What happened: Former Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson criticized players requesting trades during an ESPN pre-game segment, naming Dylan Larkin. "I can't stand these guys halfway through their contracts ... bailing ship and wanting to go for greener pastures," Johnson said. He added that he does not like players abandoning their teams mid-season and mid-contract.
Why it matters: Trade requests have climbed since the 2026 Winter Olympics. Brady Tkachuk was moved from Ottawa to Florida, and Connor Hellebuyck landed in New Jersey after holding out into the 2026-27 regular season. Larkin is still waiting on a resolution.
By the numbers: Johnson went through it with Colorado when Matt Duchene asked out. The Avalanche core, including Nathan MacKinnon, told GM Joe Sakic to move him, and Johnson said that group was rewarded with a Stanley Cup. Many of today's requesters hold leverage: Larkin and Hellebuyck have no-trade or no-movement clauses. In Philadelphia, Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier, Travis Sanheim and Christian Dvorak have full trade protection, and Owen Tippett has a 10-team no-trade list.
What to watch: Larkin's situation remains unresolved. In Philadelphia, Matvei Michkov is in the final year of his entry-level contract, and the Flyers have refuted reports that he wants to play elsewhere.