Minnesota Wild upgrade their trade package for Dylan Larkin
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Wild are not bluffing about Dylan Larkin. According to Joe Smith and Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota is ready to assemble “a significant package” for the Detroit Red Wings captain, and the names involved reveal just how badly general manager Bill Guerin wants a top-line center.
The reported menu is deep. Young centers Danila Yurov and Charlie Stramel are the headline pieces, and either could be the one Guerin parts with.
Veteran winger Ryan Hartman and depth forward Bobby Brink could also be part of the conversation, which would give Detroit NHL-ready bodies instead of only prospects. Multiple first-round picks could sweeten the pot.
Why Detroit Has Reason to Listen
Reporting has long suggested the Red Wings will not settle for futures alone. This structure addresses that concern while still delivering long-term value.
Hartman and Brink can step into the lineup right away, Yurov offers a young center with room to grow, and Stramel, a former first-round pick, brings another high-upside prospect. The picks cover whatever else Detroit wants.
Larkin's situation adds urgency to the talks. The 29-year-old, who carries an $8.7 million cap hit, has been suspended without pay after informing the team he will no longer play for Detroit. Minnesota also appears on his list of 10 acceptable teams.
What It Means for Minnesota
For the Wild, the logic is simple. Kirill Kaprizov needs a true No. 1 center, and Larkin would allow Joel Eriksson Ek to settle into a second-line role. Paying with prospects and picks would thin the pipeline, but Guerin seems willing to absorb that cost.
The question is whether volume can replace star power. One assistant GM told Daily Faceoff that Yurov and Stramel alone would not get the job done, which explains why Minnesota is reportedly building a larger offer.
Detroit now controls the next move. If interim general manager Shawn Horcoff believes the package finally matches Larkin's value, a long-running saga could end quickly. If not, the Wild may have to widen their search or raise the offer.
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