Updated Predictions on Brady Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck and Other Trending NHL Stories

The day Senators fans have been waiting for since this season's schedule was released is finally here: Brady Tkachuk returns to Ottawa on Wednesday night for his first game there against his former team.

Tkachuk grew into a star and became captain in Ottawa, leading the Senators to consecutive playoff appearances—their first postseason trips since drafting him No. 4 overall in 2018. He shocked the hockey world by requesting a trade this past offseason after winning gold with Team USA at the Winter Olympics.

Ultimately, he joined his brother, Matthew, in Florida. After a slow start for both Tkachuk and the Panthers, his consecutive natural hat tricks have opened the scoring floodgates. Ottawa and Florida each have 12 points and are part of a three-way tie for second in the Atlantic Division, so there will be plenty at stake on Wednesday night.

While we wait for puck drop, several other pressing storylines remain unresolved around the NHL. Teams face big decisions: Will the Jets trade Connor Hellebuyck before his unpaid suspension ends Friday? Will the Red Wings trade Dylan Larkin amid reports that trade talks are heating up?

As answers draw closer, here are our updated predictions on trending stories around the NHL.

The Sens Will Blank the Panthers and Brady Tkachuk Wednesday Night

Could the stakes on a random Wednesday in October be any higher?

The Senators and Panthers each have 12 points and are part of a three-way tie for second in the Atlantic Division.

Florida has won three straight games, recording three natural hat tricks during that stretch. Meanwhile, Ottawa has lost two of its past three games, including a 7-2 defeat to the Blues and a 3-1 loss to the Flyers.

As if these points weren't important enough for divisional positioning, this is also Brady Tkachuk's first game back in Ottawa, where he spent his entire NHL career before requesting a trade and joining the Panthers this past offseason.

Tkachuk accounts for two of those three natural hat tricks and has been playing well after a slow start to the season. While the Panthers have surged up the standings, the Senators need to reestablish some consistency.

The motivation of sticking it to their former captain, plus the loss of Panthers goalie Jacob Markström due to a practice injury sustained Tuesday, have me feeling like the Senators as a whole will come out on top and blank Tkachuk for the win -- and the all-important standings points -- Wednesday.

The Jets Will Fumble Trade Return on Hellebuyck Because They Waited Too Long

Connor Hellebuyck's unpaid suspension for failing to report to training camp is set to end Friday, two days before the Jets host the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic. The goaltender requested a trade from Winnipeg this past offseason.

Will Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff find a trade return he deems good enough for Hellebuyck before then? Is that even the goal? What happens if not?

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Jets don't plan on playing Hellebuyck if they don't pull off a trade by then.

"My belief is if Winnipeg can't trade him by Friday, they'll just tell him, 'Look, we're gonna pay you, but you're not coming in.' That's what I expect to happen," Friedman reported on Monday's episode of 32 Thoughts .

The Jets have reportedly discussed trading Hellebuyck with several teams since his request this past summer, but no deal has materialized. Meanwhile, the unpaid suspension is reportedly costing him more than $38,000 per day.

When the suspension expires, the Jets will have to resume paying Hellebuyck. If they keep him away from the team while continuing to seek a trade, that financial commitment could increase the pressure to reach a deal. His contractual trade protection already limits their options.

Still, they have reportedly rejected offers involving top-10 picks, NHL goaltenders and promising young NHL players—a substantial potential return for a 33-year-old goalie who can restrict his destinations.

The offers could remain unchanged or decrease in value as pressure mounts on the Jets to make a deal. Hellebuyck's trade request put Winnipeg in a difficult position, but holding out for a better return could make an already challenging situation harder to resolve.

Dylan Larkin Somehow, Someway, Will End up on the Wild

Dylan Larkin has been suiting up for the Red Wings despite his offseason trade request and the ensuing stripped captaincy, but it always felt like a matter of time until the trade request was honored. Now, according to reports, trade talks for Larkin could be heating up.

"I think there's going to be a trade within seven to 10 days in Detroit," John Buccigross said Friday on the Frankly Hockey podcast . "I got a little bit of information last night that tells me that we're going to see a trade. Things are happening in the lineup that… that's all I'm going to say."

NHL insider Frank Seravalli asked him to confirm he was talking about Larkin, and Buccigross said yes.

The Wild are one of the three teams Larkin originally agreed to waive his no-movement clause for, and they're the team that needs him the most among the Golden Knights and the Panthers. Could they pull off a trade?

The Wild used many of their best trade assets in acquiring Quinn Hughes, but they still have a 2027 first-round pick and young players/prospects like Danila Yurov, Charlie Stramel and David Spacek to offer.

Landing Larkin could give Hughes another reason to sign his much-anticipated extension. The Wild have started strongly and sit one point behind the Mammoth. Adding Larkin could help address their face-off struggles and make them as formidable a Stanley Cup contender as any team in the league.

GM Bill Guerin has shown an aggressive commitment to winning now. The Wild may have to part with valuable assets and clear salary-cap space to accommodate both Larkin and Hughes, but they appear willing to pay that price.

The Blue Jackets' Early-Season Drama Will Lead to a Zach Werenski Trade

Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski clarified this offseason that he did not request a trade; in fact, he vetoed one that would've sent him to the contending Dallas Stars.

He did have "multiple discussions" with the team regarding uncertainty about his future in Columbus once his contract expires at the end of next season, according to The Athletic.

Werenski hadn't requested a trade, but those discussions appear to have prompted the Blue Jackets to explore a move. They may have wanted to capitalize on his career year and Norris Trophy win rather than risk losing him as a free agent at the end of next season.

Werenski vetoed the trade to the Stars before the season began, but the uncertainty surrounding his future hasn't disappeared. It continues to loom over the Blue Jackets amid a 3-4-0 start that has left them at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.

Could the rough start give Werenski the change of heart that would send him to a contender while the Blue Jackets get a jump start on yet another attempt at a rebuild? Werenski has called Columbus home his entire NHL career, and personal reasons are likely playing a factor in his expressed desire to ride out the rest of his contract. But you have to think about how things are playing out on the ice is making him more open to the idea of an in-season move.