Report: Red Wings Trying to 'Reconcile' With Dylan Larkin

The Dylan Larkin saga in Detroit continues to drag on. And with it, come numerous and wildly varying reports. While we heard recently from Red Wings beat writer Helene St. James that Larkin is still holding firm on his trade demand even with the departure of hockey boss Steve Yzerman, now comes a report that the Red Wings are, in fact, working to 'reconcile' with their captain. 

Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco said on the Campbell vs. Gallo show this past week that the Yzerman ouster was part of this plan. Stevie Y is, however, still staying on as an advisor, but that shouldn't stand in the way. 

Speaking with a GM about a month ago, the opinion I got was that they are trying to reconcile with Larkin and part of that was moving Steve Yzerman out of the GM chair...

I believe it was Elliotte Friedman who said that Yzerman will not have any role in hockey ops. He'll stay on as an advisor, but to ownership, not to hockey ops. And I think they are really trying to drill home to any new GM, and maybe indirectly to Larkin, that, 'No, Steve Yzerman's time running hockey ops is done.'

Di Marco goes on to add that getting a deal done that the Wings would be happy with is a pipe dream at this point, as they continue to ask for a No. 1 center in return for the 30-year-old Larkin.

Yzerman exit part of Red Wings' plan to reconcile with Larkin

"Among first-line centers, he probably is more on the lower end of the scale... I honestly think that this entire play of the management overhaul was in part to try and settle things (down) with Dylan Larkin, and hopefully get him to stay and reconsider his decision."

The insider does believe that he will start the season in Detroit. 

Based on what they're reportedly asking for, the only path I see at this point in time is for him to stay.