Jets Trade Connor Hellebuyck to the Devils

by | Oct 23, 2026

Jets Trade Connor Hellebuyck to the Devils

The Winnipeg Jets trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils for goalie Nico Daws, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, prospect center Alexander Command, a second-round pick in 2029, and a seventh-round pick in 2027.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hellebuyck saga has ended as he heads to a team that few predicted he would agree to be traded to. Most of the speculation had him going to the Carolina Hurricanes or Buffalo Sabres. 

Winnipeg Jets trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils (NHL Images).

Nevertheless, this was a move that Devils first-year general manager Sunny Mehta felt had to be made. His club began the season with two backup goaltenders in Daws and Jake Allen splitting the goaltending duties. As of today, their combined save percentage (.880) was among the league’s bottom third.

That wasn’t going to cut it for a team with aspirations of moving up into Stanley Cup contention, especially with superstars such as Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier on the roster.

Hellebuyck will need time to regain the form that made him the league’s only active three-time Vezina Trophy winner, a Hart Trophy winner in 2024-25, and the top goaltender in the 2026 Winter Olympics by backstopping Team USA to their first gold medal in 46 years.

Once Hellebuyck returns to game shape, the Devils could become one of the dominant teams in the Eastern Conference this season.

Trade rumors also linked the Devils to Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, who is UFA-eligible next summer. The cost of acquiring Hellebuyck could take them out of contention for the Wild’s superstar blueliner, dashing the hopes of Devils fans for a Hughes brothers reunion in New Jersey next year.

As for the Jets, they’re moving on from the greatest goalie in franchise history after 11 seasons. It’s not the ending either side envisioned when Hellebuyck signed his seven-year contract three years ago. However, he forced it by going public with his trade request in August and skipping training camp last month. That led to the Jets suspending Hellebuyck without pay, which was slated to end today.

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has a reputation for patiently awaiting the right returns for players who’ve previously sought trades. That patience may have paid off again.

Mercer, 24, is a versatile young two-way forward who can play center or wing on the second or third line. He’s in the final season of a three-year contract with a $4 million AAV and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer.

Daws is in the first season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.1 million. He’s spent five seasons bouncing between the Devils and their AHL affiliate. The 25-year-old goaltender will get a chance to stick with the Jets this season as he’ll likely share duties with current starter Stuart Skinner.

The 34-year-old Bjugstad is a big, well-traveled checking-line forward who also plays center or on the wing. He’s in the second season of a two-year deal with a $1.75 million AAV.

Command was chosen 12th overall in this year’s draft. The 18-year-old center is considered an energetic, two-way playmaker. He’s currently playing for Örebro HK in the Swedish Hockey League.

It can be argued that the Jets didn’t get full value for Hellebuyck, but trades for superstars rarely fetch returns equivalent to their talent. It doesn’t make the Jets a Stanley Cup contender this season, but it should help them remain competitive now and in the future.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 23, 2026

by | Oct 23, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 23, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: Red Wings center Dylan Larkin remains linked to the Canadiens, plus the latest on Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, and Blue Jackets winger Dmitri Voronkov.

DYLAN LARKIN REMAINS LINKED TO THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes there’s still a chance Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin changes his mind and includes the Montreal Canadiens on his list of trade destinations.

Larkin, 30, recently expanded his trade list to 10 teams, but none of them were Canadian clubs. However, LeBrun said the Red Wings are “actively scouting the Canadiens, among other teams of course.” He claimed they’re “doing their due diligence in person” in case Larkin adds them to his list. They’re aware of what the Canadiens were offering for wingers Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko earlier this year.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

LeBrun also said Nick Suzuki’s injury has no bearing on the Canadiens’ rumored interest in Larkin, pointing out that the Habs captain will be sidelined for two weeks.

Chris Johnston added that the Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins weren’t on Larkin’s trade list, but he thinks both clubs could use a center like him.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested Suzuki’s injury could put pressure on Canadiens management to acquire a veteran center.

Proteau noted their rumored interest in Larkin, but he’s currently uninterested in a trade to a Canadian team. He wondered if they could interest Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly in coming to Montreal, but acknowledged that was probably a long shot.

Jake Tye recently cited NHL insider Frank Seravalli, who said trade talks between the Red Wings and Minnesota Wild regarding Larkin stalled largely because the Wings have “balked a little bit” about the quality of young Wild forward Danila Yurov being one of the centerpieces in the deal.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Red Wings seek young centers in return for Larkin and for unsigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson. That could include top prospects who aren’t in the NHL yet.

Frank Seravalli reports the play of several of the Canadiens’ promising young players and prospects could determine how aggressive they’ll be in the trade market. Their solutions might come from within.

If they do make a significant move, top prospect Michael Hage won’t be available. How young defensemen like David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom and Luke Mittelstadt perform could force the Canadiens to consider moving a veteran, such as Kaiden Guhle or Mike Matheson.

Seravalli believes the last thing the Canadiens want to do is acquire an older veteran who will be on the decline. He speculated their next addition could be similar to their acquisition of Phillip Danault last season “a stabilizing force without a large future acquisition cost or any long-term strings attached.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens management have been searching for a top-six forward (preferably a center) for the past two years. They have the trade capital to make a significant addition, but second-line centers are as scarce as hen’s teeth in the trade market. As we saw in the bidding war for Marchenko, they weren’t willing to part with a young star like Juraj Slafkovsky or Ivan Demidov. Nor should they.

Canadiens hockey ops president Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes have been lauded for their patience when making trades. They’ll likely take the same approach in dealing with Suzuki’s absence.

The Canadiens front office has obviously expressed an interest in Larkin. That explains why the Red Wings are scouting them personally despite the fact they don’t face each other again until next February. And yes, it’s worthwhile for both teams to conduct due diligence in case Larkin adds Montreal to his list.

However, Larkin’s current destination choices suggest he believes his best chance of playing for a winner lies with American-based teams. It could be simply because a Canadian team hasn’t won the Cup since 1993. Whatever the rationale, he’s made it clear that Canadian clubs don’t interest him.

At this stage, Larkin accepting a trade to Montreal seems more like wishful thinking.

THE LATEST ON THE HURRICANES

SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli claims Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky has been “all over Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets” since word broke that the 33-year-old goaltender requested a trade.

Meanwhile, Elliotte Friedman said he’s heard the Hurricanes could make another attempt to acquire Hellebuyck. However, their offer wouldn’t include unsigned defenseman Alexander Nikishin

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Nikishin still wants to be traded. The Hurricanes continue to explore the trade market for the 25-year-old restricted free agent, but they’re also open to signing him to a one-year contract and trying to move him again next summer.

The Hurricanes have also told Nikishin that he’d be eligible to sign an offer sheet next summer if he accepts a one-year deal for this season. However, the blueliner remains determined to be traded now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman believes if there were a trade package for Hellebuyck that would’ve included Nikishin, that deal would’ve been done by now. The reason is Nikishin doesn’t want to sign with the Jets.

No word on what the Hurricanes could offer the Jets, but it would probably have to include a young forward like Logan Stankoven or Jackson Blake. Manitoba native Seth Jarvis would be a perfect fit in Winnipeg, but I don’t think the Hurricanes would part with him.

BLUE JACKETS WINGER DMITRI VORONKOV BECOMES A TRADE TARGET

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports multiple teams are calling the Columbus Blue Jackets about Dmitri Voronkov. He said there’s no guarantee the Jackets will part with the 6’5”, 230-pound winger, but they are listening to calls.

Voronkov is in the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4.175 million. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July and will be UFA-eligible in 2028 unless he signs a long-term deal.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 23, 2026

by | Oct 23, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 23, 2026

Oilers captain Connor McDavid has a historic game, Bruins stars David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy have four-point performances, Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is sidelined with an injury, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had five points (two goals, three assists), and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the winning goal in a shootout to nip the Carolina Hurricanes 6-5. Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist in regulation for the 8-1-1 Oilers, who moved into first place in the Western Conference with 17 points. This was Nugent-Hopkins’ first game since suffering a lower-body injury during a pre-game skate on Sept. 29. 

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Seth Jarvis scored for the Hurricanes in his return from offseason shoulder surgery, and Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist. The Hurricanes (8-2-2) picked up a point and hold first place in the overall standings with 18 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was an historic game for McDavid. His league-leading 31 points made him the fourth player in league history to reach the 30-point plateau in his first 10 games of the season. He’s the first player in 31 years to do so, joining Hall of Famers Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux. Bossy and Gretzky each did it once (1984-85), while Lemieux did it three times in 1988-89, 1992-93, and 1995-96.

McDavid, Draisaitl, and teammate Evan Bouchard hold the top three spots among the NHL scoring leaders. Draisaitl has 21 points while Bouchard has 19.

Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm suffered an upper-body injury during this contest. He will be sidelined for at least one week.

Boston Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro made 28 saves for his first NHL shutout in a 6-0 drubbing of the Nashville Predators. David Pastrnak scored two goals and picked up two assists, and Charlie McAvoy collected four assists for the Bruins (8-2-1), who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 17 points. Justus Annunen made 25 saves for the Predators, who dropped to 3-3-3.

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz tallied two goals, including the winner in overtime, to lift his club over the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. Wyatt Johnson scored his first of the season and picked up an assist for the 6-3-1 Stars. Stuart Skinner kicked out 35 shots while Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor replied for the Jets (4-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Darren Dreger reports the Jets could reach an agreement with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to delay the latter’s physical until after the Heritage Classic with the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Hellebuyck is slated to return to the Jets on Friday after the club suspended him without pay for skipping training camp. Their focus remains on trying to move the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, who went public with his trade request in August.

The Pittsburgh Penguins blanked the Florida Panthers 4-0. Arturs Silovs made 26 saves for the shutout while teammate Nick Robertson scored two goals for the Penguins (4-6-1), snapping a four-game losing skid. Rookie goalie Cooper Black made 17 saves in his NHL debut with the 5-4-2 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 6’9” Black became the tallest goaltender to start a game in NHL history. The league’s department of player safety fined Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk and Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins for their actions in a scrum during the Senators’ 5-1 win over the Panthers on Wednesday.

Before this game, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas provided an update on Ben Kindel, saying the 19-year-old winger has returned to Pittsburgh.

Kindel suffered a vasovagal episode as the club was departing Salt Lake City on their charter flight on Tuesday, losing consciousness following a sharp drop in heart rate and blood pressure. The plane returned to the airport, where an ambulance transported Kindel to hospital for observation.

“We will obviously follow strict guidelines to ensure a safe return to training and play for Ben,” Dubas said. “That’s our primary goal and paramount to his health and future, so that’s how we will handle it.”

St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Barron had his first four-point game (one goal, three assists) in a 6-2 upset of the Vegas Golden Knights. Dylan Holloway scored twice and picked up an assist, and Joel Hofer made 27 saves for the Blues, who improved to 5-4-1. Brett Howden and Jack Eichel scored for the 8-4-0 Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner missed this game to be with his wife as she gave birth to their second child.

A last-minute goal by Troy Stecher lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the New York Rangers 5-4. Brandon Duhaime had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs (6-4-2). Adam Fox had four assists for the 7-4-1 Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Maple Leafs placed defenseman Marshall Rifai (lower body) on injured reserve. The Rangers announced the signing of free-agent center Luke Glendening to a one-year prorated contract.

A 41-save performance by goalie Yaroslav Askarov powered the San Jose Sharks to a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Collin Graf and Jacob Trouba each had a goal and an assist for the 6-4-2 Sharks. Tim Stutzle and Jordan Spence replied for the Senators (7-4-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Senators announced that goalie Linus Ullmark (lower body) was placed on injured reserve. He is expected to miss one to two weeks. Sharks winger Igor Chernyshov left this game in the first period with an injured left arm and is expected to be out long term.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-1. Arseny Gritsyuk scored to extend his goal streak to four games while Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes each had two points for the 6-4-0 Devils. Tim Washe scored for the Ducks (4-6-0) as their losing skid reached five games.

After blowing a 2-0 lead, the Los Angeles Kings beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on an overtime goal by Brandt Clarke. Darcy Kuemper made 41 saves, and Artemi Panarin tallied twice for the 2-4-2 Kings. Victor Eklund and Matthew Schaefer scored for the Islanders (5-3-2).

A 36-save performance by Devin Cooley enabled the Calgary Flames to hold off the Minnesota Wild by a score of 2-1. Aydar Suniev and Joel Farabee scored for the 3-6-0 Flames, and Michael McCarron tallied for the Wild (6-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild captain Jared Spurgeon returned to action after missing four games with an upper-body injury.

The Seattle Kraken recovered from blowing a 3-1 lead for a 5-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Mackie Samoskevich snapped a 3-3 tie while Jordan Eberle and Brandon Montour each had a goal and an assist for the 7-3-1 Kraken. Logan Cooley scored two goals for the Mammoth (7-4-0), who cling to first place in the Central Division with 14 points.

Lucas Raymond had two goals and an assist to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Viktor Arvidsson had two assists for the Red Wings (4-3-3). Jonathan Lekkerimaki had a goal and an assist for the 2-9-1 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings goalie John Gibson left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is out two-to-four weeks with an injured hand. The 27-year-old center suffered the injury during Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a big blow to the Canadiens, who are off to an underwhelming 4-3-2 start to this season. Suzuki is their first-line center and their reigning Selke Trophy winner, playing a strong role on their special teams. It will take a strong team effort to offset his absence, prompting speculation over whether they’ll pursue a center in the trade market.

NEW YORK POST: Former NHL forward Ron Duguay passed away on Thursday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 69.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A fast-skating scoring forward with flowing locks, Duguay became a popular star with the Rangers from 1977-78 to 1982-83. He also spent three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, two with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and two with the Los Angeles Kings, retiring at the end of the 1988-89 season.

Duguay scored 274 goals and 346 assists for 620 points in 864 regular-season games, and 31 goals and 53 points in 89 playoff contests.

My condolences to Duguay’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Rangers’ organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 22, 2026

by | Oct 22, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 22, 2026

The latest on Flyers winger Travis Konecny, the Rangers’ goaltending, and Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports Philadelphia Flyers sources recently told him the club’s newfound success could lead to roster changes, like a trade to address their logjam of wingers.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny (NHL Images)

Di Marco reported last week that Flyers management could approach sidelined winger Travis Konecny about waiving his no-movement clause if the season continued to spiral. The club’s recent improvement has led to a belief that they could explore trading Konecny even if things continue to improve.

Owen Tippett has also come up as a trade candidate, and the Flyers have received more interest in him, likely because of Konecny’s NMC. However, Konecny is the better all-around player and would draw more attention from clubs seeking a top-tier forward.

The Flyers need to find a top-six center. It’s rumored they could be interested in Matty Beniers, but there’s no indication the Seattle Kraken want to move him.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz considers the thought of Flyers general manager Daniel Briere shopping Konecny to be “pretty silly”. He considers it “incredibly unlikely” that the Flyers will move the 29-year-old winger, citing his contract and his production as their leading scorer in five of the last six seasons.

Konecny has also expressed his commitment to the Flyers and has tried to help players like Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras get acclimated in Philadelphia.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Interesting takes from two Flyers scribes.

The bottom line is Konecny has that full no-movement clause, giving him total control over this situation. That doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t waive it if Briere asked him, but it seems unlikely he will. He’s a proud Flyer and wants to be part of this club’s future.

What say you, Flyers fans? Should they consider trading Konecny? Do you think it’s even possible? Let us know in the comments section below.

As for Beniers, the Kraken currently have no interest in moving him, especially when they’re off to a promising 6-3-1 start to this season.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano doesn’t expect the New York Rangers to pursue a trade for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. However, he cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who suggested Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres and Karel Vejmelka of the Utah Mammoth as possible trade targets for the Rangers.

Mercogliano questioned whether either goalie would be a fit with the Rangers. Both are under long-term contracts with an average annual value of $4.75 million, which isn’t ideal with the Blueshirts having sidelined starter Igor Shesterkin carrying an AAV of $11.568 million. He also wondered if either goalie would be enough of an upgrade to warrant a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers seem content to roll with Dylan Garand as Shesterkin’s replacement. Mercogliano also reminded us that sidelined Joonas Korpisalo will be back within a month. He also suggested that Drury could wait until the trade deadline, when better options could be available.

NO TRUTH TO SCOTT MAYFIELD TRADE RUMORS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reports New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said Scott Mayfield has not asked to be traded, nor has the club asked the 34-year-old defenseman to waive his no-trade clause.

Mayfield didn’t crack the Islanders’ starting lineup after training camp, and has appeared in only two of their first eight games. For now, he wants to stick with the Isles and see this through. He’s in the fourth year of a seven-year contract with a $3.5 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mayfield might change his mind if he spends more time in the press box than he does on the ice. Nevertheless, neither side is in a hurry to part ways.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2026

by | Oct 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2026

Senators fans give former captain Brady Tkachuk a heated welcome in his return to Ottawa, the Flyers win their third straight after a nine-game winless skid, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1 in a game largely overshadowed by Senators fans booing and jeering former captain Brady Tkachuk throughout this contest.

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle (NHL Images).

Tkachuk opened the scoring for the Panthers (5-3-2), but it was all Senators after that, with Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, and Stephen Halliday each collecting two points in a dominant performance that improved their record to 7-3-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators fans didn’t hold back expressing their disdain for Tkachuk, whom they feel betrayed them by forcing a trade to the Panthers in June. He knew what to expect and handled the situation well.

As for his former teammates, they were obviously ready for this contest. The Senators were the better team and didn’t allow the emotions of the moment to get away from them.

The only downside for the Senators was the departure of starting goalie Linus Ullmark with a lower-body injury. He will be reevaluated on Thursday. Ullmark has played a big role in the injury-riddled Senators’ strong performance this season. Losing him for a significant period could be a major blow.

The Philadelphia Flyers collected their third straight win by downing the Buffalo Sabres 3-1. Rookie forward Cole Knuble scored his first two NHL goals, defenseman Oliver Bonk collected two assists, and Dan Vladar stopped 27 shots for the Flyers as they improved to 3-6-3 after going winless in their first nine games. Jason Zucker scored for the Sabres (4-4-2) in his season debut for the Sabres after missing the first nine games recovering from sports hernia surgery.

HEADLINES

RATINGS: Marco D’Amico reports former Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is finding it “a little hard to process” that he will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame next month.

“I think I’ll realize it when I’m there, or after I receive the plaque that will commemorate the moment,” Bergeron said.

Bergeron praised former teammate Zdeno Chara for his mentorship and friendship during their years with the Bruins. “It was a really nice evolution,” he said. “He was a big influence for me in my career, and I’m really glad to call him my friend today.”

Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will be inducted with Bergeron in the Class of 2026. The former Bruins star reflected on their roles in the long-standing rivalry between the two clubs, praising Price’s poise and “flawless technique.”

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins head coach Dan Muse said forward Ben Kindel is improving and could travel back to Pittsburgh soon. The 19-year-old Kindel suffered a medical emergency shortly after the Penguins’ charter flight left Salt Lake City on Tuesday. The plane returned to Salt Lake City, and Kindel was taken by ambulance to hospital for evaluation.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes activated forward Seth Jarvis off injured reserve. He hasn’t played this season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins announced they signed forward Murat Khusnutdinov to a three-year, $11.85 million contract extension. Khusnutdinov, 24, will earn an average annual value of $3.95 million starting in 2027-28.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens returned defenseman David Reinbacher and forward Owen Beck to their AHL affiliate in Laval. This could mean that Mike Matheson and Florian Xhekaj are returning from injuries.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Vegas Golden Knights placed defenseman Lukas Cormier on waivers.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2026

by | Oct 21, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2026

Check out the latest on the Red Wings and Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN AND SIMON EDVINSSON

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Helene St. James reports Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has expanded his list of preferred trade destinations to 10 teams.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

The list includes Larkin’s original three destinations, which were the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights. He recently broadened it to include the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Washington Capitals.

According to St. James, Larkin included the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, and the Utah Mammoth on his updated list.

Montreal Canadiens fans who chanted for Larkin when the Red Wings recently played at the Bell Centre will be disappointed to learn that the Michigan native has not included any Canadian teams on his list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The expansion of Larkin’s trade list has raised expectations in the rumor mill that a trade could be coming soon. However, his previous attempts to improve his trade stock by including more potential destinations haven’t done much to move the needle.

As with the other recent additions to Larkin’s list, the Hurricanes, Devils, and Mammoth either can’t afford his $8.7 million average annual value through 2030-31 or don’t have a pressing need to add a center to their top-two lines.

There’s the Hughes connection with the Devils. If Larkin is traded to the Devils, it could further entice Quinn Hughes to join his brothers in New Jersey as a free agent next summer. However, the Devils only have $1.3 million in salary cap space right now, meaning they’ll have to create considerable room for Larkin’s cap hit.

The Red Wings’ asking price remains a significant hurdle. TSN’s Darren Dreger recently reported they sought two Grade-A prospects, a first-round draft pick, and a top-nine forward.

One of those clubs could still make a pitch for Larkin, and it’s no secret the Minnesota Wild tried during the offseason. So far, however, there’s nothing to suggest that anything’s changed.

It could take a three-team trade to get this done, but it’s not easy to see how that might work right now that salary retention is no longer allowed in those types of deals.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Red Wings restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson recently met with his agent and Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff, but there was no breakthrough in their contract negotiations.

Edvinsson, 23, feels this situation has dragged on so long that the only logical option for him is a trade. However, LeBrun claims he’s stopped short of formally requesting one.

Horcoff still hopes to sign Edvinsson, but LeBrun indicated he’s also having trade discussions. The San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins are reportedly among 10 teams that are believed to be interested in the young puck-moving defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have until 5 pm ET on Dec. 1 to get Edvinsson signed, or he’ll be ineligible to play the remainder of this NHL season. The closer this situation gets to that deadline, the more likely the possibility of a trade grows.

As for what the Red Wings might seek in return, LeBrun suggested three trade comparables: The Mikhail Sergachev deal that sent him from the Lightning to the Mammoth; the Noah Dobson trade that sent him from the New York Islanders to the Canadiens; and this summer’s deal that sent Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres to the Chicago Blackhawks.

UPDATE ON THE KINGS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there is no easy fix for the struggling Los Angeles Kings, who finally got their first win of the season on Tuesday.

Goaltending has been singled out as an issue, but LeBrun said the club’s biggest concern is their lack of scoring. They’re 31st in the league in that category.

LeBrun said the Kings would love to get into the bidding for Dylan Larkin, but they’re not on his list of trade destinations. They’ve also kicked around the idea of signing free-agent winger Patrik Laine, but LeBrun isn’t sure if they’re going to go that route.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings currently have just over $1.1 million in cap space. Any trade for a scorer would involve freeing up cap space. They could place sidelined winger Kevin Fiala on long-term injury reserve, but they must be cap-compliant when he returns to action later this season. It would also further deplete a prospect pipeline that was ranked 21st overall by The Athletic.