2. Dylan Larkin
Detroit Red Wings
Speaking of awkward end-of-season press conferences, the situation with the Detroit Red Wings, captain Dylan Larkin, and GM Steve Yzerman is downright bizarre. The Red Wings once again fell short of making the playoffs, and there's plenty of blame to go around. However, Larkin was pretty clear about who he thought was to blame.
"We didn't do anything. We didn't gain any momentum from the trade deadline. Guys were kind of down about it"Dylan Larkin
Larkin is clearly frustrated, and Yzerman was clearly frustrated by his remarks. Yes, the Red Wings could have done more, but just like how Tom Fitzgerald struggled with the prices of the NHL Trade Deadline, it's hard for a guy like Yzerman to sell major assets for a team that seems like they might be mid. The Red Wings earned their spot outside the playoffs, so why trade a first-round pick or major prospects for short-term validity that might not work?
The flawed thinking of Larkin could lead to a trade, and it might be exactly what the Devils need. Larkin is the star in Detroit, but he could just contribute to the Devils with their core in place. His salary is an issue, as he's set to make $8.7 million until 2031, but adding former Yzerman merchant Ondrej Palat in the deal makes it a much easier pill to swallow.
3. JJ Peterka
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres have said they have no interest in trading JJ Peterka, but he's considered the top candidate for an offer sheet by many analysts. As much as GM Kevyn Adams wants to keep Peterka in house, he might think he could do better in a trade than he would get out of RFA compensation. Even getting two first-round picks out of the deal might not be nearly as good as what the Devils can offer if the picks are coming from the Edmonton Oilers or Vegas Golden Knights.
Adding Peterka to this team is a risk because he needs a huge new contract, but it might be the type of risk worth making. Peterka has 55 goals over the last two seasons on a team that hasn't exactly lit the lamp with consistency. He might get north of $7 million on his next deal, but that might be paying for future production since he's still just 23 years old.
The Devils would turn Peterka into another core piece. He's that good, and he could match production offensively with Hischier and Bratt. He also gives the Devils some protection when one of their core pieces inevitably goes down.
The Sabres might misplay this situation and hope they can solve this without Peterka getting an offer sheet, which would negate a possible trade, but the Devils need to be on Adams anyway. Trading away prospects and players instead of just draft picks gives the the flexibility to make moves in the future.