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Larkin Trade Request Gets Harder as Prices Go Up
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Larkin Trade Request Gets Harder as Prices Go Up
The post Larkin Trade Request Gets Harder as Prices Go Up appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectIMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It's no secret that the Red Wings and Dylan Larkin are at an impasse.
The perennial 30 goal scoring 29 year old centerman asked out of Hockeytown, the team he's captained since 2021. Meanwhile, the Red Wings front office, led by GM and former Stanley Cup winning Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman has said in no uncertain terms that his interest is in making the Red Wings a better team, not making Larkin happy.
When it comes to Larkin's trade request, the largest problem for Detroit is how Larkin places in the open market both within his own evaluation and the league's. Larkin gave the Red Wings a three team trade list, all of whom are perennial Stanley Cup contenders.
That means hev alues himself as a cup contending caliber player, and that sets his price at a certain level.
Larkin is the no. 1 center for the Red Wings. He likely wouldn't be on the Panthers or Golden Knights. For the Wild and many other teams around the league, meanwhile, Larkin would immediately be their 1C. And around the league, the cost for a player who can play first line center is only going up.
The Anaheim Ducks are weighing whether Leo Carlsson is worth more as four first round picks or as an 18 million dollar per year golden goose.
Vincent Trochek, who many had linked to the Red Wings as a 2C before Larkin's trade request went public, went for a second pairing defenseman, a third round pick, and a highly rated center prospect pushing to make his NHL debut in the next year or two.
Larkin's cost then, starts at an active player and two+ first round picks.
Now, with Carlsson making Larkin's contract that much more valuable, Larkin's landing spots are feeling pressure from the market.
However, none of the teams on Larkin's list had or were willing to use the assets for him even before Carlsson's record breaking offer sheet was signed, otherwise a trade would have been made.
Especially since Yzerman isn't looking for futures.
Most back half of the first round picks don't ever actually live up to the pedigree. Only about 30% of players taken from pick 15 onwards in the first round play 200+ NHL games. Without expanding his trade list, Larkin is making it more difficult for whatever his final destination is. They all know each other's cards and what the others can bid, and they aren't motivated to call or up their own bid because they know the pool is shallow.
Other teams are opening their pocketbooks and reaching into their prospect pool to trade for players who don't have as good a contract as Larkin or perform at the same level as he does. Even if they can't currently bid on him, that drives his price up, at least in Yzerman's eyes.
Larkin's contractual no movement clause does eventually open up to a ten team list in 2028.
Whether or not the rest of the league, and Larkin, are willing to is another matter.
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