Red Wings Suspend Dylan Larkin as Trade Talks Escalate
Detroit’s trade talks over Dylan Larkin have reached a sharper stage: the Red Wings say the center has stopped playing until he’s moved, and the team has suspended him without pay. General manager Shawn Horcoff says Detroit will keep exploring deals, but any trade needs Larkin’s approval and must serve the club’s long-term plans.
That public split changes the negotiations. Detroit still controls the timing and terms of a deal, but it must now weigh the cost of holding a key player out against the return it can secure. Larkin’s no-move clause gives him a say in his destination, while his absence leaves a significant gap in the lineup.
A dispute becomes public
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said Larkin would miss Detroit’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Earlier reports from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the team’s current plan was to keep Larkin out until a trade, while Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that trade discussions had escalated. LeBrun cautioned that more activity didn’t guarantee an imminent deal.
Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, offered a brief account of the player’s position through TSN’s Pierre LeBrun: “Dylan’s had enough of the situation. We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process.” Horcoff’s statement struck a firmer organizational tone, saying Larkin had informed Detroit he would no longer play for the team. Horcoff said the club was “disappointed by his decision” and had suspended him without pay.
Horcoff also confirmed Detroit would continue to explore trade opportunities. Because Larkin must approve a destination, the club’s options depend on both finding an acceptable offer and identifying a team he’ll join. Horcoff said any deal must be in Detroit’s best interests and support its long-term goals. He also thanked the coaches and players for staying focused on competing.
The decision to keep Larkin out may also reflect the risk of injury during active negotiations. Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast that an injury could damage trade discussions. With Larkin now suspended, Detroit has made clear he won’t return to the lineup while the dispute continues.
What Detroit would be trading
Larkin is a difficult player to replace. A former captain and long-time centerpiece of Detroit’s roster, he remains the team’s No. 1 center and plays a major role on both special-teams units. He had six points in 10 games this season, and despite losing the captaincy, he was still logging more minutes per game than any other Red Wings forward.
His contract adds to his appeal and complicates Detroit’s valuation. Larkin carries an $8.7 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season, a long commitment at a salary that could be viewed as market-rate or below it. Established top-six centers rarely reach the trade market, especially with substantial term remaining. That scarcity gives Detroit reason to seek a high-quality return, though Larkin’s limited list of acceptable destinations may narrow the field.
A recent high-end reference point is the trade that sent Jack Eichel from Buffalo to Vegas. Eichel was a stronger offensive producer than Larkin, despite injury concerns, so that deal looks more like an upper limit than a likely template. Buffalo received forward Alex Tuch, who already had a 50-plus-point season, prospect Peyton Krebs, the 17th pick in 2019, and conditional first- and second-round picks.
The Vancouver Canucks’ January 2025 trade of J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers may offer a closer comparison. Miller’s scoring had also surpassed Larkin’s, including a 37-goal, 103-point campaign the season before the trade. But Vancouver faced a serious internal dispute between Miller and Elias Pettersson. Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said the rift was becoming untenable, weakening Vancouver’s negotiating position. Miller’s full no-move clause also constrained the team.
Vancouver still landed center Filip Chytil, defensive prospect Victor Mancini, and a conditional first-round pick. Chytil had shown scoring ability, including a 45-point season, but concussion issues clouded his value. Mancini was a less heralded prospect whose strong preseason suggested room to develop. That return gives Detroit a rough floor to consider, though the differences between the players and circumstances make direct comparisons imperfect.
The competition for a center
Detroit’s challenge is to get meaningful value without taking a major step backward. The team has endured the league’s longest playoff drought and has several players in their prime. A package built mainly around distant draft picks may not address the immediate roster need created by trading away the club’s top center.
That puts young, NHL-ready talent at the center of the search. The Minnesota Wild have a longstanding need for a No. 1 center and are reportedly willing to discuss forward Danila Yurov. Wild general manager Bill Guerin has pursued Larkin aggressively. LeBrun said on TSN that Minnesota had made the most trade offers to Detroit since June.
Other interested teams will need to match the quality of Minnesota’s young-player offers, or present something stronger, to remain competitive. The Wild’s interest gives Detroit a potential path to a player who could contribute soon, but Larkin’s approved destinations and Horcoff’s stated preference for a deal aligned with the organization’s goals will shape the outcome.
Detroit now has to balance two pressures: protecting the value of a rare top center and resolving a public standoff with a player who has said he won’t play until traded. The suspension sets the terms of the immediate situation. The return Detroit can negotiate will determine whether the club can replace enough of Larkin’s on-ice value while keeping its longer-term plans intact.
Photos courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
