As seen first from Elliotte Friedman (and confirmed multiple other reporters), Dylan Larkin has requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings.
According to multiple sources, Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from Detroit.
There’s a lot to unpack here. First, should mention that no one would comment. Not Larkin, not agent Pat Brisson, not Red Wings Executive Vice-President & GM Steve Yzerman.
Second, Larkin’s involvement in the trade market is massive. He has a full no-trade clause both this season and next, so his control over the situation does not change July 1. He’s a top-line centre in a league desperate for centres, so there’s going to be a ton of interest. His play at the 4 Nations and Olympics was stellar. That’s going to excite potential trade partners.
But, what we still have to determine is where he’s willing to go.
Because no one will talk, we can only guess at the rationale, but there appear to be two critical factors: Detroit’s inability to make the playoffs, and a somewhat frosty relationship between the captain and the team’s top hockey executive. This is also another sign of how the league is changing. Players are getting bolder with these requests — especially in the aftermath of Matthew Tkachuk‘s and Quinn Hughes‘ power moves into different situations.
There is also the Yzerman factor. He will not be bullied into any scenario he dislikes, no matter how much pressure is applied. It’s hard to believe, though, that someone won’t step up to make it worth his while.
According to multiple sources, Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from Detroit.
There’s a lot to unpack here. First, should mention that no one would comment. Not Larkin, not agent Pat Brisson, not Red Wings Executive Vice-President & GM Steve Yzerman.
Second, Larkin’s involvement in the trade market is massive. He has a full no-trade clause both this season and next, so his control over the situation does not change July 1. He’s a top-line centre in a league desperate for centres, so there’s going to be a ton of interest. His play at the 4 Nations and Olympics was stellar. That’s going to excite potential trade partners.
But, what we still have to determine is where he’s willing to go.
Because no one will talk, we can only guess at the rationale, but there appear to be two critical factors: Detroit’s inability to make the playoffs, and a somewhat frosty relationship between the captain and the team’s top hockey executive. This is also another sign of how the league is changing. Players are getting bolder with these requests — especially in the aftermath of Matthew Tkachuk‘s and Quinn Hughes‘ power moves into different situations.
There is also the Yzerman factor. He will not be bullied into any scenario he dislikes, no matter how much pressure is applied. It’s hard to believe, though, that someone won’t step up to make it worth his while.
A lot to unpack there. Starting with the easy part, Larkin is just about the exact player that Dubas was referencing in the quote above as a player with a full no trade clause, unhappy in his current spot. It might not hurt to see a familiar name of Pat Brisson as his agent, who famously represents Sidney Crosby and four other Penguins. (Of course, Brisson also reps all the Hughes brothers, Jack Eichel, Owen Power, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini and Cole Caufield, among many others).
Larkin is the type of center that any and every team should be after. He turns 30 later this summer but is locked in at a very team-friendly $8.7 million rate that he easily outperforms.
Which sort of brings to the tough part in that any and every team could and probably should at least send a feeler out to Steve Yzerman in Detroit and see what the possibilities could be on Larkin/Red Wing interest in making a deal. Friedman’s final note is one to take pause with as well, “he will not be bullied into any scenario he dislikes, no matter how much pressure is applied. It’s hard to believe, though, that someone won’t step up to make it worth his while.”
Could the Penguins make it worth his while? Would Larkin want to come to Pittsburgh? Is Yzerman going to buckle and move his captain when his goal has been to get the rebuild into gear and actually make the playoffs? There’s a lot unknown and much is left to be debated on those questions that don’t have known answers.
The Pens don’t make a great fit on the surface to help the Red Wings in the immediate outlook compared to what many other teams might be able to do with blue chip pieces, which could be game over right there. Larkin could also easily quash to any hopes and dreams by preferring any number of other markets/locations or teams.
Even though the sun, moon and stars would have to align and might not in this case, any time a player the caliber of Larkin requests a trade, it’s going to get a lot of people talking and hoping, that’s what summer is all about as a hockey fan to bat around and see what happens.
