4 Teams Have Talked Larkin Trade With Detroit — But Nothing’s Moving Right Now

Interest in Dylan Larkin isn’t the issue. The return offers aren’t knocking anyone’s socks off, but the fact that the Detroit Red Wings don’t have a general manager to make the trade is the biggest hurdle.

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Per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, the Red Wings have already engaged in trade discussions with four separate teams about their captain: the Florida Panthers, the Minnesota Wild, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Dallas Stars. Those four are believed to be the only clubs Larkin would waive his full trade protection for, so it makes sense that those would be the conversations that took place.

And yet, nothing is close.

Part of it is fit: Detroit wants a first-line center back, and none of the four have been willing to give one up. All four teams see themselves as playoff contenders. In some cases, like in Minnesota, the team can’t afford to give up solid pieces while they’re actively trying to get Quinn Hughes signed.

Even without a GM to make the calls, it’s clear the Red Wings are holding out for established, “value-now” players rather than picks or prospects. Whether it was Steve Yzerman, Shawn Horcoff or another GM who is ultimately hired, the Red Wings do not want to rebuild. They are unwilling to send a signal to Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider that the team is shifting toward a starting-over mentality.

So now what? Even with four willing trade partners, they are effectively just waiting on Detroit to have someone to negotiate with. And, once that person is in place, it’s going to be a long process to find a return that works for both parties. This could drag into the season. In fact, it likely will.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Jets, Oilers & Kane’s Edgy Text