The Detroit Red Wings haven’t sniffed the playoffs in a decade—ten long, frustrating years. And now, sources confirm what many around the league suspected: Dylan Larkin has had enough. The captain has reportedly submitted a formal trade request, and according to insiders, he’s drawn a clear line in the sand. Larkin has allegedly given the Red Wings a shortlist of just three teams he’d be willing to join: the Minnesota Wild, the Florida Panthers, and the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Price of Losing: Why Larkin Is Done Waiting
While Detroit has languished in irrelevance, the three teams on Larkin’s list have been thriving. The Panthers have been to the Stanley Cup Final three times in the last four years, hoisting the trophy twice. The Wild, while still chasing their first Cup in recent memory, have made the playoffs eight times in the past decade and finished third in a loaded Western Conference this season. But it’s the Golden Knights who have arguably been the most dominant since entering the league. Vegas didn’t even exist when Detroit last saw postseason action. Since 2018, they’ve missed the playoffs only once, played for the Cup three times, won it once, and are currently battling for another championship in 2026.
Sources close to the situation claim that Larkin is laser-focused on winning now, and Vegas checks every box. But the Golden Knights won’t be able to land a star without giving up serious value—and this is where the drama really heats up.
Vegas’s Secret Weapon: Brett Howden’s Playoff Surge
The Red Wings, per insiders, are desperate for center depth and a reliable netminder. And Vegas has exactly what Detroit needs. Nobody in the NHL postseason is hotter right now than Brett Howden. The 28-year-old has played in all 19 playoff games, racking up 14 goals and four assists. He’s been a monster on defense, killing penalties with three shorthanded tallies and notching three game-winners. He’s not a superstar, but he’s a physical, middle-six force who limits high-danger chances and throws nearly eight hits per 60 minutes of ice time.
His regular-season numbers—12 goals, 10 assists this year—don’t jump off the page, but in 2024-25 he scored 23 goals and added 17 assists. With four years left on a bargain $2.5 million annual deal, Howden could be the perfect centerpiece for a Larkin trade. One league insider told us: “Howden’s value has never been higher. Detroit would be getting a guy who can step into their top nine and immediately change their identity.”
Goaltending Crisis? Vegas Has the Answer
Detroit’s goaltending situation is reportedly a major concern. Sebastian Cossa, their 2021 first-round pick, has played exactly one NHL game while spending most of this season in the AHL. Free agent Cam Talbot is coming off a down year, and soon-to-be-33-year-old John Gibson has just one year left on his deal. Insiders say the Red Wings are quietly shopping for a long-term answer between the pipes.
Enter Vegas. With Carter Hart taking over as the starter—playing in all 20 playoff games after only 18 regular-season appearances—both Adin Hill and Akira Schmid could become available. Schmid, a 26-year-old restricted free agent, posted a solid 16-10-6 record with a 2.59 GAA and .893 save percentage this season, but he’s never been handed the starting reins. A sign-and-trade scenario is reportedly being discussed. “Schmid has starter potential,” one scout told us. “Put him with a veteran like Gibson for a year, and he could be the guy in Detroit.”
If the Red Wings want a proven commodity, Hill is the obvious choice. He struggled this year but was a stud in 2024-25: 32-13-5 with a 2.47 GAA and .906 save percentage. He’s under contract for five more seasons at $6.25 million annually. At 30 years old, he could be the steady, long-term presence Detroit has been craving.
The Prospect That Seals the Deal
According to multiple reports, the Golden Knights’ top prospect, Trevor Connelly, could be the final piece that pushes this blockbuster over the line. The 20-year-old was the 19th overall pick in 2024, and after a standout season at Providence College, he joined the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. In his first full AHL campaign, Connelly exploded for 14 goals and 35 assists—49 points in just 46 games—and added six points in six playoff contests. Scouts rave about his blazing speed and elite hockey IQ. And after putting past off-ice issues behind him, sources say Connelly is ready for the NHL spotlight.
“If Vegas offers Connelly in the package, Detroit has to say yes,” one executive told us. “He’s a top-six forward in the making. That would be the kind of return that changes the trajectory of a rebuild.”
With the trade deadline looming and Larkin reportedly growing impatient, all eyes are on the Golden Knights. Could this be the deal that finally pulls Detroit out of the darkness—while adding another superstar to a Vegas team that already looks like a dynasty in the making? Insiders say the framework is there. Now it’s up to the front offices to close it.
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