- No team has made more trade offers to the Red Wings for Dylan Larkin than the Wild
- Minnesota still hasn’t found a package that works for Detroit
- Read below for LeBrun’s full take and why Quinn Hughes is part of it
The Minnesota Wild have been the most active team chasing Dylan Larkin. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun wrote in his latest NHL rumblings that “no team has made more trade offers to Detroit over the past few months than Minnesota.”
That is a bigger deal than it sounds. Detroit still hasn’t said yes to any of them.
LeBrun explained why the Red Wings keep passing on what the Wild have sent over.
“After nearly emptying the cupboards last December in the Hughes blockbuster with Vancouver, it’s been difficult to find a combination package that works for the Red Wings. It certainly hasn’t been for a lack of trying, though.”
Minnesota gave up a haul to land Quinn Hughes from the Canucks last December, and that trade is the whole problem. The Wild don’t have much left that Detroit wants.
LeBrun also tied Larkin to the Hughes situation. Hughes is a pending UFA with no extension, and Chris Johnston said earlier this week the Wild at least have to think about moving him.
“Still, now would be the time for Guerin to feel even more urgency. Bringing in Larkin would send a strong message to Hughes. It could be enough to convince him to extend. And Minnesota has been part of Larkin’s original top three teams from the get-go.”
Minnesota has been on Larkin’s list since the beginning. He won Olympic gold in Milan with a U.S. team Bill Guerin put together.
The Wild are also one of the 10 teams on his expanded trade list:
Larkin is signed through 2030-31, so there’s no clock on Detroit. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff holds the pen, and the Wild face the March 1 deadline with Hughes still unsigned.
Hellebuyck is now in New Jersey, so Larkin is the biggest name left on the trade board. For Guerin, the next call to Detroit needs a different package than the last one.
