Aarif Deen
The Colorado Avalanche can change some things this offseason. Do they make sense as a viable option for Dylan Larkin? Also, remember the Matthew Knies rumor with the Montreal Canadiens? Wait until you see what that trade was supposed to be. In the Stanley Cup Final, the Carolina Hurricanes fed the Vegas Golden Knights a taste of their own medicine.
All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — June 5.
Colorado Hockey Now
I’m still not sure how to feel about this offseason for the Avalanche. Chris MacFarland leaving probably wasn’t something they expected to happen, and you can tell they let him go kicking and screaming. They didn’t want it to happen. And I find it hard to believe that Joe Sakic expected to be in this position.
On one hand, Sakic can do very little work and still have an exceptional roster to start the 2026-27 season. On the other hand, he might need a little roster refresh to bring in some younger players. They need left-shot defensemen, for starters. Even if they keep Brett Kulak, you can argue that he should be permanently on the third pair and that Sakic needs to bring in another key top-four option.
They also can use a little bit of a refresh in their top nine, particularly their top six. If they decide to refresh their center group again, could they try to make a play for disgruntled centerman Dylan Larkin?
Stanley Cup Final Recap
- Game 1: Vegas Golden Knights 5 at Carolina Hurricanes 4 (VGK leads 1-0)
- Game 2: Vegas Golden Knights 3 at Carolina Hurricanes 4 OT (Series tied 1-1)
- Game 3: Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights (June 6 at 6 pm MT)
- Game 4: Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights (June 9 at 6 pm MT)
- Game 5: Vegas Golden Knights at Carolina Hurricanes (June 11 at 6 pm MT)
- Game 6: Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights (June 14 at 6 pm MT if necessary)
- Game 7: Vegas Golden Knights at Carolina Hurricanes (June 17 at 6 pm MT if necessary)
Game 2 Recap: The Golden Knights carried a 2-0 lead past the halfway mark of the third period on Thursday before blowing it against the Carolina Hurricanes. Goals from Logan Stankoven and Mark Jankowski tied it up before Jordan Staal and Mark Stone exchanged power-play goals. In Overtime, the game-winner came from Seth Jarvis on the man advantage to even the series and put an end to the Knights’ seven-game winning streak.
Carolina did to Vegas what the Golden Knights did to the Avalanche in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final. They trailed for 50 minutes before turning it on late and winning a pivotal game.
Around The NHL
Detroit Hockey Now: The bombshell news that shook the hockey world on Thursday came out of Detroit. It’ll be interesting to see what Steve Yzerman decides to do with Larkin. Personally, I don’t think Yzerman should be the one making the decisions anymore.
For those who have been reading my work for years, you’ll know that I grew up in Detroit. I lived there for 16 years before moving to Denver in 2019. If there’s one thing I know about Michiganders, it’s that they love… LOVE their home state. This is why you see so many players from Michigan eventually end up with the Red Wings. Guys like Alex DeBrincat come to mind.
Larkin is a Michigander to his core. He was born in Waterford, Mich., and he played for the USNTDP and the Michigan Wolverines before getting drafted by his hometown Red Wings to stay there for another decade. For him to want out means Yzerman must’ve really screwed up. And he has. We’ve all seen it play out before our eyes over the last half decade or so.
Not trading for Quinn Hughes was the final nail in the coffin for Larkin. That was a player who wanted to come to Detroit (because his family lives in nearby Canton!!) and Yzerman couldn’t close the deal.
Montreal Hockey Now: Details were revealed about the trade deadline deal that would’ve sent Matthew Knies from Toronto to Montreal. It would’ve been a whopper of a trade.
Philly Hockey Now: Like many teams, the Flyers should explore trading for Larkin.
Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins have a new No. 1 center target to consider. (Hint, it’s Dylan Larkin).
Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers are likely going to lose a key depth forward to unrestricted free agency.