Check out the latest on Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk, and Blues center Robert Thomas in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun provided an update on the trade request of Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and Pat Brisson (Dylan Larkin’s agent) continue to try to work through this in a respectful manner.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
Yzerman has asked the Larkin camp to expand their original three-team trade list, and Brisson was receptive “to some degree”. The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers were the three teams on Larkin’s list.
Regardless of that trade list, LeBrun claimed other teams are also interested in Larkin. One of them is the Dallas Stars, prompting LeBrun to consider it “food for thought” if the Stars fail to sign winger Jason Robertson to a contract extension.
LeBrun also believes a third team might need to get involved to make the assets work for the Red Wings.
SPORTSNET: During the June 10 episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he’d heard there could be other clubs that Larkin might be willing to join. He believes the Stars and the Tampa Bay Lightning could be two options.
Friedman also thinks that teams have already submitted trade offers to the Red Wings, including the Wild and the Panthers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Larkin really wants out of Detroit, he’ll have to expand his list of preferred destinations. Adding two or three more clubs could help Yzerman find an acceptable return for him.
However, the teams on his trade list could lack sufficient trade assets to make the deal work. That’s why LeBrun suggests it could take bringing in a third team to thread the needle here.
If the Stars can’t get Robertson under contract, they could offer him up to the Red Wings for Larkin. The 27-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who’s a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He also lacks no-trade protection.
In that scenario, the Red Wings would need assurances that Robertson would be open to a long-term contract with them. While that move would address their need for a first-line left winger, it would leave them without a first and second-line center.
ZACH WERENSKI DOESN’T WANT OUT OF COLUMBUS
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported there was speculation over what effect Dylan Larkin’s trade request would have on Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Werenski and Larkin are close friends and were teammates on Team USA’s gold-medal Olympic men’s hockey team.
LeBrun indicated that the 28-year-old defenseman isn’t following Larkin’s lead and asking the Blue Jackets for a trade. However, LeBrun isn’t ruling out the possibility, based on the fact that, at some point, Werenski and Jackets management will have to discuss the blueliner’s future in Columbus.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Red Wings, the Blue Jackets came close to making the playoffs over the past two years, only to stumble during the final weeks of the regular season.
Unlike Larkin, who has five years left on his contract, Werenski has two years on his. He could see how next season pans out before making any decision about his future.
Werenski is part of the 2028 UFA class that includes Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators. However, if their teams fail to improve in 2026-27, they could all be on the move in next summer’s trade market.
COULD THE SENATORS PURSUE JAKE DEBRUSK?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports “two league sources” believe the Senators are among a group of teams interested in Jake DeBrusk of the Vancouver Canucks.
The 29-year-old winger has spent the past two seasons with the Canucks. He has five years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million. He also has a full no-movement clause.
Garrioch believed DeBrusk could be a good fit among the Senators’ top-six forwards. He’s reportedly not thrilled about being on a team undergoing a roster teardown.
The Senators also reportedly have an interest in forward Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks and winger Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues. However, it’s believed that Kyrou won’t waive his no-trade clause for Ottawa. The Philadelphia Flyers are also believed to be interested in McTavish.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch believes the rebuilding Canucks won’t be seeking much for DeBrusk because they want to move his contract. They will likely seek a return of futures (draft picks, prospects, young NHL players) in any trades this summer involving their roster players.
The sticking point is DeBrusk’s NMC and whether he’d waive it to join the Senators.
BLUES SOUGHT AN EXPENSIVE RETURN FROM THE FLYERS FOR ROBERT THOMAS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio cited The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, who claimed the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues discussed a trade earlier this season regarding Blues center Robert Thomas.
According to Kurz, the Blues’ asking price was winger Porter Martone, prospect center Jack Nesbitt, and the Flyers’ first-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: And now you know why Robert Thomas remains with the Blues and will continue to remain a Blue for the foreseeable future. That asking price was far too much for the Flyers, who know they’ve got a potential superstar in Martone.