Elliotte Friedman has directly confirmed that Dylan Larkin’s trade demand from Detroit has not advanced.
On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Kyle Bukauskas directly questioned Friedman if the request was still pending.
Friedman stated, “I believe it does for the time being, because we’ll see what the new general manager comes in and says and how Larkin feels.”
That isn’t a rejection. According to an insider, the scenario remains quite active as training camp approaches.
In addition, Friedman’s reaction indicates that Detroit’s front office is up to something more significant.
The notion that a new GM may influence how this plays out indicates that the Red Wings’ approach to their captain’s future might be changing.
With 34 goals and 33 assists in 74 games last season, Larkin still leads Detroit’s offense by a wide margin with 67 points.
Dylan Larkin still wants out of Detroit, according to Friedman.
He also had 14 power play goals and 9 game-winning goals, the kind of stats a reconstructing club despises losing.
As Detroit’s captain, Larkin has an $8,700,000 cap charge, which makes any trade request seem more significant than usual.
Larkin hasn’t been able to silence any of the commotion around him after Detroit ended last season in the middle of the pack, 16th overall with 92 points (41-31-10).
General manager Steve Yzerman and head coach Todd McLellan must now deal with a captain who wishes to quit, and a shift in front office personnel may still be on the horizon.
This combination makes this one of the most unresolved circumstances heading into camp anywhere in the league right now.
While this isn’t the first time Larkin’s name has come up in trade rumors, hearing Friedman verify it firsthand shifts the tone of the talk.
Even if Friedman’s response wasn’t spectacular, it didn’t have to be. This narrative may survive the whole summer just by verifying that the request remains valid.
Larkin’s name isn’t going silent, and neither is the market keeping a close watch on every move the Red Wings make next, regardless of Detroit’s decision.
