The Minnesota Wild are in hot pursuit of Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, but it’s becoming harder to bring him to Minnesota. The lack of premium assets could have general manager Bill Guerin trying to find a third team to facilitate a deal and after making Larkin’s initial three-team list of destinations, he reportedly added more teams to the list at the request of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman.
In other words, a lot of teams are going to be involved in the Larkin sweepstakes this summer and a surprising team to watch could be the Dallas Stars.
The Stars are dealing with their own summer drama as forward Jason Robertson is due for a new contract. A restricted free agent, the Stars have the ball in their court when it comes to Robertson’s future and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun noted that they could pivot to Larkin if they can’t agree on an extension.
“Regardless of being on the list or not, all kinds of teams have called to see what’s what, many of them interested in getting involved,” LeBrun wrote. “That’s given [Larkin’s agent Pat Brisson] and Larkin more to think about. For example, the Dallas Stars have absolutely checked in. They haven’t extended restricted free agent Jason Robertson yet, although those contract discussions continue. Food for thought if an extension doesn’t get done in due time.”
Jason Robertson’s contract drama could enter Stars into Dylan Larkin sweepstakes
While Larkin’s trade request is currently the top storyline of the offseason, Robertson’s future isn’t far behind. The Stars couldn’t come to an agreement on an extension with the 26-year-old before last season and he responded with his best year since the 2022-23 campaign (46 goals, 109 points) by scoring 45 times and recording 96 points while playing in 82 games.
Robertson’s price skyrocketed during the playoffs scoring five goals with eight points in the six-game series against the Wild. While Minnesota advanced out of the first round for the first time in a decade, the Stars could get the last laugh if Robertson’s price is too high and they steal Larkin with a trade.
A Robertson-for-Larkin trade would solve the Red Wings’s problem without throwing in the towel. The Stars could also be an attractive destination for Larkin as he’d join a loaded center group including Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene and it would create cap space with Larkin’s $8.7 million contract over the next five years being much cheaper the $12-14 million AAV Robertson is projected to get on his next deal.
Of course, this would also spell disaster for the Wild. Larkin would be a perfect fit for Minnesota, who is looking to add another top-six center to add with Joel Eriksson Ek and could reunite Larkin with his Team USA teammates from last year’s Olympics, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber. Larkin also has an extensive history with Hughes that could convince the latter to sign an extension this summer, making him an obvious top target for the Wild’s center issues.
Losing out on Larkin isn’t ideal, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he went to a team outside of the Central Division. But landing with the Stars, who are likely going to see the Wild in another playoff series next spring, would be disastrous and create more urgency to land a top-line center elsewhere.
The Wild probably wouldn’t be sad to see Robertson leave the division, but it’s a double-edged sword that could have benefits for the Stars and throw a wrench into their pursuit for Larkin.
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