Best Dylan Larkin destinations after stunning Red Wings trade request

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Best Dylan Larkin destinations after stunning Red Wings trade request

Tristin McKinstry, ClutchPoints

Thu, Jun 4, 2026 ·

4 min read

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The Detroit Red Wings collapsed once again at the end of the 2025-26 season. In late January, Dylan Larkin and his teammates were first in the East and seemingly headed toward a playoff spot. However, the team fell apart in the spring. And it looks as if Larkin has had enough in Hockeytown.

Larkin has reportedly requested a trade from the Red Wings , as first reported by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. It's not known at this time what exactly caused the captain to make this request. However, ESPN's Emily Kaplan did report that bad blood has existed between Larkin and general manager Steve Yzerman since at least 2023.

Some of this was seen at the end of the 2024-25 season. Larkin publicly criticized his general manager for not doing more to help the team make the playoffs. In 2026, Yzerman made his move, acquiring Justin Faulk in a trade with the St. Louis Blues at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.

For now, everything is speculation. We have no official statements from anyone. There will likely be silence on this matter until a trade is made or until Yzerman speaks around the NHL Draft.

With the news still fresh in everyone's minds, let's take a look at three teams that make a lot of sense as landing spots for disgruntled Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin.

Kings could replace Anze Kopitar with Dylan Larkin

The Los Angeles Kings are going to be without Anze Kopitar for the first time in 20 years. Kopitar is retiring after the Kings were swept in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche . He goes down as the greatest Kings captain in history. And he leaves behind a huge hole at the top of the lineup.

The Kings have youngster Quinton Byfield waiting to take the reins as the next long-term, top-line center. However, Los Angeles could also use more scoring punch. And having a center of Larkin's caliber certainly won't hurt this team.

What exactly Los Angeles can give up in a Larkin trade is up for debate. Ideally, the Red Wings would want Byfield as part of the return. If the captain has his heart set on joining Los Angeles, though, he could play hardball with his no-trade clause. In any event, Larkin would immediately improve the Kings and give them a shot at continuing their playoff contention window.

Penguins may go all-in after 2026 playoff appearance

The Pittsburgh Penguins also made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026 after a short two-year absence. It's a significant development for the Penguins, who have sought to give their aging core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang another shot at a Stanley Cup. Adding Larkin to the mix could help them now and in the future.

Malkin recently re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year contract, meaning he will skate during the 2026-27 season. Beyond that, though, his future is very much up in the air. The Penguins could swing a trade for Larkin and allow Malkin to skate on the third line. This would give the Pens one of the best center groups in the league.

The Red Wings will want a pretty penny for their captain, though. And that could complicate things for Pittsburgh. Still, if the Penguins can make a deal happen, it may very well be in their best interest to pull the trigger.

Wild make too much sense as Red Wings trade partner

The immediate frontrunner, at least in terms of fan speculation, is the Minnesota Wild . The Wild traded for Quinn Hughes in November 2025 , and that may have played a part in where we are with Larkin at this time. Reports indicated Hughes wanted to play for the Red Wings prior to his move to Minnesota. Had Detroit swung that deal, are we talking about a Larkin trade in June?

That speculation aside, the Wild make too much sense as a landing spot. The Red Wings captain is good friends with Hughes, and the two won Olympic Gold for Team USA back in February. The Team USA connection also extends to Wild general manager Bill Guerin. Additionally, the Wild have a major need for a top-six center.

As with the Penguins, the issue here will come down to cost. Detroit will not simply give Larkin away because he wants out. They will need a package that is worth their while if they decide to do this. The Wild have some intriguing pieces, but they may need to get creative for this one. In any event, the Wild are surely going to go hard after the Red Wings captain this summer.

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