Proposal: Red Wings' Larkin to Atlantic Division Rival

Thursday, June 04, 2026 ,


 

The Detroit Red Wings captain, Dylan Larkin, requested a trade today, after another year of the Yzerplan failing to deliver a playoff run. He has been with the team for ten years and has only played five playoff games in his entire career wearing the winged wheel.

This comes full circle after Larkin criticized Steve Yzerman's lack of moves at the 2024-25 trade deadline. It seems that the Red Wings are at an impasse with their veteran captain. 

“We didn’t gain any momentum from the trade deadline, and guys were kinda down about it,” Larkin said during his end-of-season media availability. “So it’d be nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice and a morale boost as well.”

Instead of acquiring talent that would take them on a deep playoff run, Yzerman traded for veteran defenseman Justin Faulk and has received negative feedback on his conservative nature when conducting trades. 

What A Trade for Dylan Larkin Would Look Like

With news of this request hitting the wire, there are already pundits on X sharing their armchair GM moves, and one came from Evan Marinofsky, who covers the Boston Bruins for NEHockeyJournal. 

The trade could give us some insight into what a trade within the Red Wings' own division could look like. 

The Bruins would have to spend big in order to acquire Larkin, who has been the team's captain since Jan. 13, 2021. The last time the Red Wings had a captain before him was when Henrik Zetterberg still suited up for the original six team. 

Wherever Larkin lands next, it could be an expensive endeavor for the next general manager who trades for him in the future. 

Larkin played a total of 74 games this season for the Red Wings, scoring (34 goals, 33 assists) for 67 points, and won a Gold Medal with Team USA in the 2026 Olympics. 

The next question is, will he head west? Is he on Bill Guerin's radar?

Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

  

Go To: NFL Rumors | NBA Rumors | MLB Rumors