The New Jersey Devils had Thursday off, yet they were still somewhat involved in the news cycle. The Detroit Red Wings suspended Dylan Larkin without pay after his agent, Pat Brisson, called interim general manager Shawn Horcoff to say the center no longer wants to play for Detroit, and New Jersey is one of the 10 teams on his trade list. Horcoff says he is prepared to wait for the right return, and the Red Wings gave no sign a deal is close.

After acquiring Connor Hellebuyck, Sunny Mehta estanlished himself as one of the most aggressive general managers in the NHL. Thus, many are drawing the line for Larkin to New Jersey. We’ll see how this all shakes out.

In the Devils’ own corner, Connor Brown is quietly rebuilding the penalty kill while the power play keeps hunting for a goal, and Friday brings a trip to Vegas against a team that does not kill penalties well. The links are below.

Devils Trade Rumors & News

In this week’s Devils Dissected (+), Daniel Amoia and I take the 5-2 loss in Colorado with a grain of salt, show how Brown has changed the penalty kill (the Devils have killed 5 of 6 since he returned on Oct. 20, after 16 of 23 before) and ask what Brenden Dillon staying in the lineup says about how Sheldon Keefe plans to use his defense.

The Devils Concern-O-Meter puts the power play at “High” after a 7-for-40 start (17.5 percent, 23rd in the NHL), rates goaltending “Low” now that Connor Hellebuyck is here, and notes that Vegas ranks 27th on the penalty kill (67.6 percent) and Edmonton 25th (71.4 percent).

James Nichols went live after the final horn in Denver on Devils Postgame Live to break down the 5-2 loss, Brown, Jake Allen and the power play.

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NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Wednesday’s “maintenance day” explanation did not hold. Larkin met with Brisson on his day off, and on Thursday morning the agent told Horcoff his client was done, so the Red Wings suspended Larkin without pay. He has a full no-movement clause and a 10-team list, and will lose $41,237.11 in pay for every day this drags on. Horcoff said Detroit has talked to the teams on the list and to others.

Horcoff is not moving his timeline, either. He said he is “prepared to wait as long as is necessary” for a return that helps right away without hurting the long term, and Detroit Hockey Now has the case for why Horcoff is resolute on getting the best return for the Red Wings, not for Larkin.

On Insider Trading, Chris Johnston says the Minnesota Wild are believed to have the strongest offer, two roster players and multiple first-round picks, and wonders whether the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Devils or another team on the list steps up with something better. Pierre LeBrun says Larkin’s list has not been expanded, and Darren Dreger says upwards of 10 teams are interested in Red Wings restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson, who needs a contract by Dec. 1.

Elliotte Friedman was first to report that Larkin will stay out of games until the Red Wings complete a trade. Sportsnet notes Larkin, 30, asked for a trade over the summer and was stripped of the captaincy, and lists the Devils among the 10 teams on his list, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

The Chicago Blackhawks (4-8-0 before Thursday) are shopping for shoot-first wingers, and general manager Kyle Davidson is among those showing trade interest in Washington Capitals winger Ivan Miroshnichenko, a 2020 first-round pick who has been a healthy scratch in eight of Washington’s first 11 games and has permission to seek a trade.

Dan Kingerski’s Daily has Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin’s less-than-optimistic update on a Quinn Hughes extension (“What should I say, please, please, please?”), plus a look at how high the NHL salary cap could climb.

Speaking of the cap, the Daily Bean passes along Frank Seravalli’s Sportsnet projections: $113.5 million next season, $127.5 million in 2028-29 and $150 million by 2029-30.

The San Jose Sharks keep surfacing in the Simon Edvinsson chase. Pierre LeBrun said on TSN’s Insider Trading that the Sharks have had talks with Detroit about the 23-year-old restricted free agent defenseman, and Elliotte Friedman said the teams talked “extensively,” so San Jose Hockey Now looks at why the Sharks have had deep Edvinsson talks with the Red Wings. Edvinsson must sign by Dec. 1 to be eligible to play this season.