Red Wings reveal to the Wild what it will take to acquire Dylan Larkin
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Dylan Larkin's trade request out of Detroit is dragging into late August, and insider Michael Russo says the Minnesota Wild may be the only realistic destination left standing.
Speaking on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, Russo laid out just how narrow Larkin's market has become.
The Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, two of the three teams on Larkin's original approved list, have both dropped out.
Florida addressed its center need by adding Brady Tkachuk, while Vegas lacks the cap flexibility to fit Larkin's contract.
That leaves Minnesota, but Russo was blunt about the roadblocks still standing in the way.
What Russo Said
The Wild's assets are what they are. So unless [Detroit are] gonna want futures that aren't sure things, I don't know how that deal's gonna get done unless it's a three-way trade.
The comment points to a fundamental mismatch. Detroit reportedly wants established, controllable talent in return for its captain rather than draft picks or prospects, while Minnesota's most obvious trade chips are either untouchable or don't move the needle enough on their own.
Why It's Stuck
Complicating matters further, Detroit is still searching for its next general manager after Steve Yzerman's exit.
Russo noted that any real progress on Larkin likely waits until that hire is made, since no team wants to negotiate with a front office in transition.
Larkin's connection to Minnesota runs through Quinn Hughes, who trains with him regularly in Ann Arbor.
That relationship keeps Minnesota in the picture even as the asset gap remains unresolved. Until Detroit names a GM, or a third team enters the mix, the Larkin saga stays parked in neutral.
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