NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Red Wings' Dylan Larkin And Ducks' Cutter Gauthier
On Wednesday, the Detroit Red Wings surprised the hockey world by announcing that Steve Yzerman would no longer be GM. He will remain with the club as a special advisor to owner Chris Illich.
As the Red Wings search for a suitable replacement for Yzerman, the management change raises plenty of questions about the club's direction for next season and beyond.
The biggest question is whether captain Dylan Larkin would change his mind about his trade request.
So Long, Yzerplan: Steve Yzerman's Reign Of Error Ends As Red Wings' Larkin Saga Continues
The Detroit Red Wings were one of the NHL's worst teams under GM Steve Yzerman. Now, a new GM must handle Dylan Larkin's trade request and reconsider the ideal return, writes Ryan Lambert.
Turning to the Anaheim Ducks, they're faced with limited salary-cap space after matching the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90-million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson.
With just over $9 million in salary-cap space, it probably won't be enough to re-sign Cutter Gauthier. Like Carlsson, the 21-year-old left winger is an RFA coming off his entry-level contract following a career-best performance. Unlike Carlsson, he's ineligible to sign an offer sheet from a rival club because he lacks the necessary number of NHL games played.
Carlsson's record-setting $18 million average annual value set a new benchmark for signing rising young NHL talent. It's raised speculation that Gauthier's asking price could be considerably higher than expected.
During Tuesday's episode of the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Keith Yandle said he'd been "fed a little tidbit" that claimed Gauthier wouldn't accept a dollar less than what Carlsson received on his new contract.
According to Jimmy Murphy of The Sick Podcast, that rumor isn't true. While Gauthier's asking price will be high, it won't reach Carlsson's level.
Gauthier led the Ducks last season with 41 goals and 69 points, largely the result of being Carlsson's linemate. He'll still receive a substantial raise that will exceed $10 million annually, perhaps reaching $15 million.
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This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM.