What happened: Edmonton explored the center market for weeks ahead of final roster decisions per The Hockey Writers. The target was described as a young Eastern Conference center with no deal finalized. The same update grouped Detroit's Larkin and Edvinsson situations with the Edmonton search.

Why it matters: Edmonton opened camp with a surplus of eight defenders and a need to rebalance toward forward help. A center addition would change matchup assignments for the 2026-27 season. Detroit's unresolved restricted free-agent talks add timing pressure to any multi-team call.

What to watch: Watch final 23-man roster moves and whether talks advance beyond discussion into formal terms.