Via 97.1 the Ticket…
The big question now is how the Red Wings proceed with Dylan Larkin and his trade request.
“It’s tough to get a sense of when (they’ll make a move) because Yzerman doesn’t really give those tells to anybody, but there is an expectation that he’s going to get it done,” NHL reporter Emily Kaplan said Friday night. “I know Steve has told teams that have called about Larkin, ‘We’ll send him to camp next year. He’s under contract. We’re not under pressure to make this trade.’
“But when you have a captain that’s unhappy, that wants to move on, it behooves you to do it. And they could get a bounty in return. If you look at some of these trades we’ve seen this offseason, we’re talking about multiple first-round picks, franchise-altering stuff.”
Just on Friday night, the Ducks sent young center Mason McTavish to the Blues for two first-round picks; McTavish scored 41 points last season and has a career-high of 22 goals. Earlier this week, the Senators sent winger Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers for three first-round picks and a second-rounder.
Larkin, a center in his prime coming off his fifth straight 30-goal season who’s under contract for five more years, should have more trade value than both of them.
And me:
While on the air on @ESPN, @emilymkaplan reports that the Red Wings have been underwhelmed by the Wild's trade offers for Larkin, and that the Wings may have to get a 3rd team involved to make something work.
— George Malik (@georgemalik) June 27, 2026
Again, @emilykaplan says that the Wings will get the return they want for Larkin, who Yzerman has stated they'll have Larkin come to camp if necessary.
— George Malik (@georgemalik) June 27, 2026
She's thinking about multiple first round picks and/or younger players.
And @KevinWeekes suggests that the Wings need to make…
Update: Here’s the Free Press’s Helene St. James’ update:
Still quiet on the Dylan Larkin front
There were trades sending veterans across the league the day of the draft and in the days leading up to it, but things remained quiet on the Dylan Larkin front. The Wings’ captain has requested a trade to a contender; that news emerged on June 4. Neither side has commented on the situation.
Larkin has a no-trade clause, so he holds power over where he goes – the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights top his list – but general manager Steve Yzerman does not have to trade Larkin, who has five years left at a $8.7 million cap hit. Essentially the Wings would need a player like Larkin in return: A top-line center (they are thin down the middle) who can play in all situations.
Minnesota has nothing we want. I’m not sold on Yurov as more than a third liner. We have plenty of those. Stramel is in his fourth year of college hockey. Not a great sign for a former first rounder. Wallstedt probably isn’t on the table any longer, and we have plenty of goalie depth anyway. I don’t see how they get a deal done. And, in my mind, the return should be at least on par with the Brady Tkachuk trade (an early first, two late firsts, and a second). Utah, Anaheim, Montreal, and San Jose have the assets to do it. I’m not sure anyone else does that would be in a position to trade, and I doubt San Jose wants Larkin.
And the petty part of me doesn’t think we should trade him to Minnesota because that’s giving him what he wants. I get that he’s allowed to change his mind, but I am really annoyed that Larkin asked out AFTER we overpaid for a quality deadline acquisition and Larkin continued his annual fade in the spring. I know the guy’s capable of great, inspired play when it matters, but I’ve never seen him do it in the Winged Wheel. Honestly, it was a mistake to make him captain. Not everyone can handle that responsibility.
Thus, the theory that the Red Wings will have to find a third team with which to “flip” the future assets and prospects for some “right now” help.
I’m frustrated and disappointed as well–I think his play really dropped off after the Olympics, and I really wonder about that “group chat” given that more and more Olympians reportedly want “out” of their current teams–but I just want to see the Wings get the best return for Larkin possible, and, if possible, I’d love to see him get as far away from the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division as we can hope for.
Personally, I don’t think Minnesota even has the assets to make a three-team trade work. They spent all of their meaningful assets getting Quinn Hughes. I know Guerin really, really wants Larkin, but there’s not enough left in the cupboard.
I’m on the fence about all the player movement. This league has had a massive power imbalance in favor of the owners forever. I’m generally in favor of more player movement. But, I’d really like to see more free agency movement rather than guys under contract keep asking out. And, to be fair to Brady Tkachuk (and his brother), Brady just said that he intended to play out his contract and not re-sign. He’s well within his rights to do that, and Ottawa made a smart decision to trade him when they could. From what I’ve heard, Marchenko and Werenski are doing the same. Larkin, on the other hand, decided early into his massive contract that he wanted to change his mind. I view that as a totally different situation. I’m much less sympathetic to him.
Very fair on all counts. I’d imagine that Minnesota would have to promise 1st round draft picks in future years in addition to some prospects and/or players, and it is a difficult fit.
I can completely understand that we’re in a time of player empowerment, and that NHL teams are a little too willing to give out NTC’s and NMC’s given how frequent player movement really is at the NHL level…
But it did break my heart to hear that Dylan wanted “out.” It still stings the fan at the heart of me, because he’s been such a stand-up guy. There’s a level of betrayal that will hurt Wings fans for a long time.
I guess it’s only distance from the situation that will mend the wound. Right now, it’s still bleeding.