Dylan Larkin Requests Trade from Red Wings, Multiple NHL Teams Interested

In a shocking turn of events for the Detroit Red Wings, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday that captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade from the team he has solely represented since entering the league. Larkin, who was drafted 15th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft, is the last active player on Detroit’s roster from their last playoff appearance in 2016, which coincided with his rookie season.

After a decade of playoff droughts, compounded by reports of a strained relationship with general manager Steve Yzerman, Larkin appears ready to explore opportunities elsewhere. His eight-year contract extension signed in 2023 includes a full no-trade clause, giving him significant leverage in this situation.

Friedman, during his “32 Thoughts” podcast, mentioned several teams that could be potential landing spots for Larkin, including the New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers. However, he emphasized that the Minnesota Wild seem to be the frontrunner in this scenario. “I know a lot of people suspect New Jersey would make a lot of sense,” Friedman noted. “But I think the number one team everyone’s looking at is Minnesota.”

Larkin has ties to Wild GM Bill Guerin, who managed Team USA during the 2026 Winter Olympics, and he has played alongside Wild players Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes on the national team. While Friedman expressed uncertainty about the Wild’s ability to include pending unrestricted free agent Michael McCarron in a trade, he mentioned that center Danila Yurov and former Michigan State prospect Charlie Stramel could be viable trade chips.

“There’s a deal there – Yurov, Charlie Stramel, and who knows what else,” Friedman stated. Stramel, drafted 21st overall by the Wild in 2023, had an impressive college season with 19 goals and 25 assists in 37 games, while Yurov, selected 24th overall in 2022, contributed 12 goals and 15 assists in 73 games during his rookie year, adding to his postseason performance with another goal and two assists in nine games.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.