Dylan Larkin’s reported trade request from the Detroit Red Wings has quickly become one of the biggest storylines of the NHL offseason.
The situation has also become even more complicated after Steve Yzerman stepped down from his role as general manager and moved into a senior advisory position, with Detroit yet to name his replacement.
Now, one former NHL general manager believes the damage between Larkin and the Red Wings may already be too significant to repair.
Former GM Says Red Wings Are at a Crossroads
Larkin’s reported desire to leave Detroit would mark a major turning point for the Waterford, Michigan, native, who has spent his entire 11-year NHL career with the Red Wings.
After years of missing the playoffs, growing frustration with the team’s direction, and the experience of winning Olympic gold with Team USA, Larkin is reportedly looking for a better opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup.
During an appearance on 100% Hockey With Millard & Shannon, former NHL general manager Doug MacLean was asked whether a new GM could convince Larkin to stay in Detroit.
MacLean was not optimistic. “Obviously, this has been going on for a couple of years, I guess, with Larkin and Steve. I don’t know if it fixes it. I mean, he’s gone so far down the road, I’m not sure it’s fixable. Even if a new guy comes in, how do you fix that when your captain, who has four or five years left in his contract, says, ‘I want out’? How does that get fixed? I don’t know,” he said.
“If you’re the new GM, you would certainly try to fix it. I don’t know if it’s fixable,” MacLean added.
MacLean’s comments highlight the difficult situation facing Detroit’s next general manager.
The former GM also noted that while Larkin is an exceptional, two-way top-six center, he is a “very good center iceman” rather than an irreplaceable, generational “franchise” player (like a Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon).
That distinction could affect Larkin’s trade value. While he remains a highly valuable player, Detroit may not receive a superstar-level return.
Larkin also holds significant leverage through his full no-trade clause and must approve any deal. His reported preferred destinations include the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars.
That significantly limits Detroit’s options.
The Red Wings would likely want a package built around an NHL-ready top-six forward or top-four defenseman, a high-end prospect, and a first-round pick, but tight salary-cap situations among his preferred destinations could make a trade difficult.
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MacLean believes a new general manager would have no choice but to try to repair the relationship. Whether that is still possible, however, remains the biggest question.
Larkin may have spent his entire career with the Red Wings, but if MacLean is right, the relationship between the captain and the franchise may have already reached the point where a trade is the only realistic outcome.
