The Detroit Red Wings are working through the Dylan Larkin trade saga as we speak. Larkin, the captain of the Red Wings, has requested a trade away from his hometown team. There’s definitely no shortage of interested teams. Nonetheless, it appears as if Larkin’s interest is kind of limited.
Larkin initially submitted a listing of three teams he would approve a trade to. Those teams are the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Florida Panthers. A recent report from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, though, indicated the Red Wings captain could also be willing to be flexible.
“(General manager Steve Yzerman) went back to (Larkin’s agent Pat Brisson) and asked to expand their original list of three teams, and my sense is that Brisson was receptive to that to a point. So I don’t think we’re just coping with the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers anymore,” LeBrun reported on Wednesday evening.
This complete saga has no true winners. The Red Wings have a cloud over their head, with the hometown captain wanting out. This can also be not the primary time Steve Yzerman has frayed a relationship with a player to the purpose of a trade. And Larkin’s initially narrow trade list definitely didn’t help matters.
None of that actually matters at this point, nonetheless. A very powerful thing is finding a resolution to Larkin’s trade request. If the Red Wings captain is open to expanding his trade list, listed below are three teams that he must consider joining.
Dylan Larkin should consider joining Sharks, Macklin Celebrini
The San Jose Sharks are the one team on this list to not make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But in addition they aren’t too far off from making the postseason, either. San Jose already has a longtime superstar in Macklin Celebrini. Now, San Jose has to construct around him.
Larkin would serve because the second-line center in San Jose. He could act as a high-energy two-way pivot who can contribute in all areas of the sport. He could help provide the scoring depth the Sharks desperately need behind Celebrini. Last 12 months, the young Sharks phenom set a franchise record with 115 points. His next closest teammate only had 59 points.
The Sharks have a young core that has already shown lots of promise. In a weak Western Conference, San Jose could make noise sooner relatively than later. Larkin could enjoy lots of playoff hockey if he were open to joining the Sharks.
Geese are a promising, up-and-coming team
The Anaheim Geese broke their postseason drought in 2026 and even won a series. Their young core of Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Jackson Lacombe made a ton of noise within the Pacific Division. The rebuild is over, and the chase for a Stanley Cup is starting.
Larkin would again work as a second-line center for the Geese. And that is definitely an area they need a lift in. Mason McTavish had a rough season for Anaheim after signing a contract extension. His future in Orange County is even up within the air after being scratched within the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Geese aren’t immediate Stanley Cup contenders. Nonetheless, the pieces are definitely in place. Larkin would not must worry about being the No. 1 option on this Anaheim squad, and the likelihood of him making the playoffs is high with a team like this. It seems like a logical fit for the present Red Wings captain.
Stars give Red Wings’ captain an instantaneous likelihood to win
If the one thing on Larkin’s mind is winning immediately, then the Dallas Stars are right there among the many most rational suits. Dallas made three straight Western Conference Finals prior to the 2026 postseason. Though they were first-round exits this 12 months, they’ve the pieces to proceed contending moving forward.
The Stars are an interesting team on this discussion for just a few reasons. The essential issue with Dallas’s viability is its cap situation. Dallas traded Mason Marchment last summer to alleviate their salary cap crunch. This 12 months, they should resign star winger Jason Robertson while only having about $10 million in available space.
How the Stars would fit Larkin into their cap structure stays to be seen. In any event, the pitch here is kind of easy. In the event you want to win a Stanley Cup inside the subsequent few seasons, few teams provide a greater likelihood than Dallas does.
The Detroit Red Wings are working through the Dylan Larkin trade saga as we speak. Larkin, the captain of the Red Wings, has requested a trade away from his hometown team. There’s definitely no shortage of interested teams. Nonetheless, it appears as if Larkin’s interest is kind of limited. Larkin initially submitted a listing of three teams he would approve a trade to.