The Detroit Red Wings and Dylan Larkin have been in a holding pattern ever since the franchise captain put in a trade request. As the league witnessed movement across the board, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman was steadfast in his belief that only an offer that would move the needle would get him to agree to shipping out the face of the franchise.
As it turns out, Larkin is reportedly trying to make Yzerman’s job a little bit easier, according to an update this week.
NHL Trade Rumors: Dylan Larkin Expands His Trade List
Trade lists are all the rage these days. Before Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, he reportedly submitted a four-team trade list that included the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida, and Carolina Hurricanes.
Larkin also submitted a three-team trade list to Detroit with some familiar names: Minnesota, Vegas, and Florida.
We can all but count Florida out of the Larkin sweepstakes, given *points everywhere*. Vegas can create some wiggle room, but the assets in question are unlikely to move the needle for Yzerman. Which leaves Minnesota, a team that has long been tipped as the ideal landing spot for the Team USA gold medalist.
Detroit beat reporter Ansar Khan is now reporting that Larkin has expanded that three-team trade list to include the Dallas Stars, who had a swing and a miss when they reached out to the Columbus Blue Jackets to trade for Larkin’s Team USA teammate, Zach Werenski.
That trade package featured 24-year-old defenseman Thomas Harley as the main piece. However, it’s difficult to see Dallas putting the same deal on the table for Larkin.
Larkin has five years left on an eight-year, $69.6 million contract, carrying a cap hit of $8.7 million; a pretty manageable sum for a 29-year-old center.
Dylan Larkin has expanded his trade list by 1: the Dallas Stars (per @AnsarKhanMLive).
Reports that the initial “may as well try” ask was for Wyatt Johnston, which was of course rejected. Noteworthy that DAL got Johnston with the pick they got when DET traded up for Cossa. #LGRW https://t.co/EMEkoA9qNY
— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) July 9, 2026
Larkin completed his 11th season with the Red Wings, but with 10 straight years (and counting) without a playoff berth, it appears he is itching for some playoff action, which explains the move to bring Dallas into the mix.
That said, there’s a cloud hanging over Dallas. Jason Robertson’s future is still unresolved, especially with the Pittsburgh Penguins lurking for an opportunity to prise him away from the franchise and pair him with Sidney Crosby.
If the Robertson thing goes off the rails, it’s difficult to see Larkin agreeing to a move to Dallas, even with the state tax rates in mind.
A swap could be under consideration, but Detroit would need assurances that Robertson would be willing to ink an extension with the franchise (which is why the rumored trade to Seattle fell apart, despite the Kraken offering an eight-year deal at an average annual value of $15 million).
As things stand, Dallas and Robertson are heading towards arbitration, which means he will receive a one-year deal that will walk him to free agency in 2027.
