Dylan Larkin wants out of Detroit. That much has been clear since earlier this month when he formally requested a trade and handed the Red Wings a short list of preferred destinations. And according to NHL insider Andy Strickland, the buzz around the league points to one team in particular.
Strickland posted on X that the general feeling among people he’s talked to is Larkin will end up with the Minnesota Wild once everything shakes out. Not the Florida Panthers, who just won the Cup. Not the Vegas Golden Knights, who’ve been to the finals. Minnesota.
That’s interesting for a few reasons. First, Larkin reportedly gave Detroit three teams: Florida, Vegas, and Minnesota. Some figured the Wild were a long shot. They’re good but not great. They haven’t won anything. But their need for a center is glaring, and that hole in the lineup probably cost them against Colorado in the playoffs. You can have all the wingers in the world, and if nobody can win a faceoff or drive play down the middle, it doesn’t matter.
Why Larkin Fits
Larkin put up a career-high 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games last season. Fourteen of those goals came on the power play. He’s also one of the better faceoff guys in the league, which is exactly what the Wild lack. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy do the scoring on the wings, but they need someone to feed them and create space. Larkin could be that guy. Or he could benefit from playing with them. Either way, it makes sense on paper.
There’s also the playoff factor. Larkin has never played a single game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s been stuck in Detroit through the rebuild, watching other guys get their shot while the Red Wings spun their wheels. All three teams on his list have recent postseason success. Florida won it all. Vegas went to the final. Minnesota makes the playoffs consistently, even if they haven’t broken through. For a guy who’s never been, that’s probably the whole point.
The Waiting Game
For now, Larkin is still a Red Wing. The trade hasn’t happened yet. But the noise is getting louder, and Detroit’s front office has a decision to make. Do they drag this out and risk damaging the relationship? Or do they move quickly and get the best return possible? Strickland’s report suggests the league already has a strong suspicion about where this ends, and the Wild are preparing to make it happen.
Nobody is confirming anything yet. But when an insider says the belief is that a guy ends up in a specific place, and that place has the need and the cap space and the motivation, you start to pay attention.
Leave a Comment