Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck are both looking for new teams right now, and honestly, it just reminds you how gnarly these breakups can get in the NHL. It’s never simple when a star wants out, and teams definitely don’t want to lose an elite player without a fight. We’ve seen some absolute dramas unfold over the years, and it’s clear Larkin and Hellebuyck aren’t alone in wanting a change of address. Sometimes, things get messy, fast. Let’s dig into some of the all-time legendary situations that show just how wild it can get.
The Russian Rocket’s Vancouver Blast-Off and Crash
If you weren’t around for Pavel Bure’s career, man, you missed a special one. The “Russian Rocket” hit the scene with the Vancouver Canucks in 1991, and he just blew up the league with his insane speed and electrifying goals. He carried the Canucks, even taking them to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994, where they were just one win away from bringing that franchise its first title. But after seven seasons, Bure wanted out. He had issues with the team, plus the pressure of playing in Vancouver was getting to him. The problem? Canucks GM Brian Burke was *not* having it. He wasn’t about to let his star player bully him. Training camp opened in fall 1998, and Bure was still chilling in Moscow. Burke was adamant he disagreed with Bure’s reasons for wanting to bounce. After months of back and forth, Bure finally got his wish, getting traded to Florida in a blockbuster deal in January 1999. Bure kept dazzling with the Panthers, but injuries unfortunately cut his career short. Meanwhile, the Canucks went and drafted Henrik and Daniel Sedin in the 1999 Draft and totally course-corrected their franchise. Time eventually healed things between Bure and the Canucks, and they even retired his No. 10 jersey in November 2013. Wild stuff, right?
Dany Heatley’s Ottawa Drama Was Messy AF
Remember Dany Heatley? When he joined the Ottawa Senators after the 2004-05 lockout, he went from being an outstanding offensive weapon in Atlanta to a straight-up goal-scoring monster in Ottawa. For four seasons, Heatley just exploded. He popped 50 goals in one season and hit 41 and 39 goals in his other years there. That 39-goal season in 2008-2009 really stands out because the Senators missed the playoffs, and Heatley was *not* happy with head coach Cory Clouston. Heatley felt his role on the team was way less than it should’ve been. Clouston admitted to taking Heatley off the team’s first power play but said he just needed the team to improve generally, no slight intended. Those reasons fell on deaf ears with Heatley, who demanded a trade. He was dead set on using his no-trade protection to pick exactly where he wanted to go. There was even a trade set up with Edmonton that he straight-up blocked! Eventually, he landed in San Jose in a blockbuster deal in September 2009. He scored another 39 goals in his first season with the Sharks, but his production dipped hard after that, and he retired in 2016. It actually took 15 years for Heatley to be welcomed back to Ottawa; they even reunited his old line with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson for a special night in 2024.
So yeah, while Larkin and Hellebuyck are navigating their futures and trying to figure out their next moves, history shows these things are rarely clean. Just another day in the wild world of hockey, right? Speaking of hockey, our Kraken were in a tough one last night, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3. Rough loss, but we dust ourselves off and get ready for the next battle. Keep those heads up, Emerald City!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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