The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan took part in a midsummer edition of the News’s “Octopulse” podcast, discussing the hypothetical question as to whether Dylan Larkin will win a Stanley Cup with whatever team to which he’s traded before the Detroit Red Wings win a Stanley Cup:
“He’ll (Larkin) help someone the next couple of seasons for sure (win a Stanley Cup), especially if he’s more of a No. 2 center and not a No. 1,” Kulfan said on the podcast. “That’s why the Wings need to get as big of a return as they can. They’ve been telling people they want ready-made players.
“If you’re a team though that’s going to get a Dylan Larkin, chances are you’re not going to give away a really good player to get him. You’re more than willing to trade draft picks and prospects.”
Also on today’s podcast, GM Steve Yzerman talks about Larkin’s request for a trade (1:20), the odds of Larkin and a prospect being dealt to Minnesota for Joel Eriksson-Ek and Yakov Trenin (8:10), Ted asks free agent Victor Arvedsson about coming to Detroit (11:20), and what if the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes sign Simon Edvinsson to an exorbitant offer sheet (17:40).
I haven’t rooted against Dylan Larkin before, but things can change in a hurry.
Also: lots and lots of folks are talking about the Red Wings settling for a package from Minnesota that would include Eriksson Ek, who’s a 29-year-old center averaging about 50-60 points per season; simply adding Trenin, a 29-year-old center who’s more of a checking forward, to the mix in a trade for Larkin = not enough compensation for Larkin in a stand-alone deal, in my opinion.
The Wings would also ask for “futures” in the form of prospects like Charlie Stramel and/or Danila Yurov, and possibly a 1st round pick as well.
If we’re talking about an Eriksson Ek + Stramel + 1st situation, I’d be okay with that.
Anyway, you can listen to Kulfan’s podcast below:
And as far as the Edvinsson situation is concerned, I’m no fan of offer sheets, but the Red Wings will match an offer for Edvinsson. Period.
