Dylan Larkin gets bad news about his trade request
Photo credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings and Dylan Larkin look headed for an uncomfortable stretch together. NHL insider Chris Johnston weighed in on the forward's situation during his podcast, and his message offered little hope for a quick resolution.
Right now the expectation is he's not moving any time soon
That is tough news for a franchise opening the preseason Monday with its biggest storyline still unsettled. Larkin requested a move after Detroit missed the playoffs, will not wear the captain's C this season, and is sidelined at camp with an upper-body injury.
Why Detroit Loses Out
On paper, the Red Wings control the process, yet the reality is far messier. Larkin holds a full no-movement clause and has approved only a handful of destinations, which shrinks the market and weakens Detroit's bargaining power.
Clubs like the Wild, Panthers, Golden Knights and Stars can simply wait. Meanwhile, interim general manager Shawn Horcoff inherits a delicate file without the security of a permanent title.
Every week that drags on also risks turning a talented center into a lightning rod. A dressing room can only absorb so many questions about a player who has openly asked to leave, and Detroit needs its best forward focused on hockey rather than headlines.
Larkin and His Suitors Feel It Too
For Larkin, the standoff means playing a season for the team he wanted to leave, without a leadership title, while his trade value rises or falls with his health and production.
A slow start or a lingering injury would only make Detroit's asking price harder for anyone to meet.
The interested teams are stuck too. Each would love a top center carrying an $8.7 million cap hit, but none has matched what Detroit wants in return. Earlier talks with Dallas reportedly stalled when the Red Wings asked for Wyatt Johnston, a sign of how wide the gap has been.
Nobody wins in this scenario. Detroit cannot secure full value, Larkin cannot get his preferred exit, and contenders cannot upgrade their rosters.
Unless a suitor meets the Red Wings' price or Larkin widens his list of approved teams, this stalemate could follow Detroit deep into the season, and the longer it lingers, the more damage it does to everyone involved.
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