Month: July 2026

HSJ in the morning: on the Dylan Larkin stalemate

This morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James addresses where the Red Wings find themselves in terms of Dylan Larkin’s trade demands, suggesting that the dispute between disgruntled player and team will stretch past the start of unrestricted free agency today and into the rest of the summer:

The Wings would like a top-six center and a winger in return for Larkin. That may sound like a high price, but it’s their right to play hardball. They have little depth down the middle, and losing Larkin without getting a center in return would weaken the roster and hamper attempts to end what’s now a 10-year playoff drought – the longest active run in the league. The Wings already were looking to add a scoring winger, and, for that matter, strengthen the second-line center spot, before the Larkin situation unfolded.

None of Larkin’s desired destination teams have made an offer acceptable to the Wings. The Panthers may not even be in play anymore after acquiring forward Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa on June 21, not to mention goalie Jacob Markstrom in a deal with New Jersey on Tuesday.

As much as Larkin holds power via his no-trade clause, the Wings hold power in not being obligated to trade him. It wouldn’t be an ideal situation for Larkin to have to report to training camp in in September – the expectation, for starters, would be that he turn in his captaincy. He’d have to deal with a segment of upset fans at home games. The Wings would have to make do without a captain, as it would be unfair to the next guy – Moritz Seider fits the bill – to be named in such circumstances.

Continued; again, I expect the Red Wings to require a 3rd team to “flip” whatever future assets they receive for Larkin in order to acquire “right now” help;

I might also suggest that the Wings pursue a trade for disgruntled Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson as well.

HSJ, Duff weigh in regarding potential Red Wings free agency targets

The NHL’s unrestricted free agent period begins at 12 PM EDT today, and this morning, both the Free Press’s Helene St. James and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff make suggestions as to which players the Red Wings should sign.

St. James believes that Detroit needs to sign a scoring winger and a back-up goaltender, first and foremost, but she also suggests that the Red Wings need more “team toughness,” too.

Here are three of her main targets…

Viktor Arvidsson, F, Boston Bruins

The 33-year-old is a veteran of 682 NHL games (with 219 goals among 443 points), most recently contributing 25 goals, 29 assists and a plus-20 rating in 14:35 of ice time per game for the Bruins in 2025-26. He has also appeared in 91 playoff games (46 points). Arvidsson (5 feet 10, 181 pounds) has a quality the Wings don’t have enough of among their forwards: He is tenacious and consistent about going to the net, plays with pace and is a 200-foot player.

Continue reading HSJ, Duff weigh in regarding potential Red Wings free agency targets

Late-night Friedman ‘thoughts’ ahead of free agency

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman offers some late-night, pre-free agency thoughts and predictions, including the following:

Dylan Larkin: Steve Yzerman would rather make no trade than what he thinks is a bad trade.

Jason Robertson: Wants Dallas to budge. Don’t see it now. My guess is they go to arbitration. Unless Yzerman decides he’s the best option for Larkin. 

Continued, briefly (hey, it’s the night before a very busy day for Elliotte and the rest of us)…

Tweet of note: Frank Seravalli reports that David Perron will test the free agent marketplace

According to Frank Seravalli, Red Wings forward David Perron will test the free agent marketplace today at 12 PM EDT: