As one would expect, the Dylan Larkin situation is ever-evolving as the parties try to find a solution that works for everyone.One might think that Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is spitting mad that this trade request has come his way, but my understanding is that he’s kept an even keel and has kept in constant communication with Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, and that they are working through this in a respectful manner.The business of the game goes on. Yzerman and Brisson need to work together to get through this.Some developments, per league sources:• Yzerman went back to Brisson and asked to expand their original list of three teams, and my sense is that Brisson was receptive to some degree to that. So I don’t think we’re just dealing the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers anymore.• Secondly, regardless of being on the list or not, all kinds of teams have called to see what’s what, many of them interested in getting involved. That’s given Brisson and Larkin more to think about. For example, the Dallas Stars have absolutely checked in. They haven’t extended restricted free agent Jason Robertson yet, although those contract discussions continue. Food for thought if an extension doesn’t get done in due time.• And third, in a potential scenario that might help thread the needle, a trade could involve a third team in a transaction to make the assets work for Detroit. That would especially apply to a team like the Wild, who, straight up, I don’t think have the parts to appease Detroit in a Larkin trade — or at least the parts that the Red Wings would want. Finding a way to get assets from a third team might be a tangible scenario.Matthews staying put?All signs point to Auston Matthews staying put and playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver, hasn’t formally indicated that to the Leafs, but that’s where it’s very much trending from what I understand. When the season ended, there was no GM in Toronto. There were so many unknowns, and it was natural for Matthews to have questions. There still are unknowns as far as what the roster will look like next season, but the conversations between Moldaver and new Leafs GM John Chayka have been cordial, and there’s some level of comfort there about how things are shaping up.So, unless something dramatic happens in the coming weeks, the Leafs captain will be back next season in Toronto. That’ll be disappointing to a long list of teams that were keeping an eye on how things developed on the Matthews front, including the likes of the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Utah Mammoth.Then again, there’s always next summer.Tuch heading to market?As I always say as we approach mid-June, nothing is ever definite when dealing with pending unrestricted free agents with July 1 around the corner. There is always time for things to change when the real deadline comes. But at the moment, having checked into things on Wednesday, even while no doors have been closed with the Buffalo Sabres, it appears more and more that Alex Tuch will head to market.Again, there could always be an 11th-hour solution, but it doesn’t surprise me that it doesn’t look promising at the moment. There was always too much wilderness in between two particular extensions — the eight-year, $8 million average annual value one from Nick Schmaltz in Utah, and the eight-year, $10.625 million AAV one from Adrian Kempe in Los Angeles — to pinpoint where each side saw the sweet spot.I don’t think Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen can bring himself to view Tuch in the double-digit salary world.Werenski trade request?There’s been much speculation about Zach Werenski in the wake of Larkin’s trade request, perhaps because they’re close friends and fellow Team USA gold medalists. But I can tell you as of Wednesday afternoon, I’m told there has not been any communication to the Blue Jackets indicating that kind of thing on Werenski, who has two more years on his deal.Now, having said that, I’m not ready to say that it couldn’t happen before the end of the summer, either, just based on the fact that at some point the team and player will want to talk about the future and whether or not he sees himself in Columbus long term. And I don’t know what the answer to that question would be.Lee-Islanders updateThe New York Islanders continue to keep the dialogue open with Anders Lee and his camp, led by agent Neil Sheehy.I think Isles GM Mathieu Darche will do all he can right up to July 1 to bring back his captain, so I wouldn’t close that door. But unless there’s a real shift in positions, it still appears to be more likely that Lee goes to market.Blake’s optionsFormer Kings GM Rob Blake drew attention from a few teams before landing with the Nashville Predators last week. One of them was Toronto. The Maple Leafs had interest in bringing Blake on board, and new GM John Chayka met with Blake about it.But as discussed last week. Blake had already been in touch with Chris MacFarland during the season, so it always made sense that those two would finally connect.Jun 10, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms