Red Wings' Dylan Larkin Linked to Mammoth
O'Hara laid out the case this week, arguing a Larkin trade to Utah "may make more sense than ever" given how far the Mammoth have pushed to win now.
Utah has spent the offseason loading up with veterans like Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck, and Trocheck already shares history with Larkin after the two helped Team USA win Olympic gold together in Milan.
Why The Pieces Actually Fit
Utah has real draft capital and a deep prospect pool to work with, including names like Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers, Ethan Belchetz, and Dmitri Simashev.
The bigger question mark isn't Utah's ability to put together a package.
It's whether Larkin is willing to expand a list that currently includes Florida, Vegas, and Minnesota, but not Utah.
Will Dylan Larkin begin the season:
— NHLMuse (@NHL_Muse) August 30, 2026
— As captain of the Detroit Red Wings
— On the Red Wings
— On a different team
🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/3SU6wYBJap
O'Hara's argument centers on Larkin's own patience running out after years of waiting for Detroit to become a contender, something his gold medal run may have only reinforced.
"He's been remarkably patient, but there comes a point when patience gives way to frustration," O'Hara wrote.
What Would Make It Complicated
Leaving wouldn't be simple.
Larkin is a Waterford, Michigan native who grew up watching the Red Wings, eventually wore the captain's "C," and became the face of the franchise. O'Hara compared the situation to Matt Duchene's emotional departure from Colorado, and noted a family dimension too.
Larkin and his wife welcomed their daughter, Lennyn, in May 2025, meaning any move carries much more to consider now.
REPORT: The expectation is Dylan Larkin will attend camp and play for the Red Wings this season, per @asktheduffer
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) August 17, 2026
Management hopes that the removal of Steve Yzerman will help ease tensions. pic.twitter.com/vMmtXKZbkf
Utah's own interest has cooled and warmed throughout the summer. Detroit Hockey Now's Bob Duffer reported in June that the Mammoth were viewed as a possible favorite given their asset base, though other reporting since then has suggested Utah pivoted its immediate offseason focus elsewhere after signing Trocheck and Lee outright.
For now, nothing has changed on paper. Larkin hasn't added Utah to his list, and there's no indication the Mammoth have made a formal offer. But as O'Hara's piece makes clear, the argument for why it should happen is only getting louder.
