NHL Rumors: Dylan Larkin unlikely to be moved, Taylor Hall’s no move hurt the Sabres, and Sharks offseason outlook
Anthony Scultore
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When Steve Yzerman traded away Anthony Mantha, it raised eyebrows all around the NHL. This led to some speculation as to what the wily GM had planned for his rebuilding Red Wings this summer. One top insider even speculated the possibility of trading captain, Dylan Larkin.
Yzerman’s latest comments indicate Larkin there to stay in Detroit
In a post trade deadline 31 Thoughts blog, Elliotte Friedman wrote the following:
This is purely my opinion and not anything I’ve heard, but, coming out of the enormous Detroit/Washington deal, does anyone ask Steve Yzerman about Dylan Larkin? One of the reasons Anthony Mantha and Jakub Vrana were traded was due to frustration with their play (and, especially in Vrana’s case, his own consternation at the way he was being used). But another key factor is that the Red Wings feel their rebuild will take longer than originally predicted.
A week has passed since, and it appears that GM Steve Yzerman’s latest comments should put that speculation to rest.
“And I think it’s important, our core of our team is still relatively young with Dylan Larkin, with Filip Hronek and now you see the Zadinas and Rasmussens and other players coming along. We want to surround them with players that help them grow and develop as well.”
The Athletic
The 24 year-old center has two more seasons on his deal that comes with a $6.1 million AAV. It was always highly doubtful that Detroit would move him. Nonetheless it made for an intriguing possibility.
Taylor Hall’s no move hurt the Sabres
The rumor mill is buzzing about how Taylor Hall handcuffed the Sabres with only wanting to be traded to the Boston Bruins. While you can’t fault Hall for using the leverage given to him when he signed his one year deal last summer, it certainly casts a huge shadow on future moves by GM Kevyn Adams.
“I know for a fact a team that offered a first-round pick. And there’s more than one,” GM-turned-analyst Brian Lawton said Wednesday on the Real Kyper at Noon podcast. “It cost the Buffalo Sabres millions of dollars.”
via Sportsnet
Ultimately, it sounds like Adams was in between a rock and a hard place. Lawton also suggested that if Hall handcuffed him so badly he should have threatened him by not trading him and letting him walk in free agency. Personally, that’s not a route I would’ve gone. Any assets is better than none.
San Jose Sharks and the expansion draft
The San Jose Sharks are one of the more intriguing teams heading towards the expansion draft. They are looking to move towards younger players and have a lot of high priced salary vets blocking the way. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic offered his thoughts on the topic.
It’s still difficult to predict whether the Sharks will protect all of their core, high-salaried players, or if they believe they might be better off trying to entice the Kraken to take someone significant off their current roster, such as Brent Burns or Evander Kane.
The Athletic
If GM Doug Wilson could get Seattle to take on either Brent Burns or Evander Kane, it would free up significant cap space. It also opens up roster spots for younger players. Kurz goes on to say that Wilson will not use his first round pick to make it happen. That’s probably what it would take, so I doubt this happens.