The nature of a potential trade involving Dylan Larkin for the Detroit Red Wings hinges on the specific team they engage with.
Not All Teams Can Offer ‘Hockey Trades’; Some Only Futures
When asked about the return the Detroit Red Wings might expect for Dylan Larkin, which teams could be interested, and what they might have to give up, David Pagnotta of Daily Faceoff discussed various possibilities.
Tyler Yaremchuk posed the question of whether a Larkin trade would resemble a blockbuster deal like Matthew Tkachuk for Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar, suggesting a “hockey trade” involving established players, or more of a future-focused package akin to Quinn Hughes for prospects like Zeev Buium and other future assets. He inquired which direction seemed more probable.
Pagnotta suggested that a deal with Minnesota would likely lean towards acquiring young players and draft picks, aligning with a futures-oriented approach. He expressed difficulty in envisioning a scenario where Vegas makes sense for a “hockey trade,” unless it involved a player like Tomas Hertl. Pagnotta also doubted Vegas would trade Pavel Dorofeyev, despite his RFA status and the team’s ability to accommodate his contract with Alex Pietrangelo on LTIR, questioning if giving up a 40-goal scorer for him would be a wise move.
Florida was identified as an interesting option, potentially combining their ninth overall pick with other assets. While San Jose possesses good young talent, Pagnotta doubted they would trade their second overall pick. Dallas was also mentioned, but their financial situation and internal roster decisions made a deal seem uncertain.
Pagnotta concluded that this situation places Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman in a difficult position. He suggested that Yzerman might be compelled to pursue a deal focused on future assets, which could prolong the team’s rebuild rather than immediately boosting their playoff chances.
