New NHL Trade Rumors on Dylan Larkin, Alex Tuch, Connor Hellebuyck Before 2026 Draft, Free Agency

With the 2026 NHL draft set for Friday and NHL free agency scheduled to start on July 1, rumors are running rampant regarding the futures of Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, "the expectation" is that the Red Wings will honor Larkin's trade request before the start of the 2026-27 season, and it is believed he favors a trade to an American team that is positioned to win.

As for Tuch, who is set to become a free agent on July 1, ESPN reported that he is still in talks with the Sabres regarding a new contract, but the two sides "haven't bridged the gap."

Kaplan added that the "smoke is real" when it comes to a potential trade involving Hellebuyck, as the superstar goalie has "made it clear that he's not happy with the status quo" in Winnipeg, prompting the Jets to field trade calls.

Larkin, who will turn 30 on July 30, has spent his entire 11-year career in Detroit since going 15th overall in the 2014 NHL draft.

A three-time All-Star, Larkin has recorded at least 30 goals and 67 points in each of the past five seasons. He was also part of the United States' gold-medal-winning Olympic hockey team this past winter.

For all of Larkin's individual success, the Red Wings have not followed suit as a whole, as they have missed the playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons.

Larkin and his agent have reportedly submitted a list of teams they would be open to joining, and while the contents of the list are unknown, Kaplan noted that she does not believe the Philadelphia Flyers are among the teams on it.

Per Kaplan, Tuch is "coveted around the league," but he wants an eight-year contract, which is something Buffalo has been unwilling to offer thus far.

The Sabres are the only team that can offer Tuch eight years rather than the seven-year maximum a free agent can get. Because of that, Kaplan suggested that a sign-and-trade is possible, similar to what the Tampa Bay Lightning did recently when they sent defenseman Darren Raddysh to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tuch, who is from Syracuse, New York, and grew up a Sabres fan, arrived in Buffalo from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the trade package for Jack Eichel in 2021.

The 30-year-old veteran has consistently been among the Sabres' best players with at least 33 goals and 66 points in three of the past four seasons, but Buffalo is tight against the salary cap and has other key players due to extensions, such as forward Zach Benson and defenseman Bowen Byram.

Perhaps adding to the likelihood of the Sabres parting ways with Tuch is the fact that he recorded no points in seven games during the team's second-round playoff series loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Like Larkin, Hellebuyck won Olympic gold with Team USA over the winter, and he was arguably the best player in the entire tournament.

Hellebuyck took a significant step backward in terms of his NHL play this past season, though, posting a 23-23-11 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.

That came one year after he went 47-12-3 with a 2.00 GAA and .925 save percentage en route to winning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie and the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.

The 33-year-old veteran has played 11 NHL seasons with the Jets, recording 345 wins with a 2.58 GAA and .916 save percentage, while earning four All-Star nods, three Vezinas and one Hart Trophy.

With the Jets missing the playoffs last season and being tied to Hellebuyck for five more seasons at an average annual value of $8.5 million, at least exploring a trade makes some sense.

Per Kaplan, the Florida Panthers were "exploring" the possibility of trading for Hellebuyck before landing forward Brady Tkachuk in a deal with the Ottawa Senators.

Kaplan named the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes as "stealthy players" for Hellebuyck or any other big name on the market as well.