NHL Insider Reveals Red Wings New Asking Price For Dylan Larkin, Opening Door for Lightning and Capitals

On Thursday, TSN's Darren Dreger offered a new update on what the Detroit Red Wings could be seeking in a return package for center Dylan Larkin. 

The elite two-way center has returned to the Detroit lineup but has voiced that he would still prefer to be traded, and with these new details from Dreger, a deal looks more possible than ever.

Most reports have said Detroit is looking for a top-six forward in return but on the TSN show Early Trading, Dreger said the Red Wings are reportedly seeking "three or four pieces," and that the package would need to include "two A-quality prospects." It would also need to include a top-nine forward, though not necessarily a top-six one, as well as a first-round pick.

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It is a tall asking price, but one Detroit would likely be willing to pay if it values Larkin enough. Several contenders may still struggle to meet the demands like Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, all likely out of the running due to a lack of A-quality prospects to offer.

It could open the door for a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have been among the contenders for Larkin and have prospects to offer like Sam O'Reilly, who could be packaged with an NHL-ready forward like Gage Goncalves to fill the top-nine need. The Lightning also have first-round picks in two of the next three years that could help get a deal over the line.

The Washington Capitals, who have also reportedly been in on Larkin, could fulfill the requirements as well. They have quality prospects in Ilya Protas, Cole Hutson and Lynden Lakovic, along with NHL-ready forwards in Aliaksei Protas and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

There is also a case for the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers, each of which has quality prospects and NHL-ready forwards to offer, provided Larkin would be willing to waive his no-move clause for a Canadian market.

If Dreger's report is accurate, it widens Detroit's options considerably and could bring the Larkin trade saga to an end in the near future.

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