Larkin Trade Request Signals Long Rebuild For Red Wings

Larkin’s $8.7 million AAV has drawn interest from the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning according to reports published June 10.

Expanded suitor list lengthens negotiation timeline

Pierre LeBrun reported that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman asked Larkin’s agent Pat Brisson to expand the player’s preferred destination list beyond the original two teams. Brisson responded positively to some degree after additional clubs contacted Yzerman directly. The extra suitors extend the period required to match Detroit’s asking price and increase the chance of a three-team structure.

The new collective bargaining agreement eliminated salary-retention chains, removing one traditional mechanism that previously allowed teams to spread cap hits across multiple clubs. Any deal involving Larkin must therefore rely on straight asset exchanges or limited retention by a single acquiring team. This constraint narrows the set of viable partners and raises the threshold of return Yzerman can demand.

Elliotte Friedman separately identified the Stars and Lightning as plausible destinations while noting that the Minnesota Wild and Florida Panthers had already submitted formal offers. The presence of multiple written proposals gives Yzerman leverage to reject any single package that falls short of his valuation. Each rejected bid adds days to the calendar and keeps Larkin’s future in limbo through the remainder of June.

Werenski situation creates parallel risk for Columbus

Zach Werenski, 28, won the Norris Trophy this season and remains under contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He and Larkin were teammates on the gold-medal United States squad at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Their close friendship raises the possibility that Werenski could submit his own trade request if Columbus again misses the playoffs in 2026-27.

LeBrun stated there is currently no indication Werenski wants out, yet he left open the chance that another missed postseason could alter that stance by summer 2027. Columbus would then face the same asset-depletion problem Detroit now confronts. Both organizations risk losing franchise pillars without receiving equivalent value in return.

Nurse precedent illustrates movement obstacles

Darnell Nurse, 31, submitted a trade request to the Edmonton Oilers this week and supplied a three-to-five-team list that includes the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. His $9.25 million AAV runs through the 2029-30 season and carries a full no-movement clause. The combination of high cap hit, long term, and declining performance metrics has already limited serious interest from other clubs.

If Larkin’s camp similarly insists on a narrow list and full protection, Detroit may be forced to accept a lesser return or retain salary itself. Either outcome reduces the prospect pool available for the next draft cycles and lengthens the rebuild.

Larkin’s departure would strip Detroit of its leading even-strength forward minutes and its most reliable face-off specialist. The resulting vacancy cannot be filled internally before the 2028 entry draft class reaches the NHL, pushing any credible contention window to 2030-31 at the earliest.