Ducks & Red Wings Becoming Potential Trade Partners
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported that Larkin is believed to be willing to waive his no-trade clause for a move to the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, or Minnesota Wild, the three franchises at the top of his list.
She also cited the Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Islanders as plausible secondary options, noting those destinations might require some convincing on Detroit's part.
The Verbeek-Yzerman Factor
Pat Verbeek and Steve Yzerman are not strangers.
They were teammates on the Detroit Red Wings for two seasons, and Verbeek worked alongside Yzerman in Detroit's and Tampa Bay's front offices across 16 combined years before Anaheim hired him as GM in 2022.
That relationship could give the Ducks an advantage when it comes to trade negotiations over other teams.
Per @HeleneStJames, Dylan Larkin would be willing to waive his Full NMC for these 3 teams. 👀 pic.twitter.com/by63HgmL7c
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 8, 2026
The Hockey News laid out a possible framework: Mason McTavish, a second-tier prospect like Eric Nilsson or Lasse Boelius, and a first-round pick as the core of a package heading to Detroit.
Anaheim does not own a first-round pick in the 2026 draft after the John Carlson trade with Washington, which complicates the immediate picture, but the Ducks could offer their 2027 first-rounder alongside McTavish and a prospect if Verbeek wants to make a real push.
That still might not get it done, though.
What the Ducks Would Be Getting
Larkin posted 34 goals, 33 assists, and 67 points in 74 games this season, his fifth consecutive year with 60-plus points.
He averaged 20:11 of ice time per night, including 1:31 on the penalty kill, won Olympic gold with Team USA in Milan, and remains one of the most complete two-way centers in the game.
He is 29 years old, signed through 2030-31 at $8.7 million per year.
The Ducks fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the 2026 playoffs, which established them as a team capable of competing but not yet capable of winning at the highest level.
Dylan Larkin on trade talks that have emerged today:
— Petrov McGuire (@McguirePetrov) June 4, 2026
“I love Detroit. Has nothing to do with that. Honestly, it’s just Steve [Yzerman] and I have always wanted to win, but we try to get there different ways. For example, I want everyone to get on the bus, he doesn’t want that.”
Larkin would immediately make Anaheim's top-six one of the more threatening in the Pacific Division, giving them a strong first-line center to build around alongside Leo Carlsson and developing stars like Cutter Gauthier and Becket Sennecke.
The McTavish complication is real.
He had a disappointing 2025-26 season and has been discussed as a trade candidate himself, which means his value as the centerpiece of any Larkin offer is lower than it would have been a year ago.
Yzerman needs Larkin's no-trade clause cooperation regardless of what Anaheim offers, which means the destination needs to appeal to Larkin before the asset conversation even begins.
Photo Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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