Check out the latest on Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson, Connor Hellebuyck, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PANTHERS NOT PURSUING LARKIN, THE LATEST ON EDVINSSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the news that Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will be sidelined for six to eight weeks should quiet trade speculation linking them to Detroit Red Wings wing Dylan Larkin.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: When Barkov went down with a knee injury last week, some pundits wondered if they might attempt to acquire Larkin as a replacement if Barkov was out for the season.

LeBrun said sources indicated there wasn’t much validity to that conjecture. It’s a moot point now because Barkov remains on their books. They won’t try to replace him when he returns in eight weeks. He also noted that the Panthers must ensure they have sufficient long-term salary cap space to re-sign Brady Tkachuk, whose contract expires in 2028.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers are thin on cap space through next season. Taking on Larkin’s $8.7 million average annual value through 2030-31 would hamper efforts to re-sign Tkachuk.

Speaking of the Red Wings, Darren Dreger reports there’s been no progress in contract talks between the club and restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson, but discussions are ongoing.

Dreger also said the Wings are taking calls and listening to whatever trade interest there is in the 23-year-old defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings’ priority remains re-signing Edvinsson. They’ve got until 5 pm ET on Dec. 1 to get him under contract, or he becomes ineligible to play in the NHL this season.

Speculation continues to grow about potential trade suitors for Edvinsson. Daily Faceoff’s Carter Hutton and Tyler Yaremchuk suggested the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and San Jose Sharks as possible destinations. Yaremchuk thinks the Sharks would be an ideal fit as they could draw on their deep prospects well for trade bait.

NO HELLEBUYCK FOR CANADIAN TEAMS

TSN: Appearing on TSN 1050 on Monday, Pierre LeBrun dismissed rumors linking the Edmonton Oilers to Winnipeg Jets holdout goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

“People have wondered about Edmonton for Connor Hellebuyck; he’s not gonna play in Canada,” LeBrun said. “So please, let’s stop with that. It’s not happening.”

The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres remain the most well-known suitors for Hellebuyck, who remains suspended without pay by the Jets for not reporting to training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck could return to a Canadian team if he ends his holdout and returns to the Jets, who’ve left the door open. However, there’s no indication he’s reaching that point.

COULD THE OILERS TARGET MATTHEW POITRAS?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently cited TSN’s Darren Dreger, who said on The Dustin Nielson Show that he knows the name of a young center on an Eastern Conference team that the Oilers have been trying to acquire for some time.

Dreger described the young forward as having plenty of upside and room to grow in the NHL, saying that the Oilers are considered the front-runners for this promising player.

Staples speculated that Dreger was referring to Matthew Poitras of the Boston Bruins. He’s a young, right-shot center, which is a positional need for the Oilers. With Jason Dickinson returning from injury, however, Staples wondered if that changes much for the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staples also noted that Nielson thought Dreger was referring to Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach. Recent rumors claimed the Oilers were very interested in the 25-year-old Dach, given GM Stan Bowman’s ties to him from their days with the Chicago Blackhawks.

However, Poitras might make more sense given his youth (22) and the difficulty he’s had cracking the Bruins’ lineup.

UPDATE ON PATRIK LAINE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports multiple teams have expressed interest at multiple times in Patrik Laine, but none have expressed a willingness to sign the 28-year-old winger.

LeBrun pointed out that he’d be an affordable performance-bonus signing because he was injured for most of last season.

The Calgary Flames have kicked around the idea of signing Laine, but they want to evaluate their younger players first. The Red Wings also discussed it, but Laine continues to train in Florida.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine’s injury history and inconsistent scoring explain why teams are reluctant to sign him to even a bargain-basement contract.