Detroit Red Wings

Larkin-to-Capitals Trade Pitch Gets Evenly Split Response

A trade pitch that is being seen as fairly even would send Dylan Larkin to the Washington Capitals. But for what return?

by
NHL Trade Talk
November 6, 2026

A PuckGM user has pitched a trade that would bring Dylan Larkin to Washington, and from the responses to the idea, fans seem to believe it’s a pretty fair deal.

Under the proposal, the Capitals would send forward Dylan Strome, prospects Andrew Cristall and Ivan Miroshnichenko, and their 2027 first-round pick to Detroit. In return, Washington would get Larkin and John Leonard. Leonard is signed to a one-year, $850,000 contract with an $850,000 cap hit per season. His contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season, making Leonard an Unrestricted Free Agent.

Strome is a point-per-game player this season with three goals and 14 points in 14 games. He finished last season with 58 points, and his career high is 82 in the 2024-25 season.

Is Larkin Better Than Strome?

Washington’s interest in the trade would hinge on whether they see Larkin as an upgrade. The former Red Wings captain carries an $8.7 million cap hit and would give the Capitals a top-line center. For Detroit, the return is substantial: Strome is a veteran center on a $5 million deal who could help fill the hole Larkin leaves; Cristall and Miroshnichenko are young forwards on deals under $1 million each, and a first-round pick adds future value.

Because Detroit was said to want a center back in the trade, this deal meets that criteria.

The cap is where it gets tricky. Washington’s cap hit rises by $3.625 million, while Detroit’s drops by the same amount. The Red Wings have $22.654 million in cap space and can absorb the shuffle easily. The Capitals can’t. PuckGM shows them at negative $677,000 in cap space, which means the deal would need more salary going out to work.

The site’s “Who Says No?” meter also weighed in, concluding that Capitals GM Chris Patrick would want more from the deal. The community is split, with eight voters calling it feasible and eight saying it isn’t.

That split feels fair. Washington is paying a lot in assets and still has a cap problem to solve, while Detroit would be trading away its superstar that they’ve been hesitant to move because they haven’t found the right return. It’s a fun idea, but it would need some tweaking before either side took it seriously.

Given that the Capitals are said to be on the 10-team list that Larkin submitted to the Red Wings, this is a deal he would theoretically approve.

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