Check out the latest on Dylan Larkin, Morgan Rielly, and Jake DeBrusk in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
RED WINGS SEEK MATT BOLDY IN RETURN FOR DYLAN LARKIN
PUCK GONE WILD: Chris Schad recently cited Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, who claimed the Detroit Red Wings “would have no problem” trading center Dylan Larkin to the Minnesota Wild if they got Matt Boldy in return.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
Larkin, 29, included the Wild on his three-team list of destinations when he requested a trade last month.
According to Kypreos, apart from Boldy, there is nothing else that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is interested in.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yzerman reportedly seeks a return with a good young NHL player for Larkin. Boldy won’t fill the Red Wings’ need for a first-line center once Larkin is traded, but he would address their need for a top-six winger.
Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that the Wild would part with Boldy for Larkin; otherwise, that trade would’ve happened by now. The Wild see themselves as a Stanley Cup contender with Boldy on the same line as their new first-line center. He also has terrific chemistry with superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov, so they’re not going to mess around with that.
It remains to be seen how the Larkin situation is resolved and whether the Wild will be his destination. However, they won’t part with Boldy to get him.
THE LATEST ON MORGAN RIELLY
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports there is nothing imminent regarding a trade for defenseman Morgan Rielly. Nevertheless, GM John Chayka and Rielly’s agent, J.P. Barry, will continue to try to get something done.
Rielly, 32, isn’t beating down Chayka’s door demanding a trade, and the Leafs GM has no desire to give him away for nothing. If a move takes place, it’ll be a hockey trade involving a player who can help the Maple Leafs.
If no trade happens this summer, Rielly will report to the Maple Leafs training camp in preparation for his 13th NHL season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: So far, there is no sign that there are teams with serious interest in Rielly. Based on Chayka’s recent remarks, he has no issue with the veteran blueliner being in the Leafs lineup when the regular season begins in October.
UPDATE ON JAKE DEBRUSK
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported Wednesday that there was no dialogue between the Vancouver Canucks and Jake DeBrusk about waiving his no-trade clause. For now, it looks like he’s staying.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I missed this during the blizzard of activity in the free-agent and trade markets on July 1. Since then, there’s no sign that this situation has changed for DeBrusk, but we’re still early in the offseason. The 29-year-old winger could draw more interest now that the free-agent market has been picked nearly clean of quality talent.
DeBrusk is signed through 2030-31 with an AAV of $5.5 million. He has a full no-movement clause but is reportedly open to waiving it to go to a contender. A playoff club seeking a second-line winger could come calling.