As the dog days of summer drag on, there's no sign the Detroit Red Wings will honor Dylan Larkin's trade request. While everything's on hold until the Wings find a new GM, speculation persists over what happens next.
The NHL off-season grinds on with no sign that the Detroit Red Wings will honor Dylan Larkin’s trade request anytime soon.
Everything is currently on hold as the Red Wings continue to search for a new general manager. Assistant GM Shawn Horcoff maintains the day-to-day duties, but that doesn’t extend to trades.
Don’t expect Larkin to stage a holdout to force a trade when training camp opens next month.
Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now dismissed that possibility, pointing out that Larkin would risk breach of contract for withholding his services. That would give the Red Wings grounds to suspend the 30-year-old center without pay.
Larkin’s contract pays him an average annual value of $8.7 million through 2030-31.
Duff also noted that staging a holdout wouldn’t improve Larkin’s value in the trade market. The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Dallas Stars are reportedly the only teams on his list of destinations. So far, there’s no indication that any of those clubs will meet the Red Wings’ asking price.
Minnesota is believed to be Larkin’s preferred landing spot. However, MLive.com’s Ansar Khan reported the Wild lack the necessary assets to acquire him. Khan claimed the asking price is, at minimum, a top-six forward, preferably a center. He also indicated that the Red Wings aren’t interested in a return of draft picks and prospects.
Wild followers are starting to doubt that their club can pry Larkin away from the Red Wings. According to a recent fan poll conducted by Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic, 68 percent don’t believe their club can pull off that deal, pointing to the Wild’s limited trade capital.
Larkin might have to expand his trade list to improve his chances of getting moved before the regular season begins.
The Hockey News' Adam Proteau recently suggested the Boston Bruins as a new destination for Larkin.
Proteau noted the Bruins must bolster their depth at center this season. They aren’t on Larkin’s current trade list, but Proteau felt that GM Don Sweeney should seek permission to speak with the center’s representatives and convince him of the merits of coming to Boston.
It wouldn’t hurt for Sweeney, or any other club seeking an upgrade at center, to seek permission to speak with the Larkin camp. He may have already done so, but if he did, it was to no avail.
Until the Red Wings find their new general manager, Larkin’s trade status will remain in limbo.
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