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The NHL trade market has shifted into high gear early in the 2026-27 campaign following trade demands from Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin and Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov. Larkin has opted to step away from playing while awaiting a move, placing several contenders on alert, including the New Jersey Devils.
Assessing the Bidding War for Dylan Larkin
Larkin has designated 10 franchises to which he would approve a trade by waiving his no-trade clause. That group includes the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, and Washington Capitals. The Montreal Canadiens are also pursuing the center aggressively, despite not being on his initial approved list.
With Detroit interim general manager Shawn Horcoff seeking substantial returns, several clubs appear better positioned than others:
- New Jersey Devils: A realistic framework features defensive prospect Anton Silaev, center Cody Glass, and a 2027 first-round draft pick. Silaev represents the shutdown defensive profile Detroit covets, making him central to any package.
- Carolina Hurricanes: Boasting high organizational depth, Carolina can pitch forwards Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger-Sorum alongside a 2028 first-round selection acquired in the Mikko Rantanen deal.
- Minnesota Wild: Minnesota’s primary asset is young center Danila Yurov, accompanied by forward Ryan Hartman and a 2027 first-round pick.
- Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens have strong building blocks to present, such as young pivots Michael Hage and Oliver Kapanen alongside blueliner Adam Engstrom, provided Larkin agrees to head to Montreal.
- Utah Mammoth: Utah possesses premier young pieces, including center Caleb Desnoyers, winger Tij Iginla, or NHL-ready blueliner Dmitry Simashev.
- Washington Capitals: Wingers Andrew Cristall and Ivan Miroshnichenko could form the basis of an offer paired with a 2027 first-round selection.
While Montreal and Utah hold individual high-end talent, Carolina’s combination of prospects and draft capital stands as the most complete current package. For New Jersey, maintaining a competitive offer without overextending top assets remains the prudent strategy for general manager Tom Fitzgerald.
Devils Power Forward With Internal Goal Chase
On the ice, New Jersey has assembled a 9-5-0 record through the opening month of the season, fueled by a competitive internal goal-scoring race. Forward Arseny Gritsyuk leads the roster with eight goals, making an immediate impression playing alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. The 25-year-old winger remains on an affordable three-year pact carrying a $3.2 million average annual value.
Captain Nico Hischier sits right behind with seven goals, four of which have come on the power play. Hughes trails closely with six tallies and paces the club with 16 points through 14 games, operating as New Jersey’s lone point-per-game contributor.
Division Dynamics and Upcoming Schedule
Kucherov’s trade request introduces another layer of intrigue. If Tampa Bay opts to move the reigning Hart Trophy recipient to a Metropolitan Division rival, such as Carolina, the New York Rangers, or Washington, the divisional hierarchy could shift drastically. Early results already show separation, with New Jersey keeping pace alongside Carolina while the Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins have lagged behind.
In goal, Connor Hellebuyck has been handled methodically after missing training camp, facing 18 shots against Dallas and 21 versus Vegas. He faces a steep challenge when New Jersey welcomes the high-octane Edmonton Oilers to Prudential Center before hosting the St. Louis Blues.
New Jersey also completed minor business by shipping goaltender Rémi Poirier to Washington for a seventh-round draft selection, capitalizing on an asset originally claimed via waivers to bolster future draft inventory.
