Red Wings reveal what they want from the Wild for Dylan Larkin

Appearing on Ozzy and Keats, Friedman made it clear the Red Wings are not shopping for a long-term rebuild package. They want a return that helps them compete right away. His comments also pointed at the Minnesota Wild, the team most closely tied to Larkin.

Here is what Friedman said:

Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek are not depth pieces. Boldy is a top-line scoring winger who has grown into a key partner for Kirill Kaprizov, while Eriksson Ek is one of the league's better two-way centers.

Trading either one to land Larkin would open a new hole elsewhere in the lineup, which is exactly why Friedman framed the Wild's likely reaction as a shrug.

That tension sits at the heart of this entire situation. Minnesota values Larkin, a proven number one center, but it has little reason to overpay by gutting a core that already works.

For Detroit, the math is equally tricky. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff is leading the franchise through a period of change, and the Red Wings cannot afford to take a step backward by dealing their captain for picks or prospects.

Asking for established NHL players makes sense on paper, but it also narrows the list of workable partners.

Recent reporting has suggested Larkin is not moving anytime soon, and Friedman's comments help explain why.

A deal that satisfies both sides requires Detroit to lower its ask or Minnesota to raise its offer, and neither team appears ready to blink.

For now, Red Wings fans should expect the Larkin conversation to continue, with Minnesota firmly in the mix but not yet at Detroit's price.

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