Dylan Larkin wants out of Detroit. That much has been clear for weeks now, and the Red Wings haven’t done much to change his mind.
The captain requested a trade before free agency opened, and general manager Steve Yzerman hasn’t pulled the trigger. That leaves a sliver of hope that Larkin could still be convinced to stay. But after watching Detroit’s offseason moves so far, it’s hard to see what would change his mind.
What Detroit Actually Did
The Red Wings made some noise, but not the kind that moves a needle for a star who wants to win now. They traded Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for a first-round pick, then used that pick on WHL forward J.P. Hurlbert. Larkin is 27 years old. An 18-year-old prospect isn’t going to make him rethink his future.
They also signed Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year deal. Arvidsson is a solid winger who put together a good season with Boston. He’d be a decent linemate. But decent doesn’t close the gap when you’re trying to keep a guy who wants to play for a contender. Florida and Vegas are reportedly at the top of Larkin’s list. Arvidsson isn’t enough to compete with that.
The Michigan Factor
Larkin is a Michigan kid. He played at the University of Michigan, was drafted by the Red Wings in the first round, and now wears the C. He won gold with Team USA at the 2026 Olympics. Leaving all that behind isn’t easy. But wanting to win is stronger than hometown loyalty when you’ve been stuck in a rebuild that keeps stalling out.
Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016. That drought is closing in on a decade. Larkin has five years left on his contract, so Yzerman has some leverage. But having a disgruntled captain dragging into training camp isn’t ideal.
The One Move That Could Actually Work
There is one move out there that might flip the script. Zach Werenski.
Werenski is also from Michigan. He also played for Team USA in 2026. He’s a Norris Trophy winner and a top-tier defenseman currently stuck in Columbus. The Blue Jackets said he’s off the trade market, but it doesn’t take a genius to see he probably won’t re-sign when his deal expires.
If Yzerman could pull off a trade for Werenski, that changes everything. Larkin gets a fellow Michigan Olympian and elite blueliner to play with. That’s the kind of move that says “we’re trying to win.”
The problem is Detroit’s asset pool is thin. Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, future first-rounders. You’d have to give up a lot. Columbus might even counter by asking for Larkin himself in a swap, which would be a brutal conversation but one Yzerman would have to take.
Yzerman’s tenure in Detroit hasn’t gone great so far. The rebuild has been slow, the playoff drought keeps growing, and now his captain wants out. But landing Werenski could change the narrative overnight. It’s a swing worth taking.
If he doesn’t, Larkin is probably gone. And the Red Wings haven’t done nearly enough to stop that.
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