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Dylan Larkin Chase Not Over; MN Wild Patience Paying Off?
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- Dylan Larkin Chase Not Over; MN Wild Patience Paying Off?
USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Wild were forced to give up on their offseason dream of trading for Detroit Red Wings captain, Dylan Larkin last week.
When free agency opened and available talent started coming off the board, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin had no choice but to fill in some rather gaping roster holes, without Larkin as part of the plan.
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Or so we thought.
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While Minnesota would certainly need to ship some money out to make it work, Michael Russo (The Athletic) confirmed on his latest episode of " Worst Seats in the House " that Guerin isn't giving up on his Larkin chase just yet.
MN Wild Still in on Larkin, Florida and Vegas out?
From the sounds of it, Billy remains in regular talks with Red Wings' GM Steve Yzerman and a deal could still be reached this summer. In fact, Russo went on to say that, at least for now, the Wild are leading a one-horse race for Dylan Larkin.
Remember, Larkin only had three teams on his original trade list. According to the longtime Minnesota Wild insider, the Panthers have definitely moved on and it appears Vegas has too.
"Look, I don't blame Steve Yzerman for being for digging in his heels here. Like right now, Dylan Larkin has put him in a position where there are three teams that we know that he wants to go to and two of them right now don't look like they have any interest in him.
Florida definitely doesn't and Vegas doesn't look like they're positioning themselves to get him at least as of now. So right now the only bidder at the table seems to be Minnesota that he's willing to go to. So they so Dylan's put them in a position where um you know he only wants to go to one team and the Wild just don't have the prospects that seem to excite [Yzerman] right now."
"They are continuing their pursuit of Larkin and I believe they believe that there is a path to get Larkin. So if they get Larkin they are going to have to move money. Larkin Makes $8.7 [million] and they only have $2.9 [million] left. They are going to have to move money."
Related: Jack Hughes to MN Wild Trade Rumors Back Up?
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There were some reports of other teams trying to get involved with Larkin a couple of weeks ago, but by the time the draft rolled around last month, Florida had already traded for Brady Tkachuk . That left rumors swirling on draft day. But when no Larkin move came, the Golden Knights may have moved on, just like the Panthers.
Dylan Larkin trying to force Yzerman's hand?
So if the 30-year-old Gold Medal winning center refuses to add more teams to his trade list, it could leave Yzerman in a really tough spot. With Vegas and Florida out of the running, Detroit would either have to negotiate a trade exclusively with the MN Wild OR call their captain's bluff and make him play in a Red Wings uniform next season.
Is Dylan Larkin really going to sit out games and miss paychecks to prove a point? I can't see it. But I'm not sure that's the locker room recipe Detroit wants next season, either. So… the game of chicken between two old friends (Yzerman and Guerin) continues, at least for the time being.
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But if what Russo talked about in his podcast is correct, then you'd have to think that staying patient will only help Bill Guerin. One thing he was clear and to the point about too: There is no way in God's green earth that the Minnesota Wild are sending Matt Boldy East in any deal that brings back Larkin.
Fan Question : "Billy would never include Boldy in a Larkin trade right?"
Russo : "Right."
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