The Toronto Maple Leafs are reaching the second phase in their search to hire the 42nd head coach in franchise history.

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Maple Leafs' second phase of the process is believed to include "about five candidates."

A few names have been removed from the Maple Leafs' radar since they fired Craig Berube in May. Manny Malhotra was hired by the Vancouver Canucks, and on Monday, the Los Angeles Kings hired Peter Laviolette, a coach who was believed to be among the finalists for the Maple Leafs' position, and even the Edmonton Oilers.

Aside from confirmed hires in other markets, David Carle seems like another bench boss who won't be joining Toronto after reports about him respectfully declining an interview. 

Bruce Cassidy, one of the biggest head coaching names available, doesn't seem to be a favorite in the running for the Maple Leafs' vacancy. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has mentioned multiple times that he doesn't see a fit for Toronto and Cassidy, meaning a marriage between the two doesn't seem likely.

Mike Van Ryn reportedly interviewed for the Maple Leafs job, and though he is an internal candidate, he's been with the organization for three years, and it's clear the organization is looking to make changes. 

Not only does Van Ryn not have any head coaching experience in the NHL, but as an assistant in charge of the team's defensemen, it's hard to say he held up his end of the bargain when his team allowed the second-most goals in the NHL this past year. Therefore, doesn't seem like he'd be the final decision GM John Chayka makes for the team's head coaching gig going into next season.

With that said, who remains in the race as a serious head coaching candidate for the Maple Leafs? With the latest reports in mind, here is a list of five NHL coaches who could be among the final five, in no particular order.

Report: Another NHL Coaching Candidate Off The Board As Maple Leafs Lose Peter Laviolette To KingsAfter losing Manny Malhotra last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs have another coaching candidate come off the board, as the Los Angeles Kings hire Peter Laviolette.

Jay Woodcroft

There have been conflicting reports regarding Jay Woodcroft's status with the Maple Leafs and where he stands in getting the job.

Earlier this off-season, Frank Seravalli reported that Woodcroft was set to be interviewed by Toronto. But not long after, Friedman pushed back on that report, saying, "I do not believe Toronto has asked permission to talk to him."

Regardless, LeBrun added his two cents on Monday. 

"I think Jay Woodcroft probably is," he said of Woodcroft's position among the remaining candidates for the Maple Leafs. He also added that he doesn't have that report 100 percent confirmed.

At any rate, Woodcroft would still be a worthy candidate given his tenure with the Oilers, leading the superstars of Edmonton to a 50-win regular season in his one full campaign with the organization. The Toronto native also took the Oilers beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the two post-seasons he was there for.

Most recently, he spent the past year as an assistant coach alongside veteran head coach Joel Quenneville. Woodcroft helped the Ducks defeat his former Oilers in the first round of the 2026 post-season and is an effective offense-minded bench boss.

Derek Lalonde

Derek Lalonde may not be the hottest pick to be Toronto's next head coach, but he is certainly qualified to guide the Maple Leafs from behind the bench and has been interviewed for the job, for that matter.

Lalonde is an internal candidate, and though management has been making changes with Toronto's staff, Lalonde has been with the Leafs for one season and was excellent at his job.

The 53-year-old was in charge of the team's penalty kill last year, which was one of the few bright spots for the Leafs. Toronto was among the top 10 in the NHL for its penalty kill, converting at an 81.2 percent rate.

He's also won two Stanley Cups as an assistant coach during his four-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning, meaning he knows what a winning team looks like.

Report: Maple Leafs Interviewed Internal Candidates, Lalonde, Van Ryn, For NHL Head Coaching PositionThe Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly interviewed Derek Lalonde and Mike Van Ryn for an NHL head coach position, confirming earlier reports from TheHockeyNews.com

As a head coach, he didn't have the best record with the Detroit Red Wings, coaching them through two-and-a-half seasons.

In total, his NHL record is 89-86-23 across 198 games behind the bench. However, in his best year with Detroit, 2023-24, the Red Wings missed the playoffs by a tiebreaker to the Washington Capitals. In different circumstances, Lalonde could've been the one to end Detroit's NHL post-season drought. But even since Todd McLellan came in, the Wings still don't have a post-season appearance to show for it after 10 years of missing the dance.

Joe Pavelski

Though the Maple Leafs indeed have Joe Pavelski on their radar for their vacant head coach position, he's certainly a surprising candidate. With that in mind, there is a fair reason for Toronto to be considering him.

Seeing how successful the hire of Martin St-Louis has been for the Montreal Canadiens, other teams may want to mimic the ideology of hiring a coach who was an NHL star, despite NHL coaching experience.

St-Louis coached minor hockey, as Pavelski has with the Madison Capitols U-15 AAA team, coaching his son, Nate.

Why The Maple Leafs Are Reportedly Interested in Former NHLer Joe Pavelski For Head Coaching PositionCould Joe Pavelski follow the Martin St. Louis blueprint and go from coaching his son's minor hockey team to behind an NHL bench?

It's certainly a risk, but it could also pay off with the hockey mind that Pavelski possesses. Even with his lack of experience as a head coach in hockey, he appears to be a real serious candidate for the Maple Leafs.

"It's been confirmed to me… Pavelski is among those five remaining candidates that is scheduled for in-person interviews this week with the Toronto Maple Leafs," LeBrun said on OverDrive. 

It would be a huge challenge for Pavelski stepping into his first-ever crack at being a head coach, for the biggest hockey market in the NHL, and in a crucial upcoming season that could determine how the organization operates in the next few years.

Nonetheless, if Pavelski didn't feel comfortable in that situation, he wouldn't keep himself in the running. So even though he's played in smaller markets, the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, he seems confident in the possibility of leading Toronto from behind the bench. 

Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy is another former star player in the mix for the Maple Leafs' head coach role. However, he also comes with multiple years of experience as a coach in the NHL.

His latest tenure with the New York Islanders ended near the end of this past regular season. In what was his third year with the Isles, Roy was fired with four games remaining in the campaign to make way for Pete DeBoer.

However, Roy's dismissal at an odd time of the season shouldn't highlight his time in Long Island.

Though he never made the playoffs with the Islanders, he was on a great path this past year, exceeding the team's expectations going into 2025-26. With the help of the 2025 first overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, the Islanders were competing for the post-season until the very end. In fact, the day before Roy was let go, New York was actually in a playoff spot.

Roy deployed Schaefer effectively, putting the rookie in positions to succeed, which ultimately led to him winning the Calder Trophy and setting the stage for what looks to be a long and successful NHL career.

That reputation may be enough for Chayka and the rest of Toronto's brass to seriously consider hiring Roy as the Leafs' next head coach.

"Patrick Roy is still in this process, I'm told," LeBrun reported.

Also, with the goaltending talent and depth that the Maple Leafs organization have in their system, who better to guide them than Roy, one of the best goaltenders in NHL history.

John Gruden

John Gruden is a candidate who hasn't been confirmed to be among the final list of candidates for the Maple Leafs, but there could be a very good reason for that.

Gruden is currently in the midst of a deep AHL Calder Cup run, as his Toronto Marlies have just advanced to the final following Sunday's win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, eliminating them in six games.

Because of this important stretch for the Marlies, it would make sense if the Maple Leafs kept any contact with Gruden under wraps. Any talk of a potential role in the NHL could become a distraction for the Marlies and hurt what could be a Calder Cup-winning campaign, which would only strengthen Gruden's case.

Are The Marlies Staff, Players Destined For Maple Leafs And NHL Roles?: Comparing This Year's Marlies To The 2018 Calder Cup ChampionsWith the Toronto Marlies advancing to the Calder Cup final, how does this team compare to the 2018 Calder Cup champions, and what staff members or players are destined for the NHL?

The 56-year-old has never been a head coach in the NHL, but does have experience as an assistant bench boss with the Islanders and Boston Bruins for five straight years before joining the Marlies in 2023-24.

But it's worth noting that coaches who go on to win the Calder Cup typically get a chance at coaching at the NHL level. That would apply to the likes of Jon Cooper, Jared Bednar, Jeff Blashill, Manny Malhotra, Sheldon Keefe, Ryan Warsofsky, and plenty more.

So, while no reports can confirm Gruden to be among the remaining names for the Maple Leafs' head coaching position, it wouldn't be absurd or shocking if he is a finalist.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

LAS VEGAS — If the Toronto Maple Leafs go with someone like Joe Pavelski to be their next head coach, Logan Stankoven could see it working.

One day before the Carolina Hurricanes face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Logan Stankoven sat down for a one-on-one with The Hockey News after the team’s practice at T-Mobile Arena.

Acquired by Carolina from the Dallas Stars in a midseason trade, the young forward believes Joe Pavelski would thrive if he chooses to pursue a coaching career in the NHL. 

“I mean, if that’s the way he wants to go, I see him being very successful,” Stankoven said, citing the veteran’s personality, recent experience and proven ability to connect with younger players.

Stankoven’s endorsement carries some weight because of the time he spent living with Pavelski during his early days in Dallas, an arrangement that also included Dallas Stars teammate Wyatt Johnston and gave him an inside look at what made the longtime NHLer so effective.

“It was nice just being able to live there and learn from him and you could see why he played so long, just the way he takes care of his body and whatnot, and, yeah, that was a blast for me. It was a good learning experience,” Stankoven said.

NEWS: Pierre LeBrun on OverDrive mentioned that Joe Pavelski is 'one of the five candidates' for the Maple Leafs' head coaching position #LeafsForever 👀

— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) June 8, 2026

Those months reinforced to Stankoven why Pavelski earned such widespread respect around the league, even from players who never shared a locker room with him. Stankoven pointed to his leadership, hockey sense and willingness to mentor as standout traits.

“I think just his leadership. He’s not a flashy guy, the way he plays, like, he’s so good with his stick. He’s not the fastest guy. He’s not the biggest guy. But he reads the game so well, and he’s really smart, Stankoven said about Pavelski. “For me being a smaller guy, it was cool to learn from him. Like, even before or after practices, he’d kind of pull me aside and we’d work on tips and stuff. And he was, like, he’s the best in the game at that. So it was just cool to learn from him and see what made him successful.”

There is talk that Pavelski’s next steps has included potential NHL coaching opportunities, with reports indicating interest from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Stankoven mentioned seeing those reports.

Would The Maple Leafs Hiring Joe Pavelski As Coach Be Like Throwing Him To The Wolves?As new Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka searches for his next coach, a familiar face has reportedly entered the race, as former Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks star Joe Pavelski will be interviewed. Could Pavelski thrive in a spotlight as intense as Toronto's?

“I think just his personality and his demeanor, it’s easy to see why he could get a coaching job. Yeah, I mean, just shortly removed from the NHL. 

Stankoven, 23, sees a clear advantage for coaches who have only recently left the playing ranks, especially in an era when the game continues to speed up and systems evolve.

“Teams do play a different way. Each team has their own system, but just the way the new era is, I mean, younger guys coming up and the way the game’s gotten a little bit faster and systems have kind of changed from back in the day a bit. So I think, if younger guys that are shortly removed from the league, I think they’d have a better understanding of what they need.”

He added that recent players often relate more naturally to today’s roster because they have lived through the same modern demands.

“I think from just personal experience, coaches that have played in the league, like, recently they relate to, they understand you, being through it all.”

Stankoven’s own rapid rise from that Dallas living-room mentorship to contributing in the Stanley Cup Final shows the lasting impact of learning from someone still fresh off the ice. 

With guys like Martin St. Louis having success with the Montreal with no coaching experience other than pee-wee hockey, a template has been established. It’s not clear yet if that’s the way the Leafs want to go, or if they’d rather swing in the direction of experience.

While the Philadelphia Flyers may have missed the boat for a potential Dylan Larkin trade, all hope is not lost for finding a top-six center this offseason.

Larkin will turn 30 next month, and while is talent and leadership are undeniable, the Flyers can find themselves better long-term fits elsewhere.

Plus, they need their young players, such as Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone, to find their stride and reach their maximum potential at the NHL level before adding a veteran star.

Those two, at the peaks of their powers, are the whole appeal to Philadelphia's operation anyway.

One of the more intriguing names the Flyers have been linked to in recent weeks and months is Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, who, 331 games into his NHL career, has yet to finish a season with 30 goals or 60 points.

Beniers, 23, was the esteemed No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, and a 57-point rookie campaign helped earn the Hingham, Massachusetts, native a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken.

Heading into Year 3 of that deal, the Kraken are still very much a mess of an expansion team. Beniers, with just four full seasons under his belt, has already played for two different general managers and three different head coaches.

Lost in Seattle's island of misfit veterans and prospects, the Kraken pivot could very well do with a change of scenery, which the Flyers can and should be willing to provide for Beniers.

Flyers Trade Targets: Best Alternatives to Unobtainable RFAsThe Philadelphia Flyers have no chance of getting a top RFA, but they can buy low on other talented centers available around the NHL to secure their future.

With Michkov, Martone, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, and Trevor Zegras in the fold, the Flyers have significantly more talent, and more dynamic talent, than the Kraken do, and that would help Beniers ascend offensively.

He may not ever be more than a Nico Hischier-type at his absolute peak, but Beniers is a player the Flyers can win with if they continue to build properly.

The player picked right after Beniers in 2021 was Mason McTavish, who was selected by the Anaheim Ducks.

We've already seen this movie with Zegras, where a young player succeeds early but struggles with coaching changes and additional responsibilities that don't mesh with play style.

McTavish, a swashbuckling power forward with very little speed, looked like he was turning the corner last year with 22 goals and 52 points, but his ice time and opportunity decreased significantly with Joel Quenneville taking charge of the Ducks.

Still, McTavish did finish the season with a respectable 41 points in 75 games, plus six points in 10 playoff games.

Comparatively, though, Noah Cates did finish with 47 points for the Flyers this season.

With a McTavish trade, the Flyers are betting purely on potential.

The 23-year-old is already a questionable fit due to his skating, but the Flyers are reportedly interested and they are in a position where they can afford to be patient.

Such a move has already paid dividends with Zegras, and Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet is the type of coach who can find parts of himself in McTavish and coax those elements out of him onto the ice for quantifiable results.

McTavish has five years remaining on his contract at a $7 million cap hit, and his trade value may very well never be lower than it is now.

Last but certainly not least is Utah Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton, who just limped through the worst statistical season of his NHL career.

Hayton, a 26-year-old pending RFA, broke into the NHL under Tocchet in 2019-20, and he was the fifth overall pick back in 2018.

Hayton, of course, has some talent to him to earn that draft slot, and he did score 20 goals and 46 points for Utah just a year ago, establishing career-highs in both categories.

After the way this season went, though, a change of scenery is in order.

Tocchet knew heading into last season that veteran center Christian Dvorak, who played for Tocchet in Arizona and was teammates with Hayton, had more offense in his game.

Dvorak promptly responded with 18 goals and 51 points for the Flyers this season in a top-six role, and Hayton, four years younger, could follow a similar path.

Hayton struggles with playmaking and finishing, at times, but he's a fairly decent skater at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, and knows where he needs to go to put himself in a position to score.

As was the argument for Beniers, Hayton would thrive in a new environment with more skilled, dynamic talents to support him.

With the 26-year-old in need of a new contract, now is a natural time for the Flyers to buy low and invest in Tocchet, his coaching skills, and a former top-five draft pick.

Vitals

Player: Avery Hayes
Born: October 10, 2002 (age 23)
Height: 5’ 10”
Weight: 180 pounds
Hometown: Westland, Michigan
Shoots: Right
Draft: Undrafted
2025-26 Statistics: Five goals, zero assists in 16 regular-season games
Contract Status: Hayes is signed through the 2026-27 season on his $867,500 entry-level contract.

Story of the Season

Hayes played 16 games with the Penguins this season, but he still led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 24 goals in 42 games.

The winger made his NHL debut on Feb. 5, during which he scored two goals in the first period of a 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres just before the Olympic break.

That made him one of seven NHL players to score twice in the first period of their debut in the league.

Hayes had a harder time finding immediately success during his next stint in the NHL, a 10-game post-Olympics stretch during which he didn’t mark the scoresheet.

He was called up again at the end of March and scored his third NHL goal in a win at the New York Islanders.

Although he struggled to find ways to mark the scoresheet, Hayes was regularly visibly for his heavy hits and for his penalties (he recored 12 penalty minutes in just 16 games).

Hayes stayed up with the Pens for the final three games of the regular season, during which time the Penguins had already locked up a playoff spot. He recorded another two-goal night in the regular season finale against the St. Louis Blues.

Hayes didn’t crack the Penguins lineup during the playoffs. He added another three goals in 15 AHL playoff games as the WBS Pens made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before Sunday’s Game 6 overtime elimination loss by the Toronto Marlies.

Monthly Splits

via Yahoo!

Hayes made his Penguins debut just before the NHL paused the season for the Olympics from Feb. 6 to Feb. 24. When NHL play resumed, he appeared in the lineup for 15 of the Penguins’ 25 remaining regular-season games.

Regular season 5v5 advanced stats

Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.

Corsi For%: 44.98% (18th)
Goals For%: 46.67% (16th)
xGF%: 50.23% (14th)
Scoring Chance %: 51.5% (7th)
High Danger Scoring Chance%: 49.33% (11th)
5v5 on-ice shooting%: 12.28% (6th)
On-ice save%: 90.12% (8th)
Goals/60: 1.75 (1st)
Assist/60: 0 (18th)
Points/60: 1.75 (11th)

The Penguins didn’t spend a lot of time in the offensive zone when Hayes was on the ice, but his five goals in just 178 total minutes of ice time technically made him the most efficient scorer on the roster. He also recorded 23 hits in 25 games, per Hockey Reference.

Highlights

FIRST GAME, FIRST SHOT, FIRST GOAL FOR AVERY HAYES 🐧

And look at the family's reaction! pic.twitter.com/dSEmL6VhII

— NHL (@NHL) February 6, 2026

A goal Avery Hayes is NEVER going to forget 💛 https://t.co/K1zQV7XO9hpic.twitter.com/4kTgt88DuG

— NHL (@NHL) February 6, 2026

An Avery Hayes world. We’re just living in it. pic.twitter.com/1G8IWvtZgu

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 6, 2026

GOALIE ASSIST FROM ARTURS SILOVS!!! 🍎

And Avery Hayes has his second of the night…

📺: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnHpic.twitter.com/vhTe9S6Av7

— NHL (@NHL) April 15, 2026

AVERY HAYES CAPS OFF THE HAT TRICK IN OVERTIME🎩@WBSPenguins | #WBSvsHERpic.twitter.com/R1i5GBoBZZ

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 8, 2026

AVERY HAYES 💥🥊 pic.twitter.com/CwXlA65bo4

— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 15, 2026

Avery Hayes seals the deal! pic.twitter.com/PZcQuTijN4

— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 1, 2026

Questions to Ponder

Can Hayes crack the Penguins roster to start the next NHL season?

He’ll join Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen as fringe roster players who got a taste of NHL playing time last season and could get another shot at the roster next training camp.

The potential departures of players like Noel Acciari and Kevin Hayes could open up some bottom-six spots for a player like Hayes.

If he doesn’t make it in on the October roster, Hayes will likely continue starring for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the AHL team braces for the potential loss of Sergei Murashov to the NHL next season.

At the time of his February debut, Hayes was one of 12 rookies who played for the Penguins last season. Turning some of those players into full-time NHLers alongside Ben Kindel would help Kyle Dubas restock the roster at a relatively low cost this offseason.

Ideal 2026-26

Hayes struggled to make an impact on offense throughout most of his time in the NHL last season. An ideal 2025-26 campaign would include him finding a way to contribute on offense, earning a roster spot in training camp and then providing a physical presence in the Pens lineup next season.

It was obvious throughout the WBS Penguins’ run in the Calder Cup playoffs that Hayes knows how to get other under players’ skin. The Penguins could use a pest-like player like that if Hayes is able to make the jump to the NHL next season.

Bottom Line

Hayes has spent two seasons as one of the top forwards in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and will get his best shot yet at a season-opening spot on the Penguins’ roster next fall.

The 23-year-old showed sparks of potential last season, particularly in his historic two-goal debut and with his consistent heavy hits, but he’ll need to find a way to make more of an impact on offense to carve out a more permanent place for himself on the Penguins’ bottom six.

Final Grade

C

Hayes would likely get an A for his work with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, especially during the regular season before his drop in production during the playoffs. In the NHL, he struggled to regularly contribute on offense but showed flashes that will likely get him another audition during training camp this fall.

What grade do you think Hayes deserves for his first 16 games with the Penguins?

On June 9, 1993, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 to capture their 24th Stanley Cup, defeating Wayne Gretzky and his team in just five games. After the win, Patrick Roy was awarded the second Conn Smythe Trophy of his storied career. He would go on to win another one with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, becoming not only the first player to win the playoffs’ MVP title three times, but also the first player to win it in three different decades, with his first win coming in 1986.

This 1993 conquest by the Canadiens is also the last time a Canadian team won Lord Stanley’s Mug, but it has to be said that the American teams that have triumphed since have always had more than their fair share of Canadian players. This year, the Vegas Golden Knights have 18 Canadians on their roster while the Carolina Hurricanes have nine, ensuring that Canada will once again leave its mark on the Cup.

Canadiens Dobes Vows To Be Even Stronger
Canadiens Report Card Bottom Six Edition
Canadiens’ Gallagher Given Permission To Speak To Other Teams

It’s been 33 years since the Habs have won the big prize and in those years, they’ve made the Cup final once while their journey was stopped in the Conference Final three times, against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Halak spring of 2010, against the New York Rangers with the infamous Carey Price/Chris Kreider collision and this season, against the Hurricanes in what could rightfully be called the Dobes spring.

While this latest journey to the Conference Final came as a surprise with Montreal being ahead of schedule in its rebuild, it feels different from 2010 and 2014. Back then, it felt like the organization was banking on great goaltending and rolling the dice on offense; it’s no longer the case. With Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, and Lane Hutson, the Canadiens have more firepower than they’ve had since their last Cup conquest, and it certainly feels like they have reasons to hope their 25th championship could come soon. If you ask Demidov, he’ll even tell you he believes this team will win a few Cups in the not-so-distant future.

Ivan Demidov on the Habs future:

“This is a team that’s going to win, not only one Stanley Cup, but I think a couple more. That’s my expectation. That’s what I see in this team.” pic.twitter.com/4rySL0HIdL

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 6, 2026

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Every organization searches for talent, but the truly special ones find someone who quietly changes the culture the moment he walks through the door.

That’s exactly why the Colorado Avalanche shouldn’t hesitate to bring Brent Burns back for another season.

More Than An Iron Man

At 41 years old, Brent Burns is much closer to the final chapter of an extraordinary NHL career than the beginning, yet his value to the Colorado Avalanche extends far beyond his minutes on the blue line.

His greatest contribution isn't measured by goals, assists or blocked shots. It's measured by habits.

Burns is routinely among the first players to arrive at the rink and one of the last to leave, carrying the same relentless work ethic that first turned heads when he broke into junior hockey with the Couchiching Terriers in 2001.

During training camp and throughout the season, Burns could regularly be found staying long after practice had officially ended, working through extra drills with prospects. The Hockey News watched him spend additional time on the ice with Nikita Prishchepov, offering instruction after most of the rink had already emptied.

There are countless ways to teach the game, but the most effective lessons are often demonstrated rather than spoken.

For a generation of younger players trying to establish themselves, those routines become impossible to ignore.

The Standard Never Changes

Hockey continues to evolve with speed, skill and technology, but one ingredient remains constant on every championship contender: veterans who refuse to lower the standard.

Burns embodies that philosophy.

Despite battling multiple injuries throughout the season, he appeared in every single game, extending his consecutive games played streak to 1,007 regular-season contests. Only Phil Kessel's 1,064-game iron man streak stands ahead of him in NHL history.

That level of consistency cannot be manufactured.

Colorado's younger players see someone who has spent a quarter century preparing the same way every day and understand exactly why longevity isn't an accident.

He can still flatten an opponent when necessary, still fire pucks through traffic and still provide the emotional lift every contender needs during difficult stretches.

Talent helps teams reach the postseason.

Character helps them survive it.

A Locker Room Built On Character

One interaction away from the cameras perfectly illustrates why Burns has earned so much respect throughout the hockey world.

After practice one day, this writer was unexpectedly stopped by Burns inside the locker room. The conversation had nothing to do with systems, analytics or hockey strategy.

Instead, Burns was genuinely interested in hearing my life story, how I arrived at The Hockey News and where the sport fit into my journey.

It wasn't a brief exchange born out of obligation. It was authentic curiosity from someone whose reputation as one of hockey's friendliest personalities is every bit as real as advertised.

That mindset carries over to everything he does, whether it's mentoring prospects, interacting with staff members or setting the daily example for teammates.

Nathan MacKinnon summed up Burns' longevity with a smile before the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.

“I think with Burnsy, he just sleeps a lot — more than anybody,” he stated prior to the beginning of the Western Conference Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights. “He’s like a big bear. He’ll nap between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then go to sleep for another 10 hours. It’s crazy. I think that’s a big reason why he’s played so long.”

Whether he's training relentlessly or eating meat harvested from hunts on his ranch, Burns has remained committed to the same disciplined lifestyle that has carried him through 25 professional seasons.

The Perfect Mentor For Colorado's Future

The only major accomplishment missing from Burns' remarkable résumé is a Stanley Cup championship.

His place in the Hockey Hall of Fame feels inevitable.

His impact on Colorado, however, is already happening.

While his 12 goals and 23 assists won't resemble the offensive numbers from his prime, they remain productive contributions from a defenseman entering his 40s. The turnovers became more noticeable as the season wore on, but injuries almost certainly played a role. The Hockey News learned earlier this season that Burns was dealing with an undisclosed injury that would normally sideline most players for weeks.

Instead, he did what he's always done.

He kept playing.

Like a throwback cowboy refusing to quit, Burns fought through the pain and continued launching pucks toward the net, even during Colorado's Western Conference Final sweep against Vegas.

His point wrist shot in Game 2 created Ross Colton's opening goal after generating a rebound in front of Carter Hart, briefly giving the Avalanche momentum before the Golden Knights rallied with three third-period goals to seize control of the series.

Colorado’s future is beginning to arrive.

College standouts T.J. Hughes and Matthew DiMarsico are joining the organization, along with undrafted prospect Nikita Novosyolov. Their development will depend on skill, opportunity and patience.

It will also benefit from sharing a dressing room with someone who has spent decades proving that professionalism is a daily choice.

The numbers will eventually stop.

The iron man streak will eventually end.

One day, Brent Burns will skate off an NHL ice surface for the final time.

But that day doesn’t have to be today.

The Avalanche don’t need him to score 20 goals or play 27 minutes a night. They need him to show the next wave of players what it takes to survive—and thrive—in the world’s best hockey league.

Re-signing Burns for one more season isn’t simply about rewarding a future Hall of Famer. It’s about preserving a culture that championship organizations spend years trying to build.

If Colorado wants its young talent to develop alongside one of the game’s most respected professionals, the decision should be an easy one.

Bring Brent Burns back for another year, let him keep firing pucks from the blue line and  mentoring the kids after practice.

If the youngsters leave the ice carrying even a fraction of Burns’ work ethic, humility and attitude, the Avalanche will have gained something far more valuable than another defenseman.

They’ll have inherited a standard.

A Pittsburgh Penguins forward is heading overseas. 

Joona Koppanen has signed a contract with the SHL's Lulea in Sweden. It was officially announced one day after the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were eliminated by the Toronto Marlies in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final in the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs.

WBS was two wins away from advancing to the Calder Cup Final, but couldn't get enough scoring in the series. 

🚨 Vi välkomnar 195 cm finsk center till Luleå Hockey!

💬 "Jag ser verkligen fram emot att bli en del av Luleå Hockey och att få spela i SHL – där många av mina kompisar spelat sedan tidigare och gillat det..."

ℹ️ https://t.co/UpJeO0a5Zupic.twitter.com/vPBRcX0NRX

— Luleå Hockey (@LuleaHockey) June 8, 2026

Koppanen spent the last three seasons with the Penguins' organization. He played in 44 AHL games during the 2025-26 season, compiling eight goals and 25 points. He also played in 13 NHL games, finishing with one point (an assist). 

Koppanen played in 11 NHL games during the 2024-25 season, scoring one goal. He played in 56 AHL games during that season, racking up eight goals and 23 points. 

Overall, Koppanen appeared in 28 NHL games over the last three seasons with the Penguins and compiled two points. 

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

Darkness crawls across the land / The midnight hour is close at hand.

This Vegas Golden Knights team is practically unrecognizable from the one that lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games last postseason.

It all started over the summer, when they acquired Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs and brought in Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon. The roster turnover continued during the regular season— in October, they signed goaltender Carter Hart. In January, they swapped Zach Whitecloud for Rasmus Andersson; they brought in forwards Cole Smith and Nic Dowd at the trade deadline.

Of course, the facelift didn’t stop with roster reconstruction. The Golden Knights took the hockey world by surprise when they announced a coaching change with just eight games remaining in the regular season. Despite being less than three weeks out from the postseason, they relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach and brought in John Tortorella to take his place.

It clearly worked. Now, just 71 days after the coaching change, the Golden Knights have a 2-1 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final… But that’s another story.

Throughout the season, despite the roster turnover and the coaching change, the Golden Knights have been remarkably consistent in one aspect: they simply refuse to die. The score of the game doesn’t matter– they play the same way whether they’re up one or down three. And, even when they’re down three, you can’t count them out. 

The Golden Knights could have starred as extras in the Thriller music video. The second you think they’re dead and buried, they stick their hands up from the earth, claw their way out of their graves, and reel you right back in. 

Ever since John Tortorella took over as head coach, he’s stressed the importance of having the right mindset. But even before he took over, the Golden Knights were a team with exceptional mental toughness. 

“I think [mental toughness] has been our foundation,” said Tortorella following practice on Monday. “And I know, prior to me coming here, it was going on during the regular season too. They just know how to handle themselves.”

You could see it from the first game of the regular season, a 6-5 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings that featured an early two-goal comeback and a late blown two-goal lead. You could see it in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche, when they rallied to overcome a three-goal deficit. 

It’s possible that Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes featured the greatest test for the Golden Knights’ mental toughness yet. They entered the third period with a 4-0 lead, only to watch the Hurricanes strike three times in just 39 seconds, and again with the goalie pulled to force overtime.

“I haven’t been involved in many games, especially playoff games, where a team scores three goals within 40 seconds,” Tortorella admitted. “That can set you back a little bit. 
But it didn’t affect us; there was no panic. I actually thought we were playing really well up to that point, and thought we played really well after that point.”

Blowing a four-goal lead would devastate most teams. The Hurricanes had all the momentum, and they knew it. It would have been very easy for the Golden Knights to fold.

Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, the Golden Knights have never once taken the easy route.

“
Again, they get it,” continued Tortorella. “The only way I can explain it is that they get it. They’ve been there. A lot of this team has won and gone through the process of going through the playoffs, and they rely on that. 
I think they challenge themselves. 

“And it isn’t a physical skill,” Tortrella finished. “It’s not a physical skill; it’s a mental skill. 
And we have that. I don’t know if we will win the series, but I know we have that in this organization.”

Grisly ghouls from every tomb / Are closing in to seal your doom.

And though you fight to stay alive / Your body starts to shiver.

For no mere mortal can resist / The evil of the thriller.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

By all indications, it appears as though the relationship between Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings could be coming to a close. 

Last week, it was released by NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman that Larkin had requested to be moved from the Red Wings, who selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and later made him the 37th captain in team history in 2021. 

Whether or not Larkin's trade request was meant to go public so quickly remains unknown, but once it leaked, there was no way it was staying under wraps. 

Friedman, who initially reported Larkin's trade request on Thursday afternoon, offered his latest speculation on the ongoing saga. 

"I think people hoped that it would stay quiet, but it's too big," Friedman said. "Like, there was no way that was staying quiet. Pierre LeBrun reported the other day that the Red Wings have been given a small list of teams." 

As also reported by longtime beat writer Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press, the alleged three teams that Larkin would accept a trade to include the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights, a short list that would greatly complicate matters for GM Steve Yzerman.

However, Friedman also speculated on the chances of the Dallas Stars or even the Anaheim Ducks potentially entering the fold. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

"I've heard Minnesota, I've heard Dallas," Friedman said. "I have to believe the two Florida teams, and I've not heard Anaheim, but I've had people say to me, 'Anaheim's a team that could do it." 

"But I think he wants to go into a situation where they're primed to win." 

Top Insider Links Red Wings' Dylan Larkin To Multiple NHL Teams Speculation continues to grow as to where current Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin could be traded to, and a handful of clubs have emerged, according to top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.

Larkin has multiple connections to players on his reported three-team trade list, and they're all teammates from the gold medal-winning Team USA roster from the Milan Winter Olympics: Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy (and GM Bill Guerin) of the Wild, Jack Eichel of the Golden Knights, and Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers. 

But if Yzerman feels that he isn't able to get an adequate trade package in return from one of the aforementioned teams, it could lead to an awkward and drawn-out situation with no specific timeline of being resolved. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour has made his decision on which goalie will start Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, June 9.

But he's not revealing whether Frederik Andersen or Brandon Bussi will play against the Vegas Golden Knights.

"It's the only suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold onto," he told reporters on Monday, June 8. "It seems to have taken a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it."

Andersen, who has started every playoff game, didn't take part in practice on Monday. Brind'Amour said it was a maintenance day.

The reason the starting goalie is even a question is because Brind'Amour pulled Andersen for Bussi during the Hurricanes' Game 3 loss.

The Golden Knights had scored four goals against Andersen (plus two disallowed ones) in the second period, including Mitch Marner's hat trick.

Brind'Amour inserted Bussi at the start of the third period. The backup goalie stopped 18 of 19 shots in the third period and two overtime periods, allowing only Shea Theodore's fluke goal.

Making the case for Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen as the Game 4 starter:

The case for Brandon Bussi starting Game 4

He looked great in his first action since mid-April. He quickly had to face red-hot Marner on a penalty shot and stopped him, allowing the Hurricanes to rally.

Brandon Bussi denies Mitch Marner on a penalty shot 👎 pic.twitter.com/Rh4FoAB7yN

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 7, 2026

Bussi can't be blamed for the lone goal against him.

He's rested while Andersen has played a lot and hasn't been as strong as he was in earlier rounds.

The case for Frederik Andersen starting Game 4

Go with what got you here. Andersen was stellar in sweeps in the first two rounds. He rebounded and won after his lone loss in the conference finals, plus his Game 1 loss in the final.

Though Andersen might want the fourth goal back, the second goal was an own goal tipped in by his defenseman. On the third goal, the Hurricanes gave Marner too many chances.

Andersen was clipped in the head by Ivan Barbashev on the second disallowed goal, but Brind'Amour said he's fine. The goalie has two days off between games, and that and the skipped practice should give him enough rest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes won't reveal Game 4 goalie: Should Andersen or Bussi start?

On a rare practice day during the Stanley Cup Final, local fans flocked to City National Arena to show support for their Vegas Golden Knights. They all wore jerseys or other merchandise bearing the gold helmet, and many carried signs.

A well-attended open practice is nothing out of the ordinary– the Golden Knights have opened their doors for fans to attend practices and morning skates all year. Even for a typical practice during the regular season, you can expect the stands at City National Arena to be fairly full. As the playoffs have progressed, so too has the attendance level.

But all other open practices paled in comparison to the scene at City National Arena on Monday.

Inside, there were so many fans that the practice rink the Golden Knights were skating on couldn’t hold them all. All the excess fans who didn’t make the cut formed a long line snaking through the entire lobby. The lucky fans who made it inside the practice rink were packed together in the stands like too many sardines in a small can.

👀 This is wild.

There is a line of fans wrapped around inside the lobby of City National Arena waiting to have a chance at getting a glimpse at the sheet of ice where the Golden Knights are practicing #ForgedInGoldpic.twitter.com/qIhlvWRxQm

— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) June 8, 2026

Outside the rink, fans lined the sidewalks in hopes of interacting with players as they entered and exited the rink. A DJ stood alongside them, bumping music and keeping the good times rolling. Around the practice facility, the parking lots overflowed to the point where they had to open up a third lot.

During practice, the fans reacted as the team skated and ran drills as if they were watching a winner-take-all Game 7. They cheered for every goal, and cheered just as loudly for every save.

“We definitely feel the support of the community,” said defenseman Jeremy Lauzon after practice. “It’s been amazing. It gives us a lot of energy during games. And during practice today, it was fun to have them out there, chanting for us. I love playing here and playing in front of those fans. It’s been great.”

Another day, another major rumor involving the Florida Panthers.

Despite their season ending without any participation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in seven years, the Panthers have been in the middle of the news quite a bit over the past several weeks.

A big reason why is the top-10 draft pick Florida’s injury-plagued season yielded them.

That ninth overall selection at the 2026 NHL Draft, which is set for later this month at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, gives the Panthers a major asset to shop around with.

To this point, Florida has been mentioned in the same breath as several big-names potentially available via trade, though the biggest have been goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington.

That is likely due to the Panthers not having any goalies under contract for next season, and the reported gap in extension negotiations with longtime netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.

But now, Florida’s name has come up with perhaps the biggest name that could be on the move this summer.

Last week it first was reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that longtime Detroit Red Wings star forward Dylan Larkin had requested a trade, news that sent shockwaves across the NHL.

Larkin, who will be 30 years old on Opening Night, has a full no-trade clause in his contract, which pays him an average annual value (AAV) of $8.7 million through the 2030-31 season.

He’s averaged 32 goals and 70 points over the past five seasons in Detroit, where he’s played his entire 11-year career after growing up 30 miles outside the city in Waterford, Michigan.

Unfortunately for Larkin and the Red Wings, he has not touched the ice for a playoff game since his rookie season back in 2016.

Enduring year after year of regular season failure has seemingly been enough to push Larkin to request a trade out of town, and on Monday we learned that he handed Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman a short list of teams that he would accept a trade to.

According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, that list included the Vegas Golden Knights, the Minnesota Wild and the Panthers.

None of those three teams are particularly surprising, as each of them are very much in win-now mode.

Vegas is two wins away from a second Stanley Cup in four seasons, and the Wild are certainly on a short list of teams in the Western Conference that would be considered Cup contenders.

The Panthers are expected to return to the level of play we’ve seen from them in recent seasons, with a deep roster full of players in their primes who have championship experience.

One would have to think that of those three options, a Florida offer would have to be something significant for Yzerman to trade Larkin within the Atlantic Division, but with the player holding the majority of the power, it could make for an interesting back-and-forth between the two teams.

Another major element to consider is that the Panthers already have three high-end centers locked into long-term contracts: Sasha Barkov, Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell.

Barkov is not going anywhere, and while GMs from across the league have called Florida about Lundell over the past several seasons, he’s another player that Florida has no intention of giving up.

Bennett has shown to be an integral piece of Florida’s lineup, as evidenced by how the team struggles when you remove either of their top two centermen from the roster. His gritty, tenacious nature that combines with the natural offensive skill create a player who personifies the kind of hard-nosed hockey that the Panthers have perfected under Head Coach Paul Maurice.

So where would Larkin fit in if Florida wasn’t willing to part ways with either of the aforementioned centers?

It’s not unheard of for a player who takes faceoffs to play a wing position, as is the case with Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen with the Panthers.

Depending which side of the ice a faceoff is taking place, Maurice will sometimes have a different player take the draw.

The point is, just because the Panthers are already set down the middle with centers, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t make room for Larkin without disrupting their incredible depth.

But the room will have to come from somewhere.

Florida’s ninth overall pick would likely be involved in any Larkin deal, but what else would it take?

The Red Wings will likely want something in return that will also help them win now, as they will potentially be trying to break their 10-season playoff drought without their captain and best player in Larkin.

An interesting potential trade was constructed by The Athletic’s Max Bultman and Corey Pronman.

In that deal, Florida would send their first-round pick along with Luostarinen and prospect Sandis Vilmanis to the Red Wings in exchange for Larkin.

To be honest, my first thought when viewing that deal was, “That’s all it would take?”

Vilmanis has looked like he’s ready to become a solid middle-six forward next season after a strong initial showing with Florida this year, while Florida has been able to hide Luostarinen with their depth, keeping the highly skilled, two-way forward who is a natural centermen as a bit of a secret weapon on their third line.

This deal would be interesting financially for Florida, as it would add $5.7 million to their cap hit for next season (Larkin’s $8.7M hit minus Eetu’s $3M hit), leaving the Panthers with around $9.5 million in cap space to sign two goalies and any depth pieces, as well as their three restricted free agents, forwards Mackie Samoskevich and Cole Schwindt and defenseman Donovan Sebrango, if they so choose.

Still, one would have to think it will take more for a team to pry Larkin away from the Red Wings, especially when dealing with a division rival.

It also will depend on the kind of offers that Vegas and Minnesota would potentially put together, as well as the possibility of Larkin’s list of teams growing between now and next season depending on how things play out with his original three.

Any deal including Florida’s first round pick would need to happen between now and June 26, when that selection will be made in Buffalo.

What do you think it would take for the Panthers to acquire Larkin from Detroit? Is that something you’d be interested in, or should Florida try to update their roster in other places, like in goal?

Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers Sign RFA Goalie Cooper Black To 2-Year, 2-Way Extension

Report: Panthers One Of Three NHL Teams Dylan Larkin Is Open To Being Traded To

Brad Marchound To Represent Florida Panthers At 2026 Stanley Pup

Ex-Panthers Goaltender Steps Into The Crease For The Hurricanes As Their Comeback Attempt Falls Short; Could He Start Game 4?

Top Prospects Confirm They Had Dinner With Panthers At 2026 NHL Scouting Combine

The Hockey Show: Unexpected Stat To Stanley Cup Final, Dylan Larkin Wants Out Of Detroit, Nick Alberga On Leafs

Photo caption: Jan 17, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) skates away with the puck in front of Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)

The Edmonton Oilers are seeking approval from the NHLPA to hire former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock as their next bench boss, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

This report comes after Babcock messaged Dreger on May 20 about potentially coaching again in the NHL, and he said, "Dregs, I'm retired. Loving it."

However, contrary to what he told Dreger, it seems that Babcock is open to joining the fifth team of his NHL coaching career.

There is some controversy attached to Babcock in a couple of different situations from his past.

Babcock coached the Maple Leafs for five years from 2015-16 to 2019-20. After his tenure in Toronto, there were reports that he asked Mitch Marner, a rookie at the time, to provide a list of players ranked from hardest-working to least hardest-working. With that list, Babcock then shared the results with the rest of the team, putting Marner in an awkward and embarrassing spot.

In his last stint in the NHL, with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he didn't get to coach his team for one game. He was hired on July 1, 2023, but resigned two months later on Sept. 17 after allegations of him invading the privacy of his players.

Berube, Keefe, Babcock: How The Maple Leafs' Last Three NHL Head Coaches Fared In TorontoHow have the previous three head coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs - Craig Berube, Sheldon Keefe, and Mike Babcock - fared in their respective tenures?

Nonetheless, the Oilers are doing their due diligence and consulted with the NHLPA regarding any objections from the committee to potentially naming him as head coach.

Furthermore, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Babcock has spoken directly to the Oilers' owner, Daryl Katz. And while the final decision is up to Katz, because of Babcock's history, Edmonton's players would need to be on board.

Well, it turns out that Babcock also met with several members of the team's leadership group, per Friedman's sources, and that apparently "was enough to eliminate any potential objection."

Report: Another NHL Coaching Candidate Off The Board As Maple Leafs Lose Peter Laviolette To KingsAfter losing Manny Malhotra last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs have another coaching candidate come off the board, as the Los Angeles Kings hire Peter Laviolette.

With these reports, TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Monday noted that Babcock could be joined by D.J. Smith, who is another former member of the Maple Leafs coaching staff. Babcock and Smith stood behind the bench together in Toronto for four years.

With the Maple Leafs, Babcock led Toronto to three third-place finishes in the Atlantic Division, falling in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of those campaigns.

In total, Babcock coached the Leafs for 351 regular-season games, earning a 173-133-45 record, as well as 20 playoff games and an 8-12 post-season record.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Where does Dylan Larkin land after his request to be traded from the Detroit Red Wings? His list of desired destinations is short.

Larkin’s wish to leave the Red Wings after 11 years – and 10 consecutive years without a playoff berth – sent shockwaves through the NHL when the news emerged Thursday, June 4.

Neither side – Larkin’s camp or general manager Steve Yzerman – has commented publicly on the situation. 

Larkin, who turns 30 on July 30, is signed through 2030-31 and currently has a full no-trade clause. The latter means Larkin is in control of where he goes. In such cases, it’s the players’ onus to submit a list of teams that fit where he wants to land. 

TRENDING: Dylan Larkin's request for a trade fires up Red Wings fans

The Free Press has learned from a person within the NHL – granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly – that these are the three teams on Larkin's list, in no particular order:

1. Florida Panthers

Larkin in February won the gold medal for the USA at the 2026 Milano Olympics with Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk. Florida does not have a state income tax, and there’s little media scrutiny. The Panthers missed the playoffs this season, but are poised to return to contender status in 2026-27 with the return of captain Aleksander Barkov, who missed all of the season with an injury. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025.

The return would have to be phenomenal, though, for Yzerman to trade Larkin within the Atlantic Division. 

2. Vegas Golden Knights

Since entering the NHL in 2017-18 on the strength of an incredible expansion draft, the Knights are in their third Stanley Cup Final in nine seasons and partied with the Cup in 2023. This is a franchise that does whatever it takes to stay competitive; just this season, it fired highly respected coach Bruce Cassidy – the guy behind the bench in 2023 – with eight games to go and brought in John Tortorella.

Last summer, the Knights pulled off a blockbuster by acquiring 100-point Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who wanted out of Toronto. Vegas is two wins from a second Stanley Cup, leading Carolina, 2-1, ahead of Tuesday's Game 4 in Vegas.

3. Minnesota Wild 

Here, Larkin would be reunited with fellow U.S. gold medalists Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber. Wild GM Bill Guerin has shown he’s all-in on guiding the team to its first Stanley Cup championship since entering the league as an expansion team in 2000-01, pulling off the Hughes trade in December 2025. Hughes had made it clear he wouldn’t re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks, and since he was in the fifth season of a six-year deal, the Canucks decided to get value while they could.

Yzerman pursued Hughes as well, but pulled out when Hughes, who played at Michigan, would not commit to re-signing. 

[ Don't blame Larkin for not wanting to waste his prime under Yzerman ]

Larkin may be asked to expand his list if there's not a favorable deal to be worked out with one of his preferred teams. In that case, these three other teams make sense.

Other teams that make sense

New York Islanders

A star who just made history by becoming the first defenseman ever to win the Calder Trophy unanimously in Matthew Schaefer. A star goaltender in Ilya Sorokin. A star forward group that includes Mathew Barzal, a high-end playmaker and top scorer. Another star forward in Bo Horvat, a top goal-scorer and excellent on face-offs. A veteran captain in Anders Lee. This is a team on a meteoric rise after winning the draft lottery in 2025 and adding Schaefer. 

The Islanders finished with 91 points (43-34-5) in 2025-26.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks (92 points) are another team on the rise, emerging from a rebuild on the guiding hands of GM Pat Verbeek, who was Yzerman's right-hand man for years in both Detroit and with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Ducks have a tremendous young core headlined by Leo Carlsson, the second overall pick in 2023, along with Cutter Gauthier (fifth overall, 2022), and Mason McTavish (third overall, 2021). They're guided by veteran coach Joel Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks.

A proven veteran center is just what this team needs after the Ducks upset the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs this year, before falling to Vegas in the second round.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The team isn't dominating like five years ago, but there's a strong, if aging, core in superstar defenseman Victor Hedman and superstar goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and one of the NHL's most elite forwards in Nikita Kucherov. Under the guidance of longtime coach Jon Cooper, the Bolts pushed the Montreal Canadiens to a seven-game series in the first round before bowing out this spring.

Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dylan Larkin trade request has 3 places he wants Red Wings to send him