Red Wings Suspend Dylan Larkin as Trade Talks Escalate

Detroit’s trade discussions over Dylan Larkin have reached a new stage: the Red Wings have suspended their former captain without pay after he told the team he would no longer play for them. General manager Shawn Horcoff said Detroit will keep exploring trade options, but any deal needs Larkin’s approval and must serve the organization’s long-term aims.

The team’s position came after Larkin sat out a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Earlier that day, head coach Todd McLellan confirmed Larkin wouldn’t play, while Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the plan was for him to remain out until a trade. Friedman also said Horcoff would address the situation. Friedman’s report and Pierre LeBrun’s TSN report described talks as having escalated, though neither report said a deal was imminent.

Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, said his client had “enough of the situation” and had been “very professional and cooperative through this process,” LeBrun reported. Horcoff’s message was more pointed: Larkin had informed Detroit he would no longer play for the club, and the team responded with the suspension. That puts a clearer boundary around a dispute that had already become difficult to manage in public.

Horcoff’s full remarks said that a trade would require Larkin’s approval and would have to support Detroit’s long-term goals. He also praised the coaches and players for remaining focused on competing. The conditions matter: Detroit is willing to consider a deal, but the club has signaled it won’t simply move its top center to end the standoff.

Larkin remains a major piece of the roster even as the relationship strains. He had six points in 10 games and was playing the most minutes per game among Detroit forwards. He also held a central role on both special teams units. A trade would leave a substantial hole down the middle, and replacing that impact while keeping the Red Wings competitive is the challenge in front of Horcoff.

Friedman raised another practical concern: an injury could hurt the trade discussions already underway. Keeping Larkin out of the lineup limits that risk while the teams continue talking. That decision now has a different weight after Detroit’s suspension, which formalizes the standoff while leaving the door open to a deal.

The contract adds to Larkin’s value and makes a direct comparison difficult. His cap hit is $8.7 million through the 2030-31 season. Established top-six centers with that much term rarely become available, so the return will depend on which clubs can offer a young player who can contribute immediately, along with other assets.

Trade comparisons set a wide range

The Jack Eichel deal offers a high-end reference point, though Eichel was a stronger offensive producer than Larkin. When Buffalo traded its former No. 1 center, it received Alex Tuch, a young NHL power forward with a 50-plus-point season on his record, Peyton Krebs, a recent first-round pick selected 17th in 2019, and conditional first- and second-round picks. That package is a ceiling for what Detroit might target, not a prediction of what it will receive.

The January 2025 trade that sent J.T. Miller from Vancouver to the New York Rangers may offer a more grounded comparison. Miller had scored 37 goals and 103 points the season before the deal, more than Larkin has produced. Vancouver also faced pressure from a rift between Miller and Elias Pettersson, which president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said was becoming untenable. Miller also had a full no-move clause.

Detroit has its own complications: Larkin also holds a no-move clause, and he must approve any destination. Still, the source of pressure looks different. The Canucks had a player conflict pressing them toward a deal; Detroit’s concern is balancing a difficult situation with a playoff drought and a roster built around several prime-aged stars.

Vancouver’s return included NHL-ready center Filip Chytil, near NHL-ready defense prospect Victor Mancini and a conditional first-round pick. Chytil had shown offensive ability, including a 45-point season, but concussion issues affected his value. Mancini had less prospect recognition, though a strong preseason suggested room to develop. That package gives Detroit a plausible lower benchmark for a Larkin trade.

Minnesota has been active

The Minnesota Wild’s need for a true No. 1 center makes them a natural contender. The club is reportedly willing to discuss young forward Danila Yurov, and LeBrun said Minnesota had made the most offers to Detroit since June. Yurov could fit Detroit’s interest in a young player capable of stepping into the lineup.

Larkin has indicated he would accept a trade only to certain teams, according to earlier reporting. That limits Detroit’s options and makes the quality of available young players central to negotiations. The suspension sharpens the urgency, but the Red Wings still have to weigh an immediate roster hole against the value of the assets they can obtain.

Photos courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images.