Dylan Larkin wants out of Detroit. That much is clear after the Red Wings captain reportedly told the team he’d like a change of scenery. And now a new name has surfaced as the most logical landing spot for the 29-year-old center.
According to The Athletic’s Max Bultman, the Utah Mammoth look like the ideal trade partner for Detroit. Why? Their prospect pool is deep. Really deep. And rebuilding teams tend to value that kind of asset base over a straight-up player-for-player swap.
“Looking around at remaining teams, the Utah Mammoth likely now stand as the ideal trade partner from the Red Wings’ perspective, owing to their deep stable of top prospects,” Bultman wrote. “But it’s unclear if the Mammoth are amenable to Larkin.”
That last part matters. A lot. Utah just made the playoffs in 2025–26 before losing to Vegas. They’re not in fire-sale mode. They’d have to want Larkin bad enough to part with young talent they’ve been stockpiling.
What Larkin brings to the table
Larkin put up 34 goals and 33 assists in 74 games last season. That’s solid production from a guy who’s spent his entire career in Detroit. Over 808 regular-season games, all with the Red Wings, he’s racked up 643 points.
He’s a center. He can score. He plays hard. Teams don’t give up guys like that without getting something real in return.
The Red Wings aren’t in a rush
Bultman also made a point that’s worth sitting with: Detroit has every reason to hold out for the right package. Larkin isn’t some rental. He’s the face of the franchise, or at least he has been. Trading him for a mediocre return would set the rebuild back even further.
“Of course, there is some logic from the Red Wings’ side in holding firm until they get their desired return,” Bultman added. “Larkin is one of their most important players. Detroit may be unlikely to get an equivalent-level player (particularly a center) back for him, but whether it’s younger players, futures, or some combination of the two, the Larkin trade is of the utmost importance to any path forward the Red Wings take. They can’t afford to settle for a mediocre return just to resolve it.”
Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016. That’s a long drought. And moving Larkin — if it happens — signals they’re starting over in a serious way.
Utah has the pieces to make a deal work if they’re willing. But nobody’s confirmed talks have even started. So for now it’s a very intriguing possibility, but nothing more.
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