NHL Rumour Roundup: Larkin’s trade request shakes up centre market

Just when we thought the centre market was looking a little lacklustre, Dylan Larkin spiced things up and set the table for an interesting off-season ahead — not just in Detroit, but across the league. 

In the days since news broke of the Red Wings captain requesting a trade out of Detroit, speculation about his desired destination(s) has been rampant. On Monday, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press provided a little clarity on the top-line centreman’s wish list. 

It’s easy to draw a connection between Larkin and all three of these squads by multiple measurements. After shining at the Olympic Games in February as well as the 4 Nations Face-Off a year earlier, Larkin’s reported desire to reunite with American teammates and pals makes sense. All three of the Panthers, Wild and Golden Knights are led by Team USA stars (Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber in Minnesota, under the guidance of GM Bill Guerin; Matthew Tkachuk in Florida; and Jack Eichel in Vegas). Larkin’s desire to contend after a decade-long void of post-season hockey is very much reflected in this trio, too — the Panthers and Golden Knights have won the last three Stanley Cups, with Vegas now two wins shy of being crowned champs again, while Minnesota’s bold dealings show a roster in win-now mode. 

Might more teams be added to Larkin’s list? Perhaps. But Larkin has control here, and that could result in a long saga spanning the whole summer — and maybe beyond. With a full no-trade clause baked into his contract, he has final say in where he lands. That puts Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman in a tight spot if he’s to get a fair return. Of course, we all know Yzerman isn’t one to be backed into a corner. How he proceeds will be fascinating.

While Larkin’s list may be short (at least for now), the list of teams wanting in on the Larkin sweepstakes should be very long. The top-liner, who turns 30 this summer, is under contract for the next five seasons with a very reasonable $8.7-million cap hit. 

Maple Leafs eying Trocheck on trade market

Before the Red Wings took over hockey headlines with Larkin’s trade request, the top centre in the trade-market spotlight was New York’s Vincent Trocheck. 

The Rangers weren’t quiet about their desire to sell at the trade deadline, with several big names on the block, but they were patient. And considering the state of this summer’s free-agent market, that patience could pay off when it comes to their shopping of Trocheck. The soon-to-be 33-year-old was the subject of much speculation ahead of the deadline — the Wild were considered front-runners to acquire him at the time, with the Red Wings also reportedly interested — but he ultimately stayed put. 

The landscape has obviously changed since then, most notably with Larkin’s trade request. How that affects the greater market for Trocheck will be interesting, though considering just how short Larkin’s list of destinations is, perhaps the ripple effect will be minimal. Time will tell. 

There should be no shortage of suitors now, with the pool of prospective trade partners expanding beyond just teams in playoff position at the deadline. According to Mollie Walker of The New York Post, there is “a ton of interest” in Trocheck, including from the Toronto Maple Leafs. As Walker wrote last week, Toronto “has reached out about Trocheck” following news of Max Domi being out indefinitely. 

It’s no surprise Trocheck is once again a popular trade target, given his position — a second- or third-line centre available in a summer that features few on the open market — and his salary. He’s under contract for three more seasons at a very affordable $5.625 annually. The league’s rising salary cap has that contract looking like an even bigger steal with each increase. 

According to Walker, the current asking price is a first-round pick, a roster player and a prospect. Trocheck’s contract includes a modified no-trade clause that allows him a 12-team no-trade list, which shrinks down to a 10-team list on July 1. 

Blues remove Thomas from trade block

It looks like teams wishing to land Blues forward Robert Thomas this summer are out of luck. According to Blues reporter Andy Strickland, the top-six centre is no longer on the trade block. 

The news comes as power in St. Louis’ front office is set to officially transition from longtime executive Doug Armstrong to GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen on July 1. That it also comes following news of Larkin’s request suggests this could be a reaction to the changing centre market. Or, it could be Steen looking to set the tone for the Blues’ off-season. 

Either way, Thomas’ new status as one of the NHL’s least eligible trade targets stirs yet more intrigue into the top-six forward market.

Pavelski to Toronto picking up steam?

During a recent edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman tossed a wild-card candidate into the Toronto Maple Leafs’ coaching search mix: Joe Pavelski. If hired, the longtime NHLer and former San Jose Sharks captain would follow a similar path to the one Martin St. Louis took when he was hired by the Montreal Canadiens. St. Louis’ success has been a ringing endorsement for the strategy of bringing in a fresh voice players can relate to from the get-go. His ability to lead by example, not so much by coaching experience, has been a revelation. It’s no surprise other teams are looking at following suit. 

“I don’t know what this last group is going to be, what the number [of finalists] is going to be — three, five, whatever it is — but I think Pavelski’s gonna be one of them,” said Friedman. “Based on what I’ve been told, I’m sure he’s gonna be one of them.”