- Steve Yzerman confirmed Dylan Larkin asked for a trade out of Detroit
- The Red Wings GM made no promise that a deal gets done
- Read below for Larkin’s short list, his agent’s response, and the free agency fallout
Steve Yzerman finally put it on the record.
The Red Wings general manager confirmed Saturday that captain Dylan Larkin asked to be traded, his first public comments on it since the news broke earlier this month. He waited until the draft wrapped to say it, and he didn’t pretend a deal was close.
Yzerman walked reporters through how it started.
“Shortly after the season, I received a phone call from Dylan Larkin’s agent, informing me that Dylan would like to be traded,” Yzerman said. “A week or so after that, Dylan’s agent followed up with a short list of teams that Dylan would consider waiving his no-trade (clause) to go to.”
Athletic beat writer Max Bultman summed up the message from the GM’s chair:
The GM pointed to the five years left on Larkin’s deal and said his only loyalty is to the team.
“My job as the manager of the Detroit Red Wings is always to do what is in the best interest of the Detroit Red Wings, and I will act accordingly to that,” Yzerman said. “I cannot make any guarantees, or did not make any guarantees, that that request could or would be met.”
The contract is what gives Detroit all the leverage. Larkin signed an eight-year, $69.9 million extension in March 2023, so five years and a full no-trade clause leave Yzerman zero reason to rush. Larkin gave the front office a short list of approved destinations, and the GM has pushed the agent to widen it.
Pat Brisson, Larkin’s agent, gave his side to Pierre LeBrun. Brisson said the two camps have talked for about a month and agreed to work through it together, while acknowledging Detroit has to do what’s best for the Red Wings.
Free agency opens Wednesday, and the Larkin question hangs over everything Detroit wants to do next, including pending free agent Patrick Kane.
“We can talk about free agency later on,” Yzerman said. “Having said that, yes, we would love to have Patrick remain with the Red Wings.”
He made clear the rest of the roster talk waits until next week:
Larkin has spent his entire career in Michigan. He sits 10th on Detroit’s all-time scoring list with 643 points in 808 games and has worn the C since 2021.
What he hasn’t done is win here. The Wings have missed the playoffs 10 years running, the longest active drought in the league, and Larkin has five career playoff games to show for it.
He got his first taste of real winning in February, gold with Team USA in Milan. Getting more of it might mean leaving the only franchise he has ever known.
