In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with the Detroit Red Wings who are moving along with their hiring process to replace Steve Yzerman as general manager. Next, after all of the Zach Werenski rumours earlier in the summer, there is still some talk about him joining the Dallas Stars.
Finally, there are plenty of names being linked to Russia’s top league, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and some NHL players may be moving overseas.
Red Wings to Begin Interview Process
After failing to make the postseason throughout his tenure, the Dylan Larkin trade request was the final dagger to Yzerman’s time as general manager of the Red Wings.
While he will remain in the organization, Elliotte Friedman reported that Yzerman will not be involved in hockey operations, and whoever the club brings in will have full autonomy of the franchise.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings General Manager (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Friedman added that the interviewing process will be ramping up over the next week, and that any candidate must have a concrete plan for the club moving forward.
In terms of names linked to the vacancy, Friedman stated that Jeff Greenberg, general manager of the MLB’s Detroit Tigers, could be a candidate. Greenberg has previously spent time with both the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Cubs (MLB), so the cross-sport connection isn’t new to him.
Other names that have been linked to the position include internal candidates like Kris Draper, Shawn Horcoff, and Niklas Lidstrom. Externally, Scott White and Ryan Martin could be in the mix, too.
Werenski to Stars May Still Be an Option
Earlier in the summer, a small miscommunication between Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets exploded into countless rumours and a nixed trade to the Stars.
The reported deal included Thomas Harley and Mavrik Bourque, who has since been traded to the Nashville Predators.
The big piece of the deal would have been Harley heading to the Blue Jackets, with Bourque being more of a replaceable piece. On The Sheet, Jeff Marek was asked about whether or not the deal was off the table, and he stated that he didn’t think it was.
After the deal was presented and Werenski used his trade protection to block it, cooler heads prevailed, and there didn’t seem to be any interest from the defenseman in moving away from Columbus.
Just because a deal isn’t happening now doesn’t mean it won’t. Werenski still has to decide on his future and if Columbus is where he wants to spend his career. If he goes to management and says he isn’t staying, Dallas has the ability to make a strong pitch, and it is a destination that Werenski would likely want to go to.
The vetoed trade had a lot more to do with him leaving the Blue Jackets than it did with him joining the Stars.
KHL Teams Trying to Sign Available NHL Players
After the end of an NHL season, there is a crop of players who go late into the offseason without signing. There are still quite a few names available, but there doesn’t seem to be much talk about teams closing in on those players.
Artur Khairullin of Sport Express recently made a post regarding the KHL’s Ak Bars Kazan, and how they are expressing interest in several NHL players with the hopes of bringing more offense.
Khairullin reported that Evander Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Evgenii Daonov are all players of interest for Ak Bars.
Kane just passed 1000 games played, and after a disappointing season with the Vancouver Canucks, there doesn’t seem to be a vast amount of interest in his services from NHL teams. Kane has had a controversial career, whether it be feuds with teammates, off-ice concerns, or his undisciplined play.
For Tarasenko, he spent his prime as a very productive goal-scorer, but after dealing with injuries, there was some concern about his future in the league, he had a strong season with the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26.
There has been some talk about Tarasenko rejoining the Wild, though nothing has been finalized yet.
As for Dadonov, he scored just a single goal in 24 appearances in 2025-26, and his NHL career may be over. He could join Ak Bars with the hopes of bringing some life back to his career.
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