NHL Rumor Mill – July 29, 2026
What’s going on with the Red Wings? What’s the latest on contract extension talks between the Senators and Drake Batherson? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON THE RED WINGS
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen is wondering who’s minding the store for the Red Wings since their removal of Steve Yzerman as their general manager on July 15. Since then, there’s been little news regarding the search for his replacement, or the handling of key issues.
Yzerman is handling the day-to-day management duties until his successor is found. However, Allen believes Red Wings fans are wondering if Yzerman still has authority to make decisions or requires permission from team owner Chris Ilitch.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
Dylan Larkin’s trade request saga hasn’t been sorted out yet. The club still needs more scoring, and restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson still hasn’t been re-signed.
Allen wondered if the interview process for Yzerman’s replacement has started yet. So far, there’s been no media chatter about teams granting permission to interview, who’s been interviewed, and who is no longer under consideration.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers wondered if the change in management might prompt Larkin to rescind his trade request, but there’s no indication he’s going to do that. He could be waiting to see who replaces Yzerman, or it might not matter because he’s already made up his mind to move on.
Apart from signing winger Viktor Arvidsson, the Red Wings haven’t done much to bolster their offense. The free-agent market has largely been picked clean, meaning they’ll have to turn to the trade market, where the cost of adding scoring punch is probably much higher than it was a month ago.
Edvinsson’s RFA status makes him eligible to sign an offer sheet with a rival club. With over $19 million in cap space, that’s likely an empty threat, but it doesn’t mean someone might not try, which could make the young blueliner more expensive to re-sign, assuming the Wings are willing to match.
As for Yzerman’s replacement, the Wings indicated their search will include internal candidates and those from other clubs. They could be leaning toward hiring from within. One reason we haven’t heard much about interviews with external candidates is most reporters and insiders who break that news are currently on vacation.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff noted the trade rumors about Alex DeBrincat that arose after Yzerman was moved out of his role as GM.
The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but Duff doesn’t see him moving on if the Red Wings pay him fair market value to stay put.
Duff believes DeBrincat wants to remain in Detroit. He’s a Michigan native surrounded by family, and he loves playing for the Red Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrincat is earning an AAV of $7.875 million on his current contract. Since joining the Wings in 2023-24, he’s been their leading goal scorer with 107 total goals (including 41 goals last season) and sits second in total points with 222.
Fair market value could be around $14 million annually after Leo Carlsson set the market with his $18 million AAV on his new contract. The Wings have the cap space in 2027-28 to re-sign him, but that will depend on what they consider fair market value.
UPDATE ON THE SENATORS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators and winger Drake Batherson are far apart in their contract extension talks.
Batherson, 28, is in the final season of a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.975 million. He’ll be UFA-eligible next July. Garrioch indicates that some league executives believe he could command between $10 million and $11 million annually.
According to Garrioch, Batherson wants to stay with the Senators, and they want to keep him. However, finding an acceptable salary number will be difficult.
One league insider told Garrioch that the Batherson camp could use winger Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings as one comparable. Alex Tuch of the Washington Capitals could be another.
The Senators also hope to open contract extension talks with Artem Zub. Like Batherson, the 30-year-old defenseman is eligible for UFA status next July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Since his full-time NHL debut in 2020-21, Batherson sits third among the Senators scorers with 143 goals and 202 assists for 345 points. He’ll draw plenty of interest in next summer’s UFA market, especially if most of the top stars in next summer’s class re-sign with their current clubs.
Kempe signed an eight-year deal last fall with the Kings worth an AAV of $10.625 million. Tuch inked an eight-year contract on June 24 in a sign-and-trade with the Buffalo Sabres worth $10.5 million annually.
I am surprised that the wings haven’t sorted out the GM mess yet. Usually the steps fall into place quickly so you can get back to ‘normal’.
If an internal name was going to replace Yzerman you would think they would have had that all sorted out and announce it at the same time as when they ‘relieved’ Yzerman of the role. If they were going external, names should be out there by now. Weird situation imo.
If Debrincat wants to stay they should retain him.
As for Batherson – tuch/kempe seem like fair comps. And 10 to 11 seems market value.
The 2026-26 NHL season starts two months from today…9/29. The Red Wings are starting to look like a real mess and time is running out to resolve key issues by then.
It’s looking as though Detroit’s front office is a mess. They waited at least two years too long to replace Yzerman, but also too late this summer as it’s reasonable to think the best candidates are already in positions. Now, since I’m a Blue Jackets fan, I welcome anything that upsets Detroit’s improvement track. Even so, one wonders just what Detroit’s ownership is thinking.
“Yzerman is handling the day-to-day management duties until his successor is found.”
That seals it, you won’t hear a peep from Larkin till Stevie is “uninvolved”.
It seems wrong to have the Senators featured, above, and not see any comments from George O.
Sure does
The huge sense of urgency in Detroit is coming from the fans and the media. They want everything to happen yesterday. Then they will complain and say the wings rushed the new hire if they don’t like the new guy. If Edvinsson was interested in an offer sheet it would have already happened. It’s summer and there is still plenty of time to get things in order.