The hockey world is buzzing after a bombshell report dropped Wednesday evening: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin may be significantly expanding his trade list, and sources close to the situation claim the tension between the star center and general manager Steve Yzerman is reaching a boiling point.
According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the initial three-team list Larkin reportedly handed the front office—featuring the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights—might no longer be the final word. LeBrun reports that Yzerman allegedly went back to Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, and asked for more options. And, according to insiders, Brisson was apparently receptive.
“Yzerman went back to Brisson and asked to expand their original list of three teams, and my sense is that Brisson was receptive to that to some degree,” LeBrun said. “So I don’t think we’re just dealing with the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers anymore.”
This development has sent shockwaves through the NHL rumor mill. What does this mean for Detroit’s rebuild? And more importantly, what does it say about the relationship between Larkin and the man who’s supposed to be steering the ship? Insiders say the tension has been simmering for months, with Larkin reportedly growing frustrated over the team’s inability to build a consistent playoff contender around him.
Larkin, 29, has been the face of the Red Wings since taking the captaincy ahead of the 2020-21 season. Over a decade in the Motor City, he’s racked up 276 goals and 643 points in 808 regular-season games. But here’s the kicker: the veteran center has tasted playoff hockey exactly once—a first-round exit in five games against the Tampa Bay Lightning during his rookie year. For a player of his caliber, that’s a bitter pill to swallow, and sources say that lack of postseason success is a major driver behind his desire to move on.
Now, with the trade list allegedly opening up, speculation is running wild. Could a team like the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, or even the Toronto Maple Leafs enter the sweepstakes? One league insider told us that if Larkin’s list expands beyond the original three, “all bets are off,” and the phone lines in Yzerman’s office are likely burning up right now.
For Red Wings fans, this is a gut punch. Losing a homegrown captain who wanted to be the guy to bring the franchise back to glory is tough enough. But the possibility that Yzerman and Larkin’s camp are now in active negotiations over a larger trade market suggests that a split is not just possible—it’s increasingly probable. And if that happens, Detroit’s rebuild could take yet another dramatic turn.
Stay tuned, because this story is far from over. The question now isn’t just if Larkin will be traded, but how many teams will get a shot at landing the disgruntled star.
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