Which teams could pursue Red Wings center Dylan Larkin following his trade request? What’s the latest on Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse? How close did the Canadiens come to landing Leafs winger Matthew Knies? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHICH TEAMS MIGHT ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE DYLAN LARKIN?
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s report that Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade.
Allen believes there will be “widespread interest” in Larkin. The 29-year-old center is “a consistent 30-goal scoring center in a league where many are looking for centers.”
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
Larkin has five years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8.7 million. He also has a full no-trade clause, giving him complete control over where he goes.
Allen noted that Larkin has roots in Toronto. He wondered if the Maple Leafs might take a run at acquiring him as their second-line center.
The New Jersey Devils reportedly might be willing to move Nico Hischier. However, he’s slated to become a UFA next summer, and could prove expensive to sign, provided he’s willing to go to Detroit in the first place.
Larkin is friends with Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They’re a team on the rise that would love to have a center such as Larkin. The Minnesota Wild and Los Angeles Kings are also seeking centers.
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan believes the Red Wings must get a first-line forward, preferably a center, in return for Larkin. His suggested possibilities include Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, Devils center Nico Hischier, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, and Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jack Studley thinks Larkin will fill the Bruins’ need for a first-line center. They have five first-round picks over the next three years, top-six forwards, young defenseman, and a reloaded prospect pool to draw on for trade bait.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner expects the New York Islanders will likely look into acquiring Larkin. He speculated whether Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman would want Mathew Barzal in return, though the Isles would likely prefer retaining him.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James believes Larkin is just what the Flyers need to address their requirement for a first-line center.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen believes the Avalanche would have long odds of acquiring Larkin, but he thinks it’s worth their while to look into it.
THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman points out that, even if the Red Wings were to swap Larkin for another first-line center, they’d still have to find a suitable second-line center.
The Red Wings entered the offseason in need of a top-six forward and a retool of their bottom-six forwards. Larkin’s trade request could force management to consider more dramatic changes that could change the franchise’s direction.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The addition of Larkin into the trade market could affect what happens to other centers who’ve been the subject of trade speculation in recent months. They include Hischier, Thomas, Pettersson and McTavish.
It’s doubtful that the Maple Leafs will move Matthews this summer. He’ll likely take a wait-and-see approach to next season.
One team that wasn’t mentioned was the Montreal Canadiens, but I’d be shocked if they wouldn’t be among the suitors for Larkin, provided he’s willing to waive his NTC to go to Montreal. He’s a cost-controlled player in his prime for the next five years with a reasonable cap hit whose style of play would fit perfectly on their second line.
THE LATEST DARNELL NURSE SPECULATION
SPORTSNET: Mark Spector believes the Edmonton Oilers and Darnell Nurse are headed toward a breakup. He cited several current and former team employees, saying that the club is ready and willing to trade the 31-year-old defenseman as soon as possible.
Spector indicated that Oilers GM Stan Bowman is expected to meet with Nurse soon to discuss his wishes. He has a full no-movement clause until the end of next season, when it becomes a 10-team trade list. If Nurse won’t waive his current clause, the trade talks will be shelved until next summer.
Despite Nurse’s burdensome contract and questionable hockey sense, Spector believes he remains tradeable to a team seeking a big-minute defenseman, with the Oilers taking on a contract that the other club wishes to shed.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins referred to Oilers insider Bob Stauffer’s take on Spector’s story. Stauffer suggested the San Jose Sharks as a destination, with the Oilers having to take a contract back in the deal. The Sharks need experienced defensemen and could also be interested in Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It comes down to whether Nurse will waive his full NMC this summer, which teams would be his preferred destinations, and whether any of them would be interested in acquiring him.
The Sharks could be a suitable option if they’re interested and he’s willing to go there. As for which contract they’d want to shed in the deal, they could ask the Oilers to take on the final season of permanently sidelined forward Logan Couture, who has an $8 million cap hit.
Couture has a three-team trade list. Given his situation, he won’t have any issue agreeing to his contract being shipped to Edmonton. The Oilers could then place him on LTIR to free up cap space this summer, and season-ending LTIR when the 2026-27 regular-season schedule begins.
DETAILS OF CANADIENS’ RUMORED BID FOR MATTHEW KNIES REVEALED
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Dave Litman cited The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta telling the DFO Rundown podcast the details about a rumored trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs involving Leafs winger Matthew Knies that fell through at the March deadline.
According to Pagnotta, the Canadiens and Maple Leafs had an agreement in place that would’ve sent prospect winger Alexander Zharovsky, two first-round picks, and another prospect to Toronto for Knies. However, there were some complications before the 3 pm ET deadline on March 6.
Pagnotta believes the Canadiens will attempt to revisit their efforts to acquire Knies this summer. However, Litman pointed out that the Maple Leafs now have new management who might be reluctant to part with the young power forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pagnotta subsequently indicated that neither Michael Hage nor David Reinbacher was the other prospect that would’ve gone to Toronto.
Regardless, the Canadiens now have more pressing needs this summer. The postseason revealed they must find a suitable second-line center and an experienced right-shot defenseman who can log more than 10 minutes per game.
Pursuing Knies now doesn’t address either need and would waste valuable assets that could be used to address one of those issues.