Updated Predictions on Brady Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck and Other Trending NHL Stories

The day Senators fans have been anticipating since this season's schedule was released is finally here: Brady Tkachuk is back in Ottawa tonight to face off against his former team for the first time.

Tkachuk grew into a star and a captain in Ottawa, finally leading the team to two playoff appearances in the past two seasons for the first time since they drafted him No. 4 overall in 2018. He shocked the hockey world by requesting a trade last off-season after winning Gold with Team USA at the Olympics.

He ultimately landed on none other than brother Matthew's Panthers. He and the Panthers' slow start to the season are over, as his two consecutive natural hat tricks have opened the scoring floodgates. Both teams have 12 standings points in a three-way tie for second in the Atlantic, so there are implications abound in Ottawa tonight.

While we wait for puck drop, we also await updates on several pressing stories lingering around the NHL. Quite a few teams have big decisions to make: Will the Jets trade Connor Hellebuyck before his unpaid suspension ends Friday? Will the Red Wings trade Dylan Larkin as reports of talks heating up emerge in Detroit?

As we finally get closer to the answers, here are some updated predictions on trending stories around the NHL.

The Sens Will Blank the Panthers and Brady Tkachuk Wednesday Night

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Could the stakes on a random Wednesday in October be any higher?

The Senators and the Panthers are currently two-thirds of a three-way tie for second in the Atlantic with 12 standings points. The Panthers are currently soaring on a three-game win streak featuring an offensive explosion and three natural hat tricks. Meanwhile, the Senators have cooled off recently with two losses in three games, including a 7-2 trouncing by the Blues and a 3-1 loss to the abysmal Flyers.

If these points weren't crucial enough for divisional positioning, this is Brady Tkachuk's first trip back to Ottawa, where he played his entire career and became captain before requesting a trade and ending up on the Panthers last season.

Of course, Tkachuk claims two of those three aforementioned hat tricks, and he's been playing great lately after a slow start to the season. But the Panthers have been on an historic run that got them where they needed to be, and the Senators need to re-establish some consistency. The motivation of sticking it to their former captain, plus the loss of Panthers goalie Jacob Markström due to a practice injury sustained Tuesday, have me feeling like the Senators as a whole will come out on top and blank Tkachuk for the win -- and the all-important standings points -- Wednesday.

The Jets Will Fumble the Trade Return on Hellebuyck Because They Waited Too Long

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Connor Hellebuyck, who requested a trade from the Jets and did not attend training camp, will have his unpaid suspension end Friday. This happens to be two days before the Jets host the Montreal Canadiens in the marquee Heritage Classic event.

Will Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff find a trade return he deems good enough for Hellebuyck before then? Is that even the goal? What happens if not? According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Jets don't plan on playing Hellebuyck if they don't pull off a trade by then.

"My belief is if Winnipeg can't trade him by Friday, they'll just tell him, 'Look, we're gonna pay you, but you're not coming in.' That's what I expect to happen," Friedman reported on Monday's episode of 32 Thoughts.

The Jets have reportedly talked to several teams about dealing Hellebuyck since he first requested a trade over the summer, but they clearly haven't found the deal they want, and/or they're making Hellebuyck feel their wrath as he loses more than $38,000 per day amid the unpaid suspension.

When the unpaid suspension expires, the Jets will have to start paying Hellebuyck again. If they don't trade him by then, the pressure is on, and they have less perceived leverage since they'd essentially be paying him not to show up. They didn't have much leverage to begin with given Hellebuyck's no-trade clause. Throughout this whole process, it's seemed like they have failed to realize this, as they've turned down reported packages including top-10 picks, NHL goaltenders, and enticing young NHL players for a 33-year-old goalie with a no-movement clause.

Logic would tell us that the offers are either going to remain what they are or decrease in value as the desperation from the Jets rises. Hellebuyck put the Jets in a difficult spot, but they aren't making it any easier on themselves as they drag this saga out.

Dylan Larkin Somehow, Someway, Will End up on the Wild

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Dylan Larkin has been suiting up for the Red Wings despite his off-season trade request and the ensuing stripped captaincy, but it always felt like a matter of time until the trade request was honored. Now, according to reports, trade talks for Larkin could be heating up.

"I think there's going to be a trade within seven to 10 days in Detroit," John Buccigross said Friday on the Frankly Hockey podcast. "I got a little bit of information last night that tells me that we're going to see a trade. Things are happening in the lineup that… that's all I'm going to say."

NHL insider Frank Seravalli asked him to confirm he was talking about Larkin, and Buccigross said yes.

The Wild are one of the three teams Larkin originally agreed to waive his no-movement clause for, and they're the team that needs him the most among the Golden Knights and the Panthers. Could they realistically pull a trade off?

The Wild used many of their best trade assets in acquiring Quinn Hughes, but they still have a 2027 first-round pick and young players/prospects like Danila Yurov, Charlie Stramel, and David Spacek to offer.

If they land Larkin, you have to think it sweetens the pot to get Hughes to sign his much-anticipated extension. The Wild look great trailing one standings point behind the Mammoth to start the season, and Larkin correcting their face-off woes would make the team as strong a Cup contender as anyone in the league.

GM Bill Guerin has shown an aggressive commitment to winning now. The Wild may have to make some hefty sacrifices and move some money around to make it all work between Larkin and Hughes, but you get the sense that they are willing to make those sacrifices.

The Blue Jackets' Early-Season Drama Will Lead to a Zach Werenski Trade

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Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski clarified this offseason that he did not request a trade; in fact, he vetoed one that would've sent him to the contending Dallas Stars. He did have "multiple discussions" with the team regarding uncertainty about his future in Columbus once his contract expires at the end of next season, according to The Athletic.

It was a chicken-or-the-egg situation: Werenski didn't request a trade, but the discussions led to the Blue Jackets attempting to get ahead of the situation. They obviously wanted to sell high and capitalize on his career year and Norris Trophy, knowing he'd likely be walking as a free agent at the end of next season.

Although the trade to the Stars was vetoed, that was before the start of this dreadful season, and the uncertainty around Werenski's future didn't suddenly vanish. It's certainly lingering as the Blue Jackets suffer through this 3-4-0 start to the season and plummet to the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.

Could the rough start give Werenski the change of heart that would send him to a contender while the Blue Jackets get a jump start on yet another attempt at a rebuild? Werenski has called Columbus home his entire NHL career, and personal reasons are likely playing a factor in his expressed desire to ride out the rest of his contract. But you have to think about how things are playing out on the ice is making him more open to the idea of an in-season move.