- Dylan Larkin asked the Red Wings for a trade on June 4 and handed Detroit a three-team list
- The captain will reportedly only waive his no-trade clause for Florida, Minnesota or Vegas
- Read below for the full breakdown and why the Golden Knights keep coming up
Dylan Larkin wants out of Detroit.
The Red Wings captain handed general manager Steve Yzerman a trade request on June 4, and he came with a short list. Larkin will only waive his full no-trade clause for three teams: the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights.
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press first reported the three names. Frank Seravalli passed the same trio along.
Here is how Seravalli laid it out:
That is a tight window for Yzerman to work in. Larkin, 29, has spent his entire career in Detroit and is signed through 2030-31 at an $8.7 million cap hit. The no-trade clause means he holds most of the cards on where he lands.
His frustration is not hard to trace. Larkin has reached the playoffs once in 11 seasons with the Red Wings. He just put up 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points, his fifth straight year with at least 30 goals and 65 points, and he is ready to play hockey in June.
All three teams on his list can offer that. Vegas keeps coming up the loudest.
David Pagnotta connected the dots on the Golden Knights fit:
Larkin and Jack Eichel are close friends, which makes Vegas an easy sell on paper. The catch is the Golden Knights are still busy with a Stanley Cup Final and would have to sort out the money before chasing another top-six center.
Yzerman does not have to move fast, but the leverage sits with Larkin. Three teams know they are the only ones he will accept, and Detroit has to find a return worth letting its captain walk.
