Heading into the NHL offseason, many were preparing for some potential big-name trade requests. From Auston Matthews to Brady Tkachuk to possibly even Connor Hellebuyck after his end-of-season comments, the potential for fireworks was there.
Turns out it was another American star nobody was expecting to want out who started the party, as Dylan Larkin requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
The news came as a surprise to the hockey world, and those who love to see movement involving star players will like to hear that Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman believes there is more to come this offseason.
“I think Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes have changed the league… I think that more and more players, it used to be in this league that if you wanted to be traded, if the team said no they could make you just sit there. So it’s not that way anymore. I don’t think it’s going to be the last trade request of the offseason. Someone said to me on Thursday that even younger players now, if they’re not getting a chance to make it, the trade requests are coming more often,”
Matthews, 28, and Tkachuk, 26, are two to watch, both with two years remaining on their respective four-year, $53 million and seven-year, $57,564,958 contracts with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.
Hellebuyck, as mentioned, is another to keep an eye on, and of course everyone will always be watching to see what the Edmonton Oilers do to convince Connor McDavid to stay beyond his short-term extension.
There is often a lot of buzz and rumors around big things happening every NHL offseason, though it ends up being rather quiet. However, this time around feels different because, as Friedman said, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes have shown the rest of the league that they can take matters into their own hands whenever they want.
