The Minnesota Wild’s 2026-27 season has already begun but the biggest storyline may not be on the ice. The Wild waited all summer to try and execute a trade that would acquire Dylan Larkin from the Detroit Red Wings. While there appeared to be progress when Red Wings assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting was in attendance for Tuesday night’s loss to the Buffalo Sabres, a deal doesn’t seem to be imminent, leaving many to wonder what the hold up could be.
The Red Wings have a lot on their plate at the moment as fans have boycotted the franchise and Simon Edvinsson is sitting in Sweden without a contract. But the biggest domino to fall could be what Quinn Hughes decides to do as he mulls an extension offer from the Wild.
Quinn Hughes’s future could determine the Wild’s Dylan Larkin decision
The drama between the Red Wings and the Wild have been brewing all summer. When Larkin’s trade request became public in June, Minnesota felt like a perfect destination. It felt like destiny when Larkin listed the Wild along with the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers as preferred destinations that he would waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a trade, but the Red Wings haven’t gotten out of their own way to pull the trigger on a deal.
The Wild have watched this from afar as they reassigned president of hockey operations Steve Yzerman to an advisor role and took their time finding a replacement before naming Shawn Horcoff as an assistant GM. Things tilted even further in Minnesota’s favor when Detroit stripped Larkin of his captaincy before training camp and his debut was a circus in his season debut against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night where he scored a goal and got into a fight to stand up for his teammates.
With Draper heading to Buffalo, it’s not hard to assume he was there to see what the Wild could offer in a deal. It also is encouraging that Danila Yurov, who is rumored to be a centerpiece in a Larkin deal, also scored a goal in the 3-2 overtime loss to the Sabres. But it could all come down to what Hughes decides with his contract.
Hughes has been eligible to sign a new contract since July 1, but nothing has materialized as the season begins. The 26-year-old has also told reporters that he is in “no rush” to sign a deal and that hasn’t changed according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
“There have been multiple conversations between the sides, but until the player himself greenlights his agent, Pat Brisson, to take it further, it’s status quo,” LeBrun wrote in a notebook released on Wednesday. “...My understanding of the situation is rather simple: He’s in no rush. This could take months before he decides his future. It’s a tough situation for the all-in Wild…especially given how much they gave up for him in that blockbuster with the Vancouver Canucks last December. But all Minnesota can do is wait. It’s a story that isn’t going away.”
Because of that standoff, many believe that Larkin could be the piece that drives Hughes to sign. While Larkin and Hughes did not play at the same time at the University of Michigan, they have a tight bond as Wolverine alums and bringing him to Minnesota would be another selling point for Hughes to stick around after his current contract expires after this season.
Of course, trading for Larkin regardless would benefit the Wild as it would fill its need for a top line center. But it would cost them assets that would weaken their depth in the present and even more in the future if Hughes decides to leave. While Larkin has five years remaining on his contract at $8.7 million per season, it may not be worth it if Hughes chooses to go elsewhere and it could be the biggest hold up in putting a trade through.
Quinn Hughes could determine whether Dylan Larkin is worth the price for the Wild
If Hughes signs, general manager Bill Guerin has nothing to worry about and can make a trade for Larkin. But if he trades for Larkin and Hughes doesn’t commit, that’s where things could get interesting.
Larkin has value down the road, but that becomes negated if Hughes, who elevates the play of everyone around him, leaves for another team. In addition, the Wild need to fill out the rest of their roster with cheap talent and the construction without Hughes would have them leaning on their youth more than they would like.
It would make keeping Yurov, Charlie Stramel and whatever other assets the Wild could give up more important if Hughes leaves town. While Larkin would bring some of that star power, it also could be for nothing as the Wild would be a good but not great team that would need to find a way to replace Hughes but not have the assets to make a similar blockbuster trade.
That makes Hughes an important data point in the Wild’s decision making process and it could give the potential of acquiring Larkin even more complicated as the two sides figure out their next move.
Add us as a preferred source on Google