Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson discusses 5 trade rumors as “BS or not BS” (assume that the abbreviation means what you think it does) this morning, and he’s got the right idea regarding the Minnesota Wild’s pursuit of disgruntled Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin:
Minnesota Wild Can’t Afford to Acquire Dylan Larkin
In early June, it was first reported that Dylan Larkin requested a trade. That made the 30-year-old Detroit Red Wings center a fixture in the rumor mill and earned him a spot on our August NHL Trade Targets list.
Larkin has a full no-movement clause, but is reportedly willing to waive it for the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Dallas Stars. According to MLive.com’s Ansar Khan, the Wild were his preferred landing spot, but they might be unable to meet the Wings’ asking price.
Khan stated the Red Wings sought, at minimum, a top-six forward (preferably a center) in return for Larkin. However, the Wild aren’t parting with that type of asset, and Khan indicated the Red Wings aren’t interested in a return of futures such as draft picks and prospects.
Wild followers aren’t optimistic about their club’s chances of landing Larkin. In a fan poll earlier this month by Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic, 68 percent of respondents didn’t believe their team could acquire him, citing the club’s limited trade capital.
BS Meter: Not BS
The Wild don’t have a top-six forward to spare, and their lack of a true first-line center is the reason they were linked to Larkin in the first place. Unless the Wings lower their price, the Wild must get creative, perhaps by getting a third team involved that has the assets that could interest the Wings.
Continued; again, the Wild’s rumored return for Larkin would consist of center Danila Yurov, prospect Charlie Stramel and a first-round draft pick, which isn’t enough in compensation for the NHL Network’s 20th-best center.
Larkin is the Red Wings’ #1 center, and the team cannot simply settle for anything less than a value-for-value trade return. The next GM/president of hockey operations will know that.
