Fantasy Hockey News Report: Kucherov Wants Out, Larkin Suspended, Plus Injury Updates

Hey folks. We've got a little bit of everything to get into this time around, starting with some major developments involving two of the NHL's biggest teams. There's potential trade drama in Tampa Bay and a surprising suspension in Detroit, giving us plenty to discuss from both an NHL and fantasy perspective.

We'll also get into a couple of injury updates, as one goaltender is headed to injured reserve after putting together the best stretch of his career, while a veteran defensemen is expected to miss approximately eight weeks with an ankle injury. There are some fantasy implications to sort through, particularly in Calgary's crease and Colorado's defensive group.

Let's dive in, and unpack all of the drama currently unfolding in the league.

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Nikita Kucherov - Tampa Bay Lightning

What is going on with the NHL this year? It seems like every week we're hearing about another star player wanting out of their organization, and now we're potentially talking about one of the most prolific scorers in the league and in NHL history. Kucherov is reportedly unhappy with his contract situation in Tampa Bay, with reports suggesting he has told the Lightning he doesn't intend to re-sign and would like a trade.

This is a pretty significant development, and honestly, it makes very little sense when you look at what Tampa Bay has built. Kuch is the engine of this offense, playing alongside one of the best offensive cores in the league and an elite goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy.

This is an organization that has won two Stanley Cups in recent years and continues to put together a roster capable of competing. Losing Kucherov would be detrimental to the Lightning, and there really isn't an easy way to replace that kind of production.

He's coming off another incredible season with 130 points in 76 games, winning his second Hart Trophy, and has already established himself as one of the greatest offensive players of his generation. He's also off to another excellent start this season, with 15 points through 12 games.

There's also the question of whether all this speculation and uncertainty could eventually affect his play on the ice. We've already seen some major names become distractions this season, and the last thing fantasy managers need is another superstar potentially removed from the lineup while his future gets sorted out.

Fantasy outlook: Kucherov remains one of the most valuable fantasy players in the NHL and a legitimate top-five overall selection in most leagues. Managers shouldn't be looking to sell him based on the current reports, but his situation is worth monitoring closely.

If he does end up somewhere else, we'll need to evaluate the offensive talent around him and whether he can maintain the same level of production. Hopefully, this gets resolved without another superstar being removed from the lineup or becoming a distraction for fantasy managers.

Dylan Larkin - Detroit Red Wings

Larkin is another star player who finds himself in a messy situation with his organization, and this one has been brewing for quite some time. Larkin requested a trade from Detroit during the offseason after the Red Wings missed the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, and things have continued to deteriorate between the two sides.

Larkin was stripped of his captaincy in September after six seasons wearing the C, but he still reported to training camp and initially intended to play while waiting for a trade. He made it clear that he wanted to continue playing hockey, just not in Detroit, and after appearing in 10 games and recording six points, he finally reached his breaking point.

On Thursday, Larkin informed the organization that he would no longer play for the Red Wings while awaiting a trade. Detroit responded by suspending him without pay, with interim GM Shawn Horcoff making it clear that the organization would continue exploring trade opportunities but wouldn't accept a deal that doesn't benefit the franchise.

Speaking of another star player wanting out of his organization, this situation feels awfully familiar after what we just witnessed with Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg stood firm throughout the process, refusing to give away one of the best goaltenders in the league simply because he wanted a change of scenery, and eventually found a deal with New Jersey. Detroit appears prepared to take a similar approach with Larkin, and who knows how long this situation could drag out before both sides get what they want.

There is also an interesting financial component to this story, with Front Office Sports reporting that Larkin is forfeiting approximately $41,237 in salary for every day he remains suspended. It's another reminder of just how expensive these trade standoffs can become for the players involved, and there's already been plenty of attention paid to the money Hellebuyck lost while waiting for his move out of Winnipeg.

Fantasy outlook: Larkin is an elite fantasy center and certainly someone managers should be holding onto rather than looking to sell at a discount. He has six points in 10 games this season, and his offensive ability makes him valuable regardless of where he eventually ends up.

The problem is that we have absolutely no idea how long he could be held out of action, and with Detroit standing firm on its asking price, this situation could drag on longer than fantasy managers would like. Hopefully, the two sides can find a resolution sooner rather than later, because having a player of Larkin's caliber sitting on your bench is far from ideal.

Josh Manson - Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche will be without one of their veteran defensemen for an extended period, as Manson is expected to miss approximately eight weeks with an ankle injury. Manson suffered the injury during Wednesday's win over New Jersey and did not return after leaving in the first period. 

The 35-year-old has four points, 28 hits, and 17 blocked shots in 13 games played this season, and is averaging about 15 minutes of ice time. Noah Juulsen is expected to step into the lineup regularly during his absence, but Manson's physical presence and experience will certainly be missed by Colorado. 

Fantasy outlook: Given Manson's age and the expectation that he will miss roughly two months, I think it's safe for fantasy managers to move on. He's primarily a depth defensemen who provides hits and blocks, and while those categories have value in the right leagues, there isn't enough offensive upside to justify holding him through such a lengthy absence. Manson is a drop candidate, and managers should use the roster spot to find someone who can contribute immediately.

Devin Cooley - Calgary Flames

Cooley has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and is considered week-to-week, but the goaltender seems to have a much more optimistic outlook on his recovery. While head coach Ryan Huska has suggested Cooley will miss some time, the 29-year-old took to social media to call himself a "very fast healer" and suggested he was already looking forward to getting back between the pipes. 

The timing is unfortunate, as Cooley was absolutely on a heater before getting hurt. He won four consecutive starts, allowing just six goals on 133 shots for a .955 save percentage during that stretch, despite playing behind a Calgary team that certainly hasn't been a defensive powerhouse. He leaves with a 4-3-0 record, a 2.69 GAA and a .914 SV% through seven appearances. 

Fantasy outlook: Cooley could be an interesting name to stash in deeper leagues, but I'm more intrigued by his potential as a dynasty option. At 29, he's certainly a late bloomer, and it's always worth remembering that we've seen goaltenders put together an incredible breakout season only to come crashing back down to earth shortly afterward.

For redraft managers, I'd take a wait-and-see approach until we know more about his recovery and how Calgary handles its crease alongside Dustin Wolf. However, there's enough here to make Cooley a potential dynasty gem, especially if he can continue playing anywhere close to the level we saw during his recent winning streak.