The Detroit Red Wings' ongoing search for a new general manager has put Dylan Larkin's trade request on hold, while the Buffalo Sabres appear no closer to bolstering their goaltending for the upcoming season.
The Detroit Red Wings' ongoing search for a new general manager and its potential effect on Dylan Larkin’s trade request continues to dominate the news in the dog days of this NHL off-season.
Earlier this week, we noted that Steve Yzerman was reportedly handling the day-to-day management duties until his replacement was found.
However, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday that assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff is handling those duties, meaning Yzerman is now completely out of the management role.
She also indicated that the club has hired a search firm to help them find a data-driven replacement for Yzerman.
St. James pointed out that Horcoff's duties do not extend to trades. That means efforts to honor Larkin's trade request must wait until the new general manager is in place.
Following Yzerman's decision to step down, it was speculated that the management shakeup might prompt Larkin to rescind his trade request. However, St. James indicated that he hasn't changed his mind.
Yzerman's successor will likely meet with Larkin to see if he remains determined to be traded. The 30-year-old center reportedly listed the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers as his preferred destinations. It’s also believed he added the Dallas Stars to that list.
Fulfilling Larkin’s request will be difficult as the Red Wings are expected to set a high price for him. It’s also complicated by the fact that the Wild, Golden Knights, Panthers and Stars lack sufficient salary-cap space to take on his $8.7-million cap hit this season.
Sabres' Goaltending Dilemma
Turning to the Buffalo Sabres, NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin recently noted that their goaltending remains among the biggest questions facing the club heading into this season.
Benjamin noted the Sabres currently have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, Colten Ellis and Matt Villatra under contract this season. Luukkonen and Lyon were their regular tandem last season, but both struggled with consistency during the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Earlier this summer, the Sabres were the subject of frequent trade speculation involving Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. There were reports in late June that the two teams had discussed a deal involving the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, but it fell through before the draft weekend.
Since mid-July, the conjecture linking the Sabres to Hellebuyck has faded. While the two clubs could revisit those talks as training camp approaches next month, it wouldn’t be surprising if Luukkonen and Lyon remain as their goalie tandem when the regular season begins next month.
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.
