Ever since Dylan Larkin’s trade request from the Detroit Red Wings went public earlier this summer, the situation in Detroit has turned the organization upside down. Since then, the organization has gone through a transitional period that has seen Steve Yzerman move from GM to senior advisor to the CEO.
Regardless of the changes to the front office, the new GM is going to need to address the elephant in the room and find a trade partner for Larkin, and there is one team that stands out as the most obvious choice. That would be the Minnesota Wild, where general manager Bill Guerin has a very unique ace up his sleeve.
Guerin & the Wild acquiring Larkin makes too much sense
Guerin and the Wild have a chance to pull off a trade that could drastically change the landscape. Adding a first-line center on top of adding Blake Coleman this summer would make them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
The connection makes sense on multiple fronts. Larkin spent February winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA under Guerin’s leadership as general manager, building instant chemistry with key Wild core pieces like Brock Faber, Quinn Hughes, and Matt Boldy along the way.
Larkin’s no-trade clause works in the Wild’s favor. Larkin essentially dictates where the Red Wings can send him. However, the most interesting thing about it all is the fact that Detroit doesn’t need to trade him. Since he is still under contract, he is obligated to play, whether he wants to stay in Detroit or not.
That said, typically in these situations, teams try to move the player to avoid further locker room disruptions. This then gives Guerin and the Wild leverage. Yes, the price is still going to be high, but if we look at the trade with Brady Tkachuk, it was mainly draft capital that was sent to the Ottawa Senators. Now, in this situation, it will likely be a future piece like Danila Yurov, who is NHL-ready. There would need to be some salary cap movement for the deal to go through. However, it may not be as big of a return as we previously thought.
Whether Guerin forces his hand now or during the 2026-27 season. It is hard to say there is another GM in the NHL better positioned to land Larkin from the Red Wings.
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