Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler offers an outside perspective on the Red Wings’ impasse with Dylan Larkin, suggesting that the Wings’ current trading partner, the Minnesota Wild, have some unfinished business of their own:
Where do things stand in Detroit?
Earlier this summer, when Dylan Larkin added his name to the list of Team USA stars looking to (forcibly) take their talents elsewhere, it felt like the Red Wings would be in for a big off-season of change.
And it has been — Steve Yzerman is no longer at the helm as general manager, and the franchise has been conducting a search for his successor since. And yet, the club’s captain remains with the Red Wings. It seems unlikely he’ll be dealt before a new GM is in place, so the waiting game continues.
Larkin’s reported interest in Minnesota makes a lot of sense, but there’s a waiting game happening there, too, as star defenceman Quinn Hughes remains without an extension as he nears his all-important contract year. Surely, the Wild would be thrilled to land Larkin as their long-coveted centre with a desirable AAV and five more years of team control, but all things hinge on Hughes first.
Continued; the Red Wings still aren’t thrilled with the Wild’s trade offer, which supposedly consists of center Danila Yurov, prospect Charlie Stramel and draft pick(s).
As such, there’s still a possibility, if not a probability, that the teams would have to utilize a 3rd trading partner to get a deal done.
