The Detroit Red Wings may be on the brink of a significant shift in their franchise landscape. NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has reported that Dylan Larkin, the veteran forward and the last remaining player from the team’s last Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in 2016, has requested a trade from Detroit.
Friedman shared the news during a segment on Sportsnet, stating, “According to multiple sources, Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from Detroit. There’s a lot to unpack here.” However, he noted the silence from all parties involved, including Larkin, his agent Pat Brisson, and Red Wings Executive Vice-President & GM Steve Yzerman.
Larkin, who hails from Michigan and played for the University of Michigan, was drafted by the Red Wings in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. He was appointed the 37th captain in the team’s history in January 2021, a role he has embraced as a leader in a rebuilding franchise.
The Red Wings are currently enduring the NHL’s longest active postseason drought, now spanning over a decade. This situation has reportedly led to frustrations for Larkin, especially following the team’s failure to bolster its roster at the NHL Trade Deadline after missing the playoffs in the 2024-25 season. Larkin’s disappointment over GM Steve Yzerman’s inaction may have contributed to the growing tension between the two.
Having signed an eight-year contract extension in 2023, Larkin still has five years remaining on his deal, which carries an $8.7 million cap hit. Importantly, he holds a full no-trade clause for the next two seasons, after which it will convert to a 10-team trade list.
In his NHL career spanning 808 games, Larkin has accumulated 276 goals and 367 assists, totaling 643 points, which ranks him 10th all-time in Red Wings history. As the situation develops, fans will be watching closely to see how this potential trade request impacts both Larkin and the Red Wings moving forward.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
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