great player, but he also cares a lot, too. He wants to be there, so that’s half the battle.”

Bedard has made his wish to stay in town public repeatedly, and the Blackhawks won’t let him go, so there’s really no reason to lose any sleep over the situation. Regardless, as long as Bedard plays on a contract year, the speculation around the building will only grow.

Projected lines

The Blackhawks are determined to flip the script during the 2025-26 campaign. Chicago will start the season with a crucial test against the Florida Panthers on the road. After the Cats raise their Stanley Cup banner, the puck will drop, the NHL season will officially get underway, and the Blackhawks might look very different. According to Chicago Sun-Times, Blashill might roll out the following lines:

Forwards

• Andre Burakovsky — Connor Bedard — Ryan Donato
• Teuvo Teravainen — Frank Nazar — Tyler Bertuzzi
• Colton Dach — Jason Dickinson — Ilya Mikheyev
• Nick Foligno — Ryan Greene — Landon Slaggert

Defensemen

• Alex Vlasic — Sam Rinzel
• Ethan Del Mastro — Connor Murphy
• Wyatt Kaiser — Artyom Levshunov

Goalies

• Spencer Knight
• Arvid Soderblom

The Swedish winger knows he didn’t post the strongest numbers last year, but despite that, he feels much more confident since McLellan’s arrival to the team — a coach who managed to give him more consistency and playing time throughout the competition.

In a recent conversation with the media, Berggren spoke about what lies ahead, subtly signaling to both his coach and teammates that he hopes to elevate his game from Day 1 in order to further strengthen the team.

“Last year was a good year for me,” he said via NHL.com “I feel like I got more opportunity after Todd [McLellan] became head coach, and I think I played better. This one-year deal is a prove-it-deal for me. I want to show what I can do.

“It felt like I was part of the team,” he also added. “It’s hard when you’re going up and down between the AHL and NHL, so I got that confidence being there for a full year and I’m going to build off that.”

The excitement of working with McLellan

The arrival of Todd McLellan as the new head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, following the departure of Derek Lalonde at the end of last year, brought with it a sense of renewal that was quickly felt throughout the franchise’s facilities.

As preparations intensify for their first exhibition game against the Chicago Blackhawks on September 23, Berggren revealed his excitement about being able to prepare for a new season from the start, with his coach leading the way.

“I feel like we played really good hockey when Todd came in,” he said. “Now that we’re going to start with him, it’s going to be good to have a full camp with the new systems rather than how we had to learn during the middle of the season. That’s going to be huge.”

The contest was fiercely competitive, with both teams trading goals throughout. The Red Wings held the lead multiple times, but the Sharks showed resilience, tying the game and ultimately clinching the win.

“I thought we deserved to win the hockey game,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said via NHL.com. “For the majority of the game, we pushed the pace and controlled parts of the third period we’ve been working on all year. That was our identity.”

Celebrini, reflecting on his decisive goal, shared: “It’s fun to win one in overtime. We’ve been on the wrong side of it a couple of times, so it was nice to get that one. It was a great play by Granlund—he set a pick, and I found myself with a lot of space. I just tried to go low glove; I felt like he was cheating a little bit.”

High-Level Performance from Both Teams

Both the Sharks and Red Wings delivered high-caliber hockey. Mackenzie Blackwood for San Jose and Cam Talbot for Detroit showcased stellar goaltending, but neither could completely stave off the opposing offenses.

Key contributions from William Eklund and Alex Wennberg proved vital for the Sharks, as both players added goals and assists to power the team to victory.

Red Wings fall short despite effort

On the Red Wings’ side, Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat led the charge but couldn’t overcome the Sharks’ momentum in crucial moments. Detroit head coach Derek Lalonde praised Talbot’s efforts despite the loss. “He’s been a rock all year. I think he definitely wants that second one back, but he was a big part of us getting this point,” Lalonde said.

Sharks look to build momentum

This victory is a significant step for the Sharks as they aim to climb the standings. With emerging talents like Macklin Celebrini and William Eklund shining, the future looks bright for San Jose in the NHL.