What happened: Dylan Larkin's trade picture narrowed after his approved destination list grew to seven teams and Detroit stripped him of the captaincy. Connor Hellebuyck remains suspended after skipping camp, leaving another high-end NHL move jammed as preseason opens.

Why it matters: That leaves both negotiations tangled in player control, roster timing and the short runway before the 2026-27 season. Any breakthrough would ripple through camp plans, and Hellebuyck's standoff remains one of the clearest pressure points on the board.

What to watch: Watch for any shift from list and suspension management to narrower deal talks over the next few camp days. Preseason participation, or the lack of it, should sharpen the timeline in both cases.