Jason_R

https://www.shapshotshockey.com/p/what-im-hearing-about-dylan-larkin Lots of interesting passages, including “They don’t speak unless they’ve had to, they haven’t for a while,” one agent said. “That’s kind of become common knowledge about the situation in Detroit. Steve and Larkin co-existed, but they didn’t get along at all, and that’s kind of been known by others for a bit now.”

Well, it was clear at the Olympics that the American boys wanted to team up. I didn’t think it would happen this way — I didn’t think Larkin would ever want to leave his hometown, or that he had the guts to ask for a trade — but I think it will turn out well for the Wings. I think it was LeBrun who said he expects a dozen teams to be in the mix. Lots of teams are right to believe that Larkin could be the missing piece.

What would the Wild have to give up to get Dylan Larkin? — Jake C. Russo: This is the $8.7 million question for a stud center with five years left on his contract. The Wild don’t have a ton of attention-grabbing assets left after dealing Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium and a 2026 first-round pick for Hughes. Obviously, Guerin wouldn’t be afraid to trade future firsts in this deal, nor young center Danila Yurov or prospects Charlie Stramel, Hunter Haight or Adam Benak. The big question is whether the Wild would have to give up quality NHLers in the deal, whether that’s one of their goalies (maybe even swapping Jesper Wallstedt for one of Detroit’s younger goalies), a defenseman like Jonas Brodin, center Joel Eriksson Ek or a versatile, gritty forward like Ryan Hartman (which Detroit needs, in my always humble opinion). https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7335940/2026/06/05/wild-trade-dylan-larkin-mailbag-red-wings/

I don’t think he goes to Vancouver either. But I would not at all be surprised if Stevie goes after EP40 independent of Larkin. He needs a credible 1C.

Lots of potential but who plays 1C?

Of course Stevie remembers when Scotty Frickin’ Bowman was kicking the tires on a trade that would have sent Stevie to his hometown for Alexei Yashin. The details are similar: The Wings, meanwhile, had begun to wonder if the 30-year-old Yzerman, despite his gaudy offensive numbers, would be able to lead them to the promised land. GM Scotty Bowman entertained the idea for a while, letting it known Yzerman was indeed available, much to Yzerman's chagrin. … It may have lit a fire under Yzerman, who played 11 more years in the NHL, becoming a more balanced player, a truly great leader, and a winner of three Stanley Cups. https://kuklaskorner.com/abel-to-yzerman/reflecting-on-the-yzerman-for-yashin-trade-talk Did Stevie remember this and buzz Larkin’s tower the way Scotty had done to him when he was the age Larkin is now?

I think this is probably right. I can also imagine that Lalonde and Blashill would have been more sympathetic to Larkin then Todd is, or maybe more willing to buffer Larkin from Steve than Todd is.

Yes, this is a good point. Or at the very least, it is easy to imagine that Stevie has had several tough conversations with Dylan going back to his complaint about the lack of activity at the trade deadline, the year before last. Also, with the speculation that there have been tensions since the last contract negotiation, it is not hard to imagine that Stevie has been having tough conversations with Dylan about his leadership for several years.

One question I have in all of this is whether Todd has a role in Larkin’s trade request. Lots of chatter that the bad blood goes back to contract negotiations but Todd has come In and held players more accountable than they were in the past.

Not by itself. Larkin should get multiple firsts and/or established player(s). But as the cornerstone, yes, and pick up Stenberg. If Larkin doesn’t get traded one-for-one (straight up for Hischier, for instance), I think the chances of an EP40 deal go way up. Without Larkin’s salary who cares if you eat Pettersson’s contract, if you can get Vancouver to toss in picks/prospects for the salary dump. Stevie needs a credible 1C, now.

I didn't say he owed fans anything. Soft your ass. The team is soft. He is the captain of a soft team that has melted down while on the hunt for the playoffs for three straight years. He whined that Stevie didn't do anything two years ago. Stevie did something last year and the team still wet the bed. Larkin is a very good (not great) player, and I understand he went to the Olympics and got a taste for winning. He learned what we all suspected, that he is better suited to be a support player than a captain. Hopefully there are a lot of teams that saw Vegas squeak in and Montreal make it to the Conference Finals and think that a guy like Larkin could put them over the hump. He is a good player on a great contract.

This may turn out to be the best thing that could have happened for Yzerman. Larkin is on a great contract for his production so should fetch a premium in picks and prospects. He is already at the edge of his prime. And something is off about the locker room culture. It might be good to put the C on Seider and clear the room of the stale air from the glory days.

Is this buying an option on a possible Rooney Rule pick?

And a first!