The Minnesota Wild want Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin. That's well known. The issue is that they are having a tough time convincing Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman to go through with a trade. Yzerman has a high asking price and has said he won't trade Larkin just to trade him. He wants ready-now players in return, and the Wild have been apprehensive to meet that request.
The only real way Larkin could get dealt is if he expands his trade list. Besides the Wild, Larkin only had the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers on his list, and they have been unable to pry him away from Detroit either. But now, Larkin has added new destinations to his wishlist. Well, one destination, anyway.
Ansar Khan of M Live reported that Larkin added the Dallas Stars to his trade wishlist. So, a division rival of the Wild is now in the mix for Larkin. But Dallas is learning just how difficult it is to negotiate with Yzerman.
Stars learn from Wild just how difficult it is to trade for Dylan Larkin
Khan reports that the Stars and Red Wings entered trade talks over a Larkin trade. The Red Wings asked for top center Wyatt Johnston in return for Larkin, which Khan says is virtually a non-negotiable. Sounds familiar to the rumblings that the Red Wings were open to trading Larkin to the Wild if winger Matt Boldy were included.
The Stars did offer winger and restricted free agent Jason Robertson in a trade for Larkin. Khan reports that it's not known if Robertson would be willing to sign a long-term contract extension in Detroit, or if the Red Wings would want to give him a deal with an annual salary at or above $15 million. So, there's that as well.
The Stars are learning that the idea of trading for Larkin is nice. But actually being able to get anything close to the finish line is impossible.
The Stars are not having the greatest offseason. The team is in the midst of difficult contract negotiations with Robertson. The Stars don't have the money to match the annual salary Robertson is looking for. Meanwhile, Robertson hasn't been the most forthcoming when it comes to where he wants to be traded. Let's not forget he vetoed a trade to the Seattle Kraken, who were offering him a $15 million annual salary over eight years. Now, the two sides are set to enter arbitration, which would likely see an end result of a one-year deal getting agreed upon, allowing Robertson to hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
Dallas also tried to pull off a blockbuster trade for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski this offseason. The two sides agreed upon a trade that centered on Werenski heading to Dallas and Thomas Harley heading to Columbus. But Werenski vetoed the trade, and announced his commitment to remain with the Blue Jackets entering this season.
So add those two things, in addition to trading away Mavrik Bourque to the Nashville Predators, and you get an offseason to forget for the Stars. Now, they can add trying and failing to trade for Larkin to that list.
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