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Red Wings rumors: Captain Dylan Larkin requests trade amid 10-year playoff drought
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- Red Wings rumors: Captain Dylan Larkin requests trade amid 10-year playoff drought
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The Detroit Red Wings have now gone double-digit seasons without advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and captain Dylan Larkin may have seen enough.
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As Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Thursday, the star forward recently requested a trade out of Michigan.
"There's a lot to unpack here. First, should mention that no one would comment. Not Larkin, not agent Pat Brisson, not Red Wings Executive Vice-President & GM Steve Yzerman," the hockey insider wrote.
"Second, Larkin's involvement in the trade market is massive. He has a full no-trade clause both this season and next, so his control over the situation does not change July 1. He's a top-line centre in a league desperate for centres, so there's going to be a ton of interest. His play at the 4 Nations and Olympics was stellar. That's going to excite potential trade partners."
The report represents a stunning development for a franchise that has spent years attempting to build around its longtime captain.
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Friedman reported that frustration with both the club's inability to return to the postseason and its direction under Steve Yzerman contributed to Larkin's desire for a fresh start.
Detroit has remained on the playoff bubble in recent seasons but has repeatedly fallen short of ending its postseason drought. The Red Wings finished 41-31-10 and 10th in the Eastern Conference during the 2025-26 campaign.
"There is also the Yzerman factor," Friedman added. "He will not be bullied into any scenario he dislikes, no matter how much pressure is applied. It's hard to believe, though, that someone won't step up to make it worth his while.
"Buckle up: we will see where this takes us between now and the draft."
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If Larkin is ultimately made available , he would immediately become one of the most sought-after centers on the trade market.
The 29-year-old recorded 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games last season while continuing to serve as Detroit's most important forward.
Any potential deal would be complicated by Larkin's full no-trade clause, which gives him significant control over his future. But given the premium placed on top-line centers around the NHL, there would be no shortage of interested teams.
If a trade does materialize, it would mark the end of an era in Detroit and become one of the most significant moves of the offseason as the NHL Draft and free agency draw closer.
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