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The fallout from Thursday's bombshell report from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman that Dylan Larkin requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings continues to dominate the discussion in Motor City sports circles. 

The Red Wings have now missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for ten consecutive seasons, the longest active drought in the NHL. Larkin is the only player on the current Red Wings roster who skated in their most recent playoff appearance in 2016. 

Right now, it appears as though the drought, which has included three consecutive meltdowns in March, has finally become too much for Larkin to want to continue enduring. 

However, his reported trade request is the opposite of what he had to say during his season-ending media availability session in late April.

Speaking at Little Caesars Arena after the Red Wings had cleaned out their lockers, Larkin said that it was his desire to remain in Detroit and see the process through of finally becoming a playoff team and moving into Stanley Cup contention. 

"I'm just thinking now going back to when I re-signed and, you know, signed an eight-year deal and I knew that we had work to do and I knew that we weren't going to win the Stanley Cup the next day," Larkin said. "But I wanted to be here and I want to be here to help this team in any way I can to win the Stanley Cup." 

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

"I wanted to be here, and I want to be here to help this team in any way I can to win the Stanley Cup," he said. "We need to get the Detroit Red Wings back in the playoffs - not just me." 

Larkin registered a career-high 34 goals this season, but for the second time in the last three seasons, suffered an untimely injury and missed multiple games while the rest of his teammates struggled down the stretch. 

"Bombshell": NHL Insider Reveals Further Details Behind Reported Trade Request Of Dylan Larkin NHL Insider Darren Dreger shares further details on the explosive report from earlier on Thursday that Dylan Larkin is seeking a fresh start elsewhere after having played with the Red Wings since 2015.

If Larkin were ultimately traded, it would signal a major shakeup in the direction of GM Steve Yzerman's long-term vision for the club he took over in April 2019. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot riding on the success of Connor Bedard, who they selected with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

Since coming into the NHL, Bedard has gotten better and better with each passing day. His overall growth as a player on and off the ice from year one through year three is noticeable. 

Now that Bedard is through the entry-level years of his NHL career, it is time for an extension. On July 1st, he becomes a restricted free agent. The price to offer sheet someone like him is through the roof, but the Blackhawks still want to get him signed to avoid any time missed. 

We've seen from other teams and players around the league that missing parts of training camp due to contract stuff can be detrimental.

Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, and Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils would all admit that it was a detriment to their seasons when it happened to them. 

On Friday, The Hockey News named Connor Bedard as the top pending RFA in the National Hockey League. 

Connor Bedard, Jason Robertson, Leo Carlsson and Trevor Zegras are just some of the most intriguing pending NHL RFAs as the playoffs near the end: https://t.co/Y9FIQES7wd

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 5, 2026

Bedard leads the list of players that includes talents like Leo Carlsson, Jason Robertson, and Pavel Dorofeyev, amongst others. A lot of money is going to be handed out to these young men, and Bedard is the top guy. 

Other players have had more production in their careers, some of them because they are older, but none of them have the ceiling with runway left in their careers the way that Bedard does. He is as young as an RFA can be in the NHL. 

Connor Bedard wants to be in Chicago, and the Blackhawks want him. It is a mutual interest to get this deal signed, and both parties can focus on more important aspects once it is complete. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

Former Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Johansson was heading into the summer as one of the NHL's top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) scorers. However, instead of testing the market or re-signing with the Minnesota Wild, Johansson is taking his talents overseas. 

Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) has announced that they have signed Johansson. 

Johansson just had a very good season for the Wild, posting 15 goals, 34 assists, and 49 points in 75 games. This was the first time since 2022-23 that Johansson recorded at least 40 points and the second-most points he had in an NHL season. While this is the case, Johansson is heading home to play in the SHL. 

Johansson played in 60 games for the Sabres during the 2019-20 season, where he recorded 13 goals, 17 assists, and 30 points. His time with the Sabres ended during the 2020 NHL off-season when he was traded to the Wild in exchange for Eric Staal. 

In 1,058 career NHL games over 16 seasons, he posted 200 goals, 366 assists, and 566 points. Overall, the former Sabre had himself a strong NHL career, and he should be a big pickup for Farjestad BK. 

The Rangers hired Jay Leach to lead their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Named the ninth head coach in Wolf Pack history on Friday, Leach joins the Blueshirts organization after serving as an assistant coach in the NHL over the previous five seasons with the Kraken (three) and the Bruins (two). 

The 46-year-old Leach is an experienced addition and has been a candidate for multiple head coaching vacancies in the NHL in recent years. 

The Rangers actually asked Seattle for permission to interview him for their opening in 2023.

“Players gravitate toward him,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan told The Post of Leach at the time, when he was still head coach of the Penguins. “He’s a good leader. He’s been in leadership roles when he was playing in the American League, and so he brought all of that to the coaching aspect of what he’s doing now. When I got a chance to work right next to him in Wilkes-Barre, I was really impressed, but not surprised, with his work ethic. He rolls his sleeves up, he works hard at being a good coach, and he brings a certain humility to the job every day that I think is so important for all of us.

“He has strong convictions of how the game should be played, but he also understands there’s more than one way to play the game and that you have to work with people, both players and coaches alike, in order to try to build the necessary collaboration to have success in today’s NHL.”

President and general manager Chris Drury bringing on Leach makes a lot of sense for an organization that is looking to refresh its prospect pool.

Plus, Leach has ties to Sullivan, who brought him onto his staff with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the 2015-16 season. 

When Sullivan was promoted to the Bruins, Leach succeeded him and took over the team. 

The last time Leach served as head coach was from 2017-21 with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. 

Over those four seasons, the Syracuse native led the team to back-to-back Atlantic Division titles.

Providence compiled a 136-77-26 record under Leach, who also helped the team reach the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals as an assistant in 2016-17. 

The Bruins eventually brought Leach back as an assistant at the NHL level over the last two campaigns. 

A defenseman drafted 115th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes, Leach appeared in 70 NHL games across five seasons for the Bruins, Lightning, Devils, Canadiens and Sharks.

He ultimately played 12 seasons of professional hockey before making the jump into coaching.

The NHL’s salary cap is rising but many teams still find themselves in various degrees of uncomfortableness when it comes to the salary structure. The Pittsburgh Penguins are not one such team.

Offer sheets have been a seldom used venture by NHL general managers, there have only been four in the last decade. Montreal signed Carolina’s Sebastian Aho in 2019, the Hurricanes matched and retaliated two years later by giving Jesper Kotkaniemi what looks like a regrettable amount of money that the Canadiens did not match. Then in 2024 St. Louis fired shots across the bow by targeting Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from Edmonton, which the cap-strapped Oilers opted not to match.

Going back to the entire NHL salary cap era from 2006-present, there have only been 12 total completed offer sheets. Only four of those 12 were successful to acquire a player from a team unwilling or unable to match the compensation.

The St. Louis moves showed the potential is not gone to take the aggressive action, so let’s check on this year’s crop via Sportsnet.

As every team looks at improving over the off-season, will any use an offer sheet to chase talent?@RoryBoylen has everything you need to know about compensation and which players could be interesting RFA targets. https://t.co/dsQNwg6cPb

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 4, 2026

The important information to know is the different levels of compensation required, which for 2026 is as follows:

Based on these splits, it’s a challenge to anticipate signing a mega-star like RFA Jason Robertson to an offer sheet. It would easily require first round picks from 2027-30, which is a cost too far to support making such a move.

However, as STL showed, targeting rising players who could play into a higher cost than they’ve shown in the past can pay off handsomely for the price of a second or third round pick as a sweet spot for trying offer sheets. This could be the key area of opportunity.

Zach Benson, Buffalo Sabres

As previously mentioned, if Buffalo re-signs Tuch, it would immediately be tight to next year’s salary cap. Meantime, 21-year-old Zach Benson became a core piece of the Sabres this season with a breakout 43-point campaign (in 65 games) and an even better showing in the playoffs. It might be fair to ask: Should Benson actually be Buffalo’s priority here?

Benson, drafted 13th overall in 2023, is a player who whispers say was of much interest to the Penguins had he just slipped one more pick in the draft to where they were at. (Pittsburgh ended up selecting Brayden Yager, who was traded not long after).

Sportsnet also notes that Buffalo has center Peyton Krebs and defenseman Michael Kesselring as potential restricted free agents. The Sabres currently have $17.6 million in cap space, though it stands to reason over half of that amount would be taken away if they end up re-signing star forward Alex Tuch.

Granted, if the Sabres don’t re-sign Tuch, there wouldn’t be much of a point in trying to fish away Benson via offer sheet. They’ll be in good enough shape to match in that situation. Assuming they did sign Tuch, would the Penguins be so bold as to transfer an unprotected 2027 first round pick (plus a third, which they have an extra selection in that round already) to get Benson on an offer of $7 million?

Benson scored 43 points in just 65 games this year and was a great playoff performer with nine points in 13 games and a very active, physical presence. He also just turned 21-years old and could be worth an investment to be a part of the core for a while.

It would take some faith that Benson could get a glow up like Holloway did, who went all the way up to 63 points in his first season with the Blues and was worth his contract plus the second round pick to give up. This isn’t a surefire risk-free proposition, but it could be something to think about considering the Pens were rumored to have really liked Benson in the pre-draft process. After three seasons in the NHL, there’s even more to like.

Mavrik Bourque, Dallas

The Stars’ top priority is to get Robertson under contract, which would be a big ticket, certainly in the $12 million range, that would put them over the cap. Meantime, the 24-year-old Bourque would be offer sheet eligible after his first 20-goal season. Perhaps a quiet playoff showing may cool interest in going the offer sheet route, and GM Jim Nill may be looking at trade options instead.

Pittsburgh and Dallas have been a good trade fit with one another recently. The two worked together last year to send Matt Dumba plus a second round pick to the Pens last year to ease some Stars cap woes. Those problems are back again for them, which means the Pens might not even need to offer sheet Bourque to acquire him. Volunteer to take the salary of Ilya Lybushskin ($3.25m for one more year) and then it could see what other particulars would need to be done to get Bourque as a part of the deal could be a workable gambit.

If dangling that carrot via a trade ended up not working out, the Pens could always turn to using the stick of the offer sheet for Bourque. It looks like the Stars have about $13 million of cap space for next year, of which Robertson would require almost all of it. Should a team come in with a $4.7 million offer for Bourque, that might put a lot of strain on the Stars’ structure – depending on what further moves they could make to get around that. Something’s got to give in Dallas, if a team adds a little more pressure to the situation they might be able to get Bourque out of it, via whatever means it might take via trade or offer sheet.

Olen Zellweger/Pavel Mintyukov, Anaheim

Carlsson and Gauthier grab most of the attention in regards to Anaheim’s RFAs, but it also has two young defencemen who are offer sheet eligible. Zellweger and Mintyukov, two 21-year-olds, both finished with 22 points this season, while Mintyukov averaged about a minute-and-a-half more of ice time, mostly because of his shorthanded minutes.

Of the two, Zellweger may be the one to watch more closely on the offer sheet front. His average ice time dropped by nearly two minutes from 2024-25 to 2025-26 and he only played three playoff games for the Ducks.

These two have been oft-talked about, with little more new ground to tread. Anaheim having to give new contracts to breakout stars Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier makes them a very interesting team to watch this offseason. They also have a total of two NHL defensemen currently signed for next season according to CapWages. A lot is going to go on out there. Maybe the Pens can get involved, maybe not, but watching the Ducks navigate this summer will be worth watching.

Zack Bolduc, Montreal

One of Montreal’s four RFAs, Bolduc scored 12 goals for the Canadiens this season but got to 19 with St. Louis the year before that. If he stays in Montreal, a new contract might come in the range of $3 million, but is there a team out there that values his potential higher than that?

When Montreal traded for Bolduc last summer, our scout Jason Bukala wrote that it had “acquired at worst a middle-six forward. He’s more likely a top-six winger.” That didn’t come to fruition right away, but Bolduc is still just 23 years old. If a team still sees him as a player who could score 20-25 a season and have top-six upside, might they take a shot on a short- or medium-term contract worth around $4.5 million — a rate that might make Montreal a little uncomfortable and require only a second-round pick as compensation?

A team like the Pens could pay a little more for a player in salary, assuming they really liked the player or thought he could take off to justify the move. Whether or not they would actually want to do that is of course the unknown $64,000 question. Bolduc, 23, has yet to really take off, does Pittsburgh (or anyone else) think he could have that Holloway-esque type of increase in the future? If so, $4 million and giving up a second round pick would be a small price to pay. If not, onto the next.

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More often than not the offer sheet goes unused, though the increased amount of second+third round picks that Pittsburgh has in the next few years makes them decent candidates to use if the right situation was out there. The Pens have used that to acquire Egor Chinakhov and Elmer Soderblom in trades, straying outside the lane to attempt an offer sheet coup would be unexpected but a bold, risky move at attempting to bolster the team’s talent level.

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It’s officially time to Knight up.

After an impressive Game 2 comeback overtime win, Sebastian Aho’s Carolina Hurricanes tied Mitch Marner’s Vegas Golden Knights at one game apiece in the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals.

Next up, the high-stakes series heads to the VGK’s home T-Mobile Arena. The two Sin City contests are scheduled to take place:

Game 3Saturday, June 6
5 p.m.

Game 4Tuesday, June 9
5 p.m.

A hypothetical Game 6 — if the Finals goes that far — would go down Sunday, June 14 in Vegas.

If you’d like to be at any one of these Stanley Cup tilts, last-minute tickets are still available.

Better yet, prices have significantly decreased since we last reported on how much they cost for games at the T-Mobile Arena.

When our team wrote about prices for Stanley Cup games in Vegas on June 1, prices started at $1,604 including fees on SeatGeek at the time of publication.

Now, just a mere four days later, seats can be found for as low as $666 including fees.

Yes, prices have dropped nearly $1,000 (!) in just four days.

Throw in the fact that you can save $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout using promo code NYPOST10 and you’ve got a steal of a deal (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).

In theory, the Knights should be coming home, up 2-0.

However, Knights Head Coach used a coach’s challenge on goaltender interference with five minutes left in regulation and got his call overturned, which resulted in a two-minute minor penalty that led to a power play for the ‘Canes, a momentum shift and their subsequent victory.

“Instead of Vegas going home looking to move to the verge of a second championship in nine years of existence, the series is all square, despite [Carter] Hart making some big saves and Brett Howden scoring his playoff-leading 12th and 13th goals,” The Post noted in a Game 2 postmortem.

When asked for comment, Head Coach John Tortorella said: “I have my thoughts. I’m not discussing it here.”

We can’t wait to see what happens next.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes below.

What do tickets cost to see Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup home games?

All Vegas Golden Knights T-Mobile Arena Stanley Cup home game dates and the cheapest tickets available (versus what they cost on June 1) can be found here:

Vegas Golden Knights home game dates	Ticket prices start at	Ticket prices started at on June 1
Game 3 Saturday, June 6	$666(including fees	$1,774(including fees)
Game 4 Tuesday, June 9	$709(including fees	$1,604(including fees)
Game 6 Sunday, June 14	$939(including fees	$1,635(including fees)

How much are Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup home game tickets?

A complete calendar including all Hurricanes Eastern Conference Finals home game dates at the Lenovo Center and the best prices on tickets (compared to what they were going for on June 1) are listed below.

Carolina Hurricanes home game dates	Ticket prices start at	Ticket prices started at on June 1
Game 5 Thursday, June 11	$1,009(including fees)	$1,717(including fees)
Game 7 Wednesday, June 17	$2,064(including fees)	$2,086 (including fees)

How to watch the Hurricanes and Golden Knights on TV

Fans hoping to catch Tortorella’s talented team on the tube can watch all playoff games on ABC in the US or Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

Huge 2026 concerts

Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NHL season?

No worries.

Many of the most exciting acts around will be out and about all summer long. Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.

• Evanescence with Spiritbox

• Tame Impala with Djo

• Five Finger Death Punch

• Avenged Sevenfold with Good Charlotte

• RUSH

Plus, you won’t want to miss Metallica’s Sphere residency. They’ll be at the eye-popping venue from October through March 2027.

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Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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Georgii Romanov's run with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the Calder Cup Playoffs didn't go unnoticed by the St. Louis Blues.

On Friday, the team announced it signed the 26-year-old to a two-year, two-way contract.

Romanov and Vadim Zherenko split time in the American Hockey League last season, and after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks to offset the loss of Colten Ellis to the Buffalo Sabres via waivers prior to the season, Romanov went 9-12-4 with a 3.29 goals-against average, an .896 save percentage, and one shutout in 28 regular-season games.

But in the playoffs, Romanov helped lead the Thunderbirds to the Atlantic Division Final and was 7-4-0 with a 1.84 goals-against average, a .939 save percentage, and two shutouts in 11 postseason appearances.

Romanov has played in 78 AHL regular-season games and is 29-27-17 with a 3.18 GAA, and a .902 save percentage. 

He has a 3.53 GAA and an .888 save percentage in 10 career NHL regular-season games with the Sharks.

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.

With the first two prospects we highlighted, we looked at a skilled two-way center in Tynan Lawrence before breaking down the play of a fast-growing, ultra-skilled winger who is rising up the boards due to his potential in Wyatt Cullen.

Today, we are going to look at Daxon Rudolph, a talented defenseman whose WHL production doesn’t quite match his draft rankings.

Rudolph is a 6-foot-3, right-handed, puck-moving defenseman with offensive skill and a smart defensive game.

In the WHL this season with the Prince Albert Raiders, the 2023 WHL first overall pick scored 28 goals and 78 points in 68 games. Both categories ranked third among defensemen in the WHL, trailing Bryce Pickford and Jonas Woo, both of whom played for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Rudolph’s regular season was outstanding, but he took his game to another level in the playoffs, as the Raiders lost in the WHL finals. Rudolph tied for the league lead in points during the post-season, recording nine goals and 27 points in 19 games. 

With his track record as a first overall pick in the WHL, as well as his outstanding point production from the blueline, it feels almost odd to see him projected in some cases to fall outside the top 10, but skating deficiencies are why defenders like Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Alberts Smiths, and Keaton Verhoeff have been ranked ahead of him.

St. Louis Blues 2026 NHL Draft Targets At Pick No. 11: Wyatt CullenAs we continue to look at the 2026 NHL draft targets for the St. Louis Blues, today, we take a look at a dynamic and possibly still growing forward in Wyatt Cullen.

The 18-year-old Rudolph is an incredibly smart player. He sees the game well on both sides of the puck. His vision allows him to make plays in the offensive zone and break up plays in the defensive zone. 

With the puck in the o-zone, Rudolph is a threat to connect on give-and-gos, slide into the play unguarded, and rifle a heavy shot. In his own end with the puck, Rudolph makes heads-up passes and uses his feet to navigate forecheckers. While the concern is that it might not translate to the NHL, at the junior level he is more than capable of making those plays with his feet. 

The native of Lacombe, Alta., will make the big jump to the NCAA next season, joining the mighty University of Denver. Despite the loaded blueline, Rudolph is expected to be the leader of the backend and bring the program back to the National Championship. 

St. Louis Blues 2026 NHL Draft Targets At Pick No. 11: Tynan LawrenceAs we inch closer to the 2026 NHL draft, we are going to look at several players the St. Louis Blues can target with their three first round picks. Today, we take a look at Tynan Lawrence, a player who could be available at pick No. 11.

This draft features several highly rated defensemen, as we previously mentioned, but there are plenty of teams that are in need. While the Blues’ prospect pool on defense doesn’t lack depth or skill, adding a big, puck-moving right-handed defenseman is never a bad thing. It’s a sought-after commodity, and an abundance will only improve the team’s outlook.

Because so many teams are looking for defenders, there is a strong chance that Rudolph is selected anywhere between picks 7-10, which would result in the Blues missing the opportunity to draft him. 

Either way, if a team can fix his skating issues, they could be looking at a potential top-four, two-way defender with a big frame. 

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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.

Dylan Larkin, the Detroit Red Wings' homegrown captain, wants out.

Multiple reports on June 5 indicate Larkin's discontent with the Red Wings has brewed over a few years.

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the tension can at least be traced back to Larkin's 2023 contract extension, which ended up at eight years with an $8.7 million AAV.

Quiet trade deadlines have done nothing to alleviate that tension, with 2025 resulting in Larkin speaking out about Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman's conservative nature at the deadline.

Dylan Larkin trade destinations: 4 teams who could intrigue Red Wings captain

Opinion: Don't blame Dylan Larkin for not wanting to waste prime with Red Wings

"We didn't do anything," Larkin told reporters during clean-out day last April. "We didn't gain any momentum from the trade deadline. Guys were kind of down about it.  So it would have bee nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice and maybe a morale boost as well.”

In 2026, the Wings did make some deadline moves, but they were relatively tepid. On a team that had shown cracks following a hot start to the year, they added Justin Faulk from the Blues and David Perron from the Senators. With the Red Wings collapsing late in the season again, it's clear Larkin, who will be 30 on July 30, doesn't see the Red Wings' roster management as a situation where he can win.

Obstacles to Steve Yzerman making Dylan Larkin trade

Put two stubborn people into a room to make a decision, and it's going to be hard to reach a compromise.

That's the big problem here. Larkin's no-trade clause gives him a lot of leverage over where he goes. But his long-term contract and the fact free agency's center market is a desert gives Yzerman a lot of leverage over other teams. What you have is a triangle where it may be easy for two sides to come an agreement, but hard for the third.

Yzerman is not a GM who is going to settle. But the teams with assets to burn — particularly picks, which will have to factor into the deal — may not spur Larkin to waive his NTC.

With the Red Wings missing a top-six center, regardless of whether he's perceived as a first- or second-line center, this may be the move that kicks Detroit into an actual rebuild. But that has to start with getting the Larkin return right.

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

What's next for Steve Yzerman?

In truth, this is a big black eye on Yzerman's tenure in Detroit. Larkin would have been 5 years old watching Yzerman hoist the cup against Carolina in 2002, making this akin to Matt Duchene asking out of Colorado when Joe Sakic was the GM.

That Duchene situation needs to be Yzerman's blueprint. While the odds of the Red Wings getting a haul like the Avalanche got from the Senators are slim-to-none, Larkin's request is a hard reset on the Red Wings. Rather than building a timeline around the 30-year-old Larkin, the Red Wings now turn their attention to 24-year-old Lucas Raymond and 25-year-old Moritz Seider.

With that in mind, assets will be the name of the game. The plan to play piecemeal around Larkin didn't work for Yzerman, and now he's in a tough spot. For Sakic, it took over a year to grant Duchene his request, which came with a lot of bellyaching about how Duchene became a negative influence. Does Yzerman have that kind of time? Larkin's no-trade clause expires after the 2026-27 season. But there have been murmurs that have swelled into a dull roar on the lack of progress Yzerman has made already.

All things told, everyone is just kind of... stuck. Yzerman is stuck with a tweener 1-2 center who doesn't want to be there. Larkin is stuck on a roster he doesn't believe he can win with. And Red Wings fans are stuck with a team that just saw its already questionable vibes take a nosedive.

Ultimately, the best way is, as always, forward. But to do that, someone is going to have to put ego aside. And with egos that are this big, that's going to be a tall order.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Steve Yzerman trade Dylan Larkin? What to know of captain's request

On paper, Dylan Larkin and the Red Wings should be a perfect fit. A legendary franchise drafting a homegrown player, him starting at 19 years old, making the playoffs, losing to a Lightning team that was way ahead of the Wings' schedule in five games, taking those lumps and figuring out how to get further next time.

The problem? There hasn't been a next time. With the Sabres making the playoffs this season, the Red Wings, the American team with the most Stanley Cups — who play in Hockeytown, USA — now have the longest active playoff drought in the league at 10 years.

Why did Dylan Larkin request a trade? What is Steve Yzerman's next move?

Opinion: Don't blame Dylan Larkin for not wanting to waste prime with Red Wings

Larkin has been a captain for six of those years, occupying a space left vacant for two seasons after the retirement of Henrik Zetterberg. He was named captain Jan. 13, 2021, 635 days after THE Captain Steve Yzerman returned to Detroit after a wildly successful stint building the Lightning roster. The very Lightning roster that knocked the Wings out of the playoffs in Larkin's rookie year.

And yet, even as hope sprung eternal under the Yzerplan and results were promised with time, things continued to fizzle for the Red Wings. On March 1, 2023, Larkin signed an eight-year, $69.3 million extension which immediately preceded a 5-9-1 month. March went on to become a dreaded month for Wings fans, with Detroit going 3-9-2 in 2024, 4-10-0 in 2025, and finally 5-7-2 this past season.

After the latest Red Wings collapse, which was interrupted by a Team USA gold medal from a team Larkin made a huge impact on, things have boiled over. Larkin reportedly requested a trade June 4, throwing his Red Wings future into jeopardy. However, with a no-trade clause, Larkin has a lot of leverage over that trade Yzerman may not acquiesce to.

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

Here's a look at some possible destinations for Larkin, along with what could be required for Larkin in what may be Yzerman's biggest test yet as the embattled Red Wings GM.

Dylan Larkin possible trade destinations

Minnesota Wild

This is the deal that immediately makes the most sense.

It gets Larkin out of the Eastern Conference, the Wild are a team looking for a true 2C, it would put Larkin back with one of his USA teammates in Quinn Hughes, allow him to keep playing in a high-profile hub of hockey, give him a chance to win quickly, and the Wild have a GM in Bill Guerin who has proven in the past he's willing to be aggressive.

The question with this deal is if the Wild would be willing to offload another first-round pick after dropping 2026 to Vancouver for the Hughes trade. This is a team desperately looking to win now, and Larkin would be a boon at its weakest position. But the Wild need to find a package that keeps that win-now mentality intact while also outbidding other possible suitors (assuming Larkin doesn't demand Minnesota or bust). That's a big hurdle for Guerin.

Montreal Canadiens

The assumed immediate reaction from Habs fans to this idea is fair. "We're building for the future, we don't need a 30-year-old center behind Nick Suzuki."

However, if we learned nothing from the USA run in the Olympics, it's that Larkin is more than capable of thriving with the right core. The Canadiens had a tumultuous postseason, going to two straight Game 7s before getting shellacked by a rested Hurricanes team. Larkin certainly raises the average age of the Habs a hair, but this is a team built to win in the future that is perfectly capable of winning now. Trading for Larkin to bolster the top six is a win-now move.

This time, the problem is Yzerman. This year showed the Atlantic doesn't need any help strengthening itself, so Yzerman might not want to create a problem he has to continue to deal with. The package would have to be hefty. Perhaps too hefty for a team building what Montreal is building to consider.

Las Vegas Golden Knights

No trade list is complete without Vegas.

The Golden Knights will make offers on anyone available, and winning is undoubtedly a big factor for Larkin, making the no-trade clause less of an obstacle given Vegas is one of two teams still playing. Eichel-Larkin would be a potent 1-2 punch at center as well.

The Jack Eichel trade with Vegas helped to spur on a true Sabres rebuild. Maybe history repeats itself with another Atlantic team.

Columbus Blue Jackets

An ex-Michigan star waiving a no-trade clause to go to Columbus may feel sacrilege, but there's a lot for Larkin to like in Columbus. First and foremost is Zach Werenski, a close friend of Larkin's.

While the power of friendship may not be enough to send Larkin to Ohio, the Blue Jackets have been stuck in purgatory for some time now. If they want to make a splash, Larkin is certainly one way to make one. The Blue Jackets do, however, have a slight logjam at C. Adam Fantilli and Charlie Coyle make up 1 and 2C in Columbus. Acquiring Larkin probably kicks Adam Monahan back out to wing, should Columbus pull the trigger.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dylan Larkin trade request: Possible landing spots for Red Wings captain

Most NHL players don’t outperform their regular-season numbers — many don’t even get the chance to try. But for Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden, that doesn’t apply.

After putting up the first two goals of the night, Howden’s postseason total climbed to 13, holding the mantle of team leader in goals. Remarkably, 10 of those have been scored on enemy ice. That's a 76.9% road-goal rate, the highest among active playoff scorers with 10+ goals.

HOWIE CAN'T STOP SCORING #ForgedInGold | @CooperRoofSolarpic.twitter.com/UVBxWjWUst

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 5, 2026

For context, across 58 regular season games, Howden recorded 12 goals and 10 assists. 

And when was Howden’s last best playoff run? It was in 2022-23, the year Vegas won the Stanley Cup. That season he put up five goals and 10 points in 22 games, shooting 16.7% and playing a reliable 13:59 per night. In this season’s playoffs, he has outdone himself with a 39.4% shooting percentage, securing three-game winners, all while logging a career-high 16:35 per game. 

The Conn Smythe conversation seems to be looking in his favor.

BRETT HOWDEN, YOU'RE UNREAL 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/sd9y11a4yU

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 5, 2026

“It was two great plays,” he said on the postgame broadcast. “One, Mitch (Marner) put the puck in a perfect spot. I just looked down, the puck was there, and I felt like I had an edge on him. And then Barbie (Ivan Barbashev) made a great play on the second one. I just tried using my speed up the middle there, and he found me in a great spot.”

Now, with the series sitting at 1–1, Howden and the team will return to home ice for Game 3.

“We’ve been through a lot of adversity this whole year,” Howden said. “It’s just another step for us to climb, and, like I said, we’re super excited to get back home and, you know, get back to our fans.”

PHOTO CAPTION

Jun 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) scores against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) during the second period in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. 

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The Carolina Hurricanes head west after evening the Stanley Cup Final, and they’ll look to make it two in a row with a win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 tonight.

My top Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, June 6 call for Carolina to take Game 3 despite Vegas No. 1 Carter Hart showing off in his return to Sin City.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the game airing on ABC and Sportsnet.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3 prediction today

Who will win Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3?

Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes rebounded in Game 2 to run over the Golden Knights with a 63.3 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five and winning the overall expected goals battle at 55.8%.

I’m also expecting improvement from Carolina starter Frederik Andersen, with his .837 save percentage and -2.18 goals saved above expected miles below the respective .931 and 15.48 marks he posted through the first three rounds of the postseason.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights best bet: Carter Hart Over 26.5 saves (-115)

Vegas Golden Knights starter Carter Hart has been exceptional at T-Mobile Arena with a .929 save percentage and 6.82 goals saved above expected (GSAx) across eight postseason games.

The Carolina Hurricanes have also dominated 5-on-5 possession with a 63.3 Corsi For percentage through the first two games of the series.

I am anticipating tidier work from Hart in the Vegas crease in Game 3.

He’s dipped to an .855 SV% with -2.49 GSAx to start the Stanley Cup Final, after all, so I’m fully expecting the statistical pendulum to swing back in Hart’s favor Saturday.

This prop has my attention at a -130 price, and I’d also play it at Over 27.5 saves to -120.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3 same-game parlay

The drop in play from Carolina starter Frederik Andersen has gone too far to start the series, with his .837 SV% and -2.18GSAx miles below his respective .931 and 15.48 marks to start the postseason.

Improved play from Andersen, paired with the Hurricanes winning the 5-on-5 possession battle again, paves the way for Carolina to win Game 3.

Additionally, Carolina wingers Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers both have excellent underlying numbers to start the series.

Svechnikov sports a high-end 64.3 CF% at 5-on-5, while Ehlers is even better with a 65.6% mark. Ehlers also has six shots on 15 attempts to tie for the team lead in both through two games, while Svechnikov has a statistical correction coming after recording just a single shot on nine attempts in the final.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights SGP

• Hurricanes moneyline
• Andrei Svechnikov Over 2.5 shots
• Nikolaj Ehlers Over 2.5 shots

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3 goal scorer pick

Andrei Svechnikov (+230)

Svechnikov has been held to a single assist and shot through two games of the finals despite racking up a team-high 0.8 expected goals and five high-danger scoring chances.

The Russian winger has also been limited to just three goals and a 6.8 shooting percentage this postseason, so considering he continues to skate in a go-to offensive role and leads Carolina with 7.07 ixG, I’m anticipating the scoring slump coming to an end in Game 3.

This prop shows value down to +200.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights odds for Game 3 today

• Moneyline: Hurricanes -110 | Golden Knights -110
• Puck Line: Hurricanes +1.5 (-280) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+225)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under 5.5 (+100)

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights trend

The Hurricanes have won 20 of their last 25 games (+13.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights.

How to watch Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights latest injuries

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Shockwaves were sent through the NHL landscape on Thursday afternoon, hours before puck drop for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, when premier NHL insider, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, reported that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (29) has requested a trade. 

Through his 11-year career, the fleet-footed, detailed, 200-foot center has been the epitome of consistency and dependability. In 2025-26, Larkin scored 67 points (34-33=67) in 74 games while averaging 20:11 TOI per game, including 1:31 on the penalty kill.

Most NHL teams would, could, and/or should be interested in adding the 2026 Olympic Gold Medal-winning center to their top-six, and the Anaheim Ducks are no exception. 

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In 2026-27, Larkin will be entering the fourth year of an eight-year contract that carries an $8.7 million AAV and a full NTC. Larkin will ultimately choose his destination, but however much Detroit’s return may be lessened, it is unlikely Larkin will be traded for pennies on the dollar. 

With uncertainty, both long and short term, at the center position behind franchise player Leo Carlsson, adding a player with Larkin’s skillset and pedigree seems like a tantalizing fit and could round out the Ducks’ forward group both on paper and on the ice. 

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek isn’t unfamiliar with Larkin, as the former was Detroit’s assistant general manager from 2019 until Feb. 2022, when he was hired as Anaheim’s GM. Verbeek has also been an active trade partner of his former employer, executing trades with the Wings in each of the last two summers. 

As far as the potential pricetag for Larkin is concerned, the circumstances surrounding recent trades like Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche in 2026, Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in 2023, JT Miller to the New York Rangers in 2025, and Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024 could offer indications on what Detroit could receive in return for their now-former “heart and soul” player.

Where Larkin’s situation differs from those of the recent past, where players somewhat “hand-picked” their landing spot, is how seemingly endless the potential destinations are, given the lack of quality in the upcoming free agent class, ever-rising salary cap ceiling, and abundance of teams in need of a top-six centerman. 

Mason McTavish (23) is a young piece whose name has been heavily discussed and speculated on among national media outlets as a player who could be on the move this offseason. If the Ducks were willing to move on from McTavish, it could give them an advantage, as not many teams could or would likely be willing to part with a player of his ilk in a deal like this. 

Could a package of McTavish, a second tier prospct like Eric Nilsson or Lasse Boelius, and a first-round pick be enough for the Ducks to land Larkin? Impossible to say, but it would be somewhat surprising if the ultimate return were much more than that in terms of value. 

With the Buffalo Sabres making the 2026 NHL Playoffs, Detroit is now the team with the league’s longest playoff drought, as they’ve missed the playoffs for the last ten seasons. On the surface, this potential package appears to be a standard “young roster player, prospect, and a first-round pick” deal. However, given Detroit’s situation and desperation to qualify for the playoffs, they may opt for more of a win-now approach when dealing their captain. 

Ultimately, Larkin will be in control of where he’ll play the next five years of his career. For the Ducks, the question (aside from cost and fit) will be if they’ve done enough to become a destination for star players on the move. They took some significant steps in their build and made the playoffs for the first time in eight years. They offer a vastly different lifestyle from Detroit, given aspects like the weather and minimal media attention, and they offer a proven young core with seemingly limitless potential.

Verbeek enters the offseason with a projected $38.7 million in cap space, with the only true hole on the depth chart appearing on the right side of the Ducks’ blueline. Over half of that cap space will likely go towards hefty extensions for core pieces Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. With a stockpile of picks, prospects, and young roster players, the Ducks are in as good a position as any to make a move of this magnitude this summer. 

The 2026 NHL Draft Combine is underway in Buffalo, New York, which has become a marquee networking event on the NHL calendar, as all 32 teams will have front office representatives present for the week. Frameworks for deals could be discussed, and the next four to six weeks will likely be the busiest for transactions until 2026 training camps roll around. 

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Given the chance, John Tortorella would do it again.

The Golden Knights coach unsuccessfully challenged referee Jean Hebert’s call that Ivan Barbashev pushed Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen into the net as Vegas appeared to score with five minutes left in regulation in Carolina’s ultimate 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” Tortorella said. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

Frederik Andersen keeps it out, the puck goes in after the whistle, Vegas challenges for no goalie interference and loses.

What a crazy sequence pic.twitter.com/n6FyrGY3CO

— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) June 5, 2026

The pivotal call took a 3-2 Vegas lead off the board and allowed Carolina to score its third straight goal — in a span of 5:05 — on the power play resulting from the unsuccessful challenge and take a 3-2 lead on home ice.

“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” Stephen Walkom, the NHL’s executive vice president and director of officiating, told a pool reporter. “[Hebert] waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”

Vegas’ Mark Stone sent the game into overtime with a backhander past Andersen with 1:11 left in regulation, but Carolina blueliner Seth Jarvis whistled a slap shot past goalie Carter Hart for the win just 3:56 into the extra frame on yet another power-play goal.

“You’d like to make them pay every time,” Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho said. “It’s a big swing because the other option is going down a goal. But other than that, every time you get a power play, you’re trying to score. So, it’s not that different, but obviously it was a big swing.”

Not big enough to change the mind or Tortorella, who took over the Vegas bench with just eight games remaining in the season after the shocking firing of Bruce Cassidy.

Tortorella, a Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning in 2004 and helming his sixth NHL team, understands why it all went down this way — not that he has to like it.

“That’s been explained by the league, and I stand behind my decision,” Tortorella said Friday.