Dylan Larkin's Trade List Holding Up Potential Deal (+ 1 New Team Linked)

The Detroit Red Wings and captain Dylan Larkin are still in a stalemate, over 60 days after his trade request. So what's the holdup? Two things, according to insider Helene St. James in Detroit: His non-negotiable trade list, and the returns being offered.

In two-plus months since requesting trade from Red Wings, Dylan Larkin has not expanded his list (he has no-trade clause) from Florida, Minnesota, Vegas. No offers from those teams have intrigued Wings. They want value-now players for a 1C with very favorable contract.

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) July 7, 2026

Larkin has refused to budge from the very limited three-time team trade list he presented to GM Steve Yzerman. But none of the offers coming from the Panthers, Wild or Golden Knights have piqued Stevie Y's interest. He's demanding "value-now" (translation: NHL-proven, ready to win) players.  

Larkin holds great value to the Red Wings (and every other team in the league), due to his very friendly $8.7 million cap hit with another five years to run. That's some pretty good value for a top-line center. 

Let's be honest here, though: Not every player in the league can join the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild or Vegas Golden Knights. Those three seem to be on everybody's wish list.  

The Wild, which have seemed to be the leading contender to inevitably land Larkin, already sent all of their best trade assets to the Vancouver Canucks this past season in the Quinn Hughes blockbuster, so their offer can't be that dynamic. 

The Panthers have already sent out a couple of their expendable solid NHL-ready pieces in other moves this offseason, in Evan Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevic. 

The Golden Knights might have an intriguing piece for Detroit in Tomas Hertl, a viable top-six center option. But they'd need to add more. Hertl has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason as the Knights look to improve their roster. 

In the meantime, Elliotte Friedman, on his latest 32 Thoughts podcast, has suggested the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes would be a good fit for Larkin. 

Elliotte Friedman floated the idea of Dylan Larkin to Carolina. 👀

Larkin would need to modify his no-trade list, but Friedman thinks the fit with the Hurricanes makes plenty of sense. 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/Gthr67CkrB

— NHLMuse (@NHL_Muse) July 6, 2026

The insider opined about why Carolina would be a team to watch on Larkin:

“Because, first of all, he’s Larkin, he’s a heck of a player, although he would have to change his list to go there. And secondly, he's also a great skater who would really fit in their system.” 

But for now, the stalemate continues, and we all should be prepared for the possibility of Larkin walking through that locker room door in Detroit when training camp opens in September.