It’s prediction time around the NHL, and some predictions are more lighthearted than others.
This morning, The Athletic’s Sean McIndoe makes one slightly amusing prediction about all 32 NHL teams, including the Red Wings…
Detroit Red Wings
Where will Dylan Larkin be traded? I’m not sure. What about Alex DeBrincat? Also no idea. But without getting into either player’s new home (if any), let’s thread the needle with this prediction: DeBrincat and Larkin will end up facing each other in this year’s playoffs.
While Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin offers two predictions regarding Red Wings players which are dead serious in their tone:
18. The top names moved at the 2027 Trade Deadline: Alex DeBrincat and Erik Karlsson.
DeBrincat is a Michigan kid living his childhood dream, but he’s nine seasons into his career and has played in the playoffs once – six years ago. If the Detroit Red Wings remain rudderless, might DeBrincat inform them he wants to pursue a Cup? He’d fetch a significant return as a three-time 40-goal scorer.
…
10. Dylan Larkin never takes the ice again as a Red Wing and is shipped out before the holiday break in December.
His injury provides a convenient smoke screen to keep him from what would surely be a hailstorm of home-crowd boos if he played for Detroit again minus the captain’s C. Some combination of the right contender having an injury that frees up cap space, or Detroit being bad enough to entertain picks and prospects and not just NHLers in a trade, creates the right conditions for the deal to happen.
I’m an optimist when it comes to hockey, so I’m going to suggest that none of these predictions will come to pass.
DeBrincat really does want to stay in Detroit, and as inept as the Wings’ management group has been thus far, I believe that they’ll get a deal done…
And something tells me that Larkin will have to endure the boos at Little Caesars Arena for a little bit before he’s finally traded.
Update: I actually believe that Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli’s prediction for the 2026-2027 season will come to pass:
2. Dylan Larkin will be traded to the Minnesota Wild before Christmas
It’s no secret the interest is mutual. After years of searching, a true No. 1 centre is right in front of the Wild, and GM Bill Guerin will present an offer that addresses more of Detroit’s immediate needs to get it done — just like he did for Quinn Hughes
This feels more like Chris Ilich has his hands in day to day operations than we have been made aware of. For the amount that Edvinsson is asking for, it’s hard to believe a deal isn’t done.