Dylan Larkin's expanded trade list leaks, includes 10 U.S. teams: Source
New York Times (Online)
Max Bultman
More than four months after his trade request from the Detroit Red Wings became public, Detroit's star center Dylan Larkin continues to play for the team while his situation remains unresolved. And after initially offering a short list of teams for which he would waive his full no-trade clause, Larkin's list recently expanded up to 10 teams, as
The Athletic
's Pierre LeBrun has previously reported. Now, the specifics of Larkin's list have come to light, first reported by the Detroit Free Press.
The 10 teams for which he would currently accept a trade are the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, a league source, speaking under condition of anonymity to address negotiations that are not public, confirmed to LeBrun.
The list could still change over time, and notably the Montreal Canadiens — who are believed to have strong interest in Larkin — are not among the 10 teams. Perhaps that could change over time, but at this point the Canadiens are not on the list. All 10 teams currently on the list are based in the United States, and most are among the inner circle of Stanley Cup contenders.
Larkin, 30, has scored 30-plus goals in each of the last five seasons, and six times in 11 NHL seasons since the Red Wings drafted him 15th overall in 2014. He is a metro-Detroit native and, prior to his request, had served as the Red Wings captain since 2021.
As a result, his request was seismic news in Detroit and the first domino in what became a summer of change for the Red Wings. The team removed franchise icon Steve Yzerman from his general manager position in mid-July, but did not name an interim replacement until two days before training camp opened, leaving little room for interim general manager Shawn Horcoff to execute a Larkin trade before the start of the season. Larkin has played in seven of Detroit's first nine games, including Tuesday night's game in Seattle, and was booed both on opening night — when he was introduced with the scratches — and in his first game playing at Little Caesars Arena since the request.
In addition, Detroit still has not yet signed top-pair defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a restricted free agent. Edvinsson reported to Detroit's training camp without a contract, but when the stalemate dragged on through the entire preseason, Edvinsson left the team and has not rejoined them since. LeBrun reported earlier Tuesday on TSN's “Insider Trading” that Horcoff and Edvinsson met face-to-face last Thursday and Friday, laying their cards on the table, but as of now that stalemate continues as well.
Detroit is 3-3-2 to begin the season, entering a four-game road trip through Seattle and Western Canada. Whether Larkin will still be with them when it finishes remains to be seen.