Detroit's new front office faces Larkin and Edvinsson decisions

Simon Edvinsson, the sixth-overall pick in the 2021 draft and now a 23-year-old restricted free agent, seeks upwards of nine million dollars annually.

Larkin contract limits trade options

Dylan Larkin holds a five-year contract that lists only a short set of acceptable destinations. Those clubs recognize Detroit’s playoff drought and refuse to send back assets that would accelerate the rebuild. The resulting standoff leaves the Red Wings with minimal leverage in any potential deal.

The front-office transition creates an opening to retain Larkin for at least one more season. Internal candidates such as Sean Horcoff or Kris Draper would preserve continuity, while an external hire like Brendan Shanahan could reset the relationship. Either path reduces the immediate pressure to move the captain.

Larkin’s presence next season would stabilize the locker room while the new management evaluates the roster. His cap hit remains fixed, so the team avoids an immediate salary-cap hole that a forced trade would create.

Edvinsson RFA market sets new benchmark

Simon Edvinsson enters negotiations after comparable restricted free agents received substantial raises. Jamie Drysdale signed at 6.5 million and Brandt Clarke at 7.5 million. Edvinsson’s camp is expected to target nine million, a figure that would exceed both precedents.

Detroit must decide whether to match any offer sheet or negotiate directly. The Red Wings hold matching rights, yet the cap allocation affects the ability to add complementary pieces around the young defenseman.

A nine-million-dollar deal for a 23-year-old would consume roughly 10 percent of the projected 2026-27 ceiling. That commitment leaves less room for additional depth signings and forces the front office to weigh long-term roster construction against short-term competitiveness.

Front-office change shapes both outcomes

The choice of general manager determines whether Larkin stays or departs and how aggressively the team pursues Edvinsson. An internal promotion signals continuity and likely keeps Larkin in place through the coming campaign. An external hire opens the possibility of renewed dialogue but also risks accelerating a trade if the new voice favors a full reset.

Edvinsson’s eventual number will test the new regime’s ability to balance immediate needs against future draft capital. Matching a high offer sheet preserves the player but tightens the budget; letting him walk via offer sheet yields assets yet removes a top-pair prospect from the pipeline.

The decisions intersect because Larkin’s retention or departure alters the timeline for contention. Edvinsson’s contract sets the cost of keeping a cornerstone defenseman who could anchor the blue line for the next decade.