Red Wings spiral as Edvinsson seeks trade and Larkin hears boos

The Detroit Red Wings are facing a wave of early-season turmoil, with on-ice losses, a key prospect reportedly wanting out, and a former captain hearing boos from the home crowd. Nearly a decade removed from their last playoff appearance, the tension around the franchise spilled over during an ugly opening weekend at Little Caesars Arena.

Detroit opened its schedule with a 2-0 home loss to the New York Rangers on Friday, a night marked by frustrated fans chanting “Sell the team!” while the season was barely underway. Two days later, the Red Wings fell behind 3-0 to the Winnipeg Jets early in the second period and ultimately lost 3-2, prompting an atmosphere that felt close to open revolt in the stands.

Edvinsson wants out as interim GM weighs options

Compounding the rough start, Sportsnet reported that unsigned defenceman Simon Edvinsson would prefer to be traded, a serious blow for a team that has been banking on its high-end prospects. Former captain Dylan Larkin, who has long made his dissatisfaction clear, was also squarely in the crosshairs of public anger, as he was booed in street clothes during pre-game introductions due to an upper-body injury.

All of this lands on the desk of interim general manager Shawn Horcoff. The analysis suggests Detroit may need to accept a short-term step back in the hope of a more substantial rebound, targeting young players who could impact the NHL roster within the next year or two rather than focusing solely on established veterans or distant draft picks. The recent deal that sent Kirill Marchenko to Toronto for Matthew Knies is cited as an example of the kind of difficult, but high-impact, trade that can reshape a roster.

Prospects shine, Blackhawks wobble, Canadian teams mixed

Elsewhere in the league, some young players seized the spotlight over the weekend. Victor Eklund marked his 20th birthday with his first NHL goal and an assist in the New York Islanders’ 6-0 rout of the New Jersey Devils, adding to the sense of promise already created by Matthew Schaefer’s standout rookie season and encouraging signs from sophomore Calum Ritchie.

The Chicago Blackhawks, playing without Connor Bedard, are headed the other way. After being outscored 11-2 in their first two games, they squandered a 2-0 lead and a third-period advantage in a 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Their home opener against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday already feels crucial for a young team searching for stability.

Among Canadian clubs, the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames have all produced mixed early returns. There have been positives such as Cole Perfetti’s multi-point, power-play performance for Winnipeg and Paul Cotter’s goal-scoring burst in Vancouver, but also concerns like Calgary’s heavily negative goal differential.

Ovechkin’s final home opener highlights busy week

A busy upcoming schedule features several marquee storylines. The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Bell Centre for Montreal’s home opener, while the New York Rangers and Islanders clash in a “Battle of New York” at Madison Square Garden. On Wednesday, Alex Ovechkin will play what has been confirmed as his final home opener in the NHL when the Washington Capitals host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Later in the week, the Edmonton Oilers will see a familiar face when they visit Darnell Nurse and the San Jose Sharks, and brothers Jason and Nick Robertson will face each other when the Dallas Stars travel to Pittsburgh. With many teams still trying to find their footing, these early-season matchups could quickly shift momentum across the league.