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Around the NHL: Yzerman throws cold water on Larkin trade, Blue Jackets’ Werenski linked to 8 teams
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Jeremy Tingly
Jun 29, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 29, 2026, 08:30 EDT
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We’re back for another edition of Around the NHL, and needless to say, it’s been a whirlwind start to the NHL offseason. The NHL Draft weekend provided a ton of surprises throughout the two-day event, including not only some surprise picks, but also a number of big trades, as movement throughout the league is at an all-time high.
Looking ahead to free agency opening this week, there’s going to be a number of players changing teams, as general managers try to reconstruct their rosters heading into next season. Let’s jump right into all the latest, here’s what’s going on around the NHL.

Red Wings GM in no rush to trade Dylan Larkin

Dylan Larkin requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings, but that doesn’t mean general manager Steve Yzerman is going to rush to facilitate a deal. Yzerman spoke to the media over the weekend, and certainly threw some cold water on one of the NHL’s hot-topic items.
“My job as the manager of the Detroit Red Wings is always to do what is in the best interest of the Detroit Red Wings,” Yzerman said. “I will act accordingly to that. So, I cannot make any guarantees, or did not make any guarantees that that request could or would be met. There is certainly a lot of uncertainty around that.”
Larkin has been tied to Michigan hockey his entire life, playing his minor hockey in the area, attending University of Michigan, and then eventually becoming captain of the Red Wings. The 29-year-old forward is signed through the 2031 season at $8.7 million AAV, and owns a full no-trade clause for two more seasons.
Larkin and Yzerman have been at odds for a few years now, as Larkin has been very underwhelmed on how Yzerman has handled the roster, and even called out the Red Wings’ GM for lack of moves around the trade deadline. So far, the Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, and Tampa Bay Lightning have been linked. No signs of a Larkin deal to Toronto.

Zach Werenski trade talks heating up in major way

Whatever happened at the Olympics surrounding Team USA may need to have its own Netflix documentary. After Larkin, Brady Tkachuk, and Connor Hellebuyck asked for trades, it turns out Columbus Blue Jackets Norris trophy winner Zach Werenski has informed the team he’s not interested in signing another contract extension. In turn, trade talks have heated up in a major way.
Werenski has two years left on his contract at $9.5 million AAV, and owns a full no-movement clause until July of next year, when this will change to a 10-team approved trade list. The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman and Aaron Portzline recently discussed Werenski’s future, and see eight teams as potential destinations, including the Maple Leafs, who were also linked by Pierre LeBrun, once trade talks broke.
Goldman and Portzline see the Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, and Detroit Red Wings as logical trade destinations. With Quinn Hughes recently traded for four pieces, it feels like the Blue Jackets will also be looking for a massive haul to pull the trigger on this move.
It’s worth noting TSN’s Chris Johnston mentioned Sunday that some teams were growing frustrated with the Blue Jackets lack of engagement so far in trade talks. It appears Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell is in no rush to make a deal. If the Maple Leafs do get involved, Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan, and Ben Danford would likely be at the top of the Blue Jackets’ wish list.

Quick hits from around the NHL

  • The Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres almost completed a Connor Hellebuyck trade on Friday, but talks broke off before the first pick was selected. Don’t be surprised to see these two teams re-engage, and also expect to see the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers make trade offers.
  • Speaking of the Penguins, Anthony Mantha appears set to hit the open market and has been linked to signing with the Montreal Canadiens.
  • The Canadiens have also been recently linked to a blockbuster move for Mat Barzal from the Islanders.
  • Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is still without a contract, and could hit the open market Wednesday, with the Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Sharks as potential landing spots.
  • Pavel Dorofeyev was dealt by the Golden Knights to the New York Rangers in a draft-day stunner, and proceeded to sign a seven-year contract, worth $11 million AAV.
  • Vegas has serious cap issues and is trying hard to trade goaltender Adin Hill.
  • Carolina Hurricanes acquired the rights to right-handed defenceman John Carlson, and could sign the mobile blueliner to a two-year deal, around $10 million AAV.
  • Pending free-agent defenseman Jacob Trouba has been linked to signing with the Sharks, who don’t have any right-handed defenseman signed for next season.
  • While the Blue Jackets have Werenski to worry about, forward Kirill Marchenko has also informed the team he doesn’t want to stick around Columbus long term.
  • Darnell Nurse asked out of Edmonton, and is likely heading to the Penguins or Flyers.
  • Jason Robertson turned down trades to the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues, and there’s growing speculation he’ll eventually re-sign in Dallas.
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