The Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings have been in a stalemate over a potential trade for Dylan Larkin. But their pursuit received a shocking turn of events when the Red Wings announced that Steve Yzerman is stepping down as the team’s Executive Vice President and General Manager on Wednesday morning.
While Yzerman will remain in his current role to facilitate the day-to-day of hockey operations “and ensure a seamless transition,” a search for his successor will commence as he becomes an advisor to team owner Chris Illitch.
In many ways, the Red Wings are letting down one of the greatest players in franchise history easily by allowing him to remain in the organization. But it’s a development that greatly impacts the Wild and could make their bid to come away with Larkin that much easier.
Red Wings' front office shakeup could help the Wild land Dylan Larkin
Larkin requested a trade from the Red Wings on June 4 and it sent a shockwave throughout the NHL. A six-time 30-goal scorer, he immediately jumped on the Wild’s wish list as they pursued a top-line center this summer but the negotiations were complicated as he has five years remaining on his current deal with a annual average value (AAV) of $8.7 million per Puckpedia.
In addition, Larkin also has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, but the Wild were one of three teams named to his initial list along with the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights. The Dallas Stars were added as a fourth team recently, but Yzerman demanded a high asking price as he looked to keep the team competitive amid a 10-year playoff drought.
That price reportedly revolved around Matt Boldy and The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported on Tuesday they “don’t see a scenario where the Wild would move on from the winger.”
While the Wild have submitted an official offer for Larkin, the players and assets involved have not been reported. It is assumed, however, the offer contains future assets like draft picks and top prospects including Charlie Stramel and/or Danila Yurov, but those assets did not appeal to Yzerman as he looked to keep his job.
Yzerman isn’t completely out of the picture as he’ll continue to run hockey operations for the Red Wings in the interim. But getting a new face leading the negotiations could make things easier as they’ll have the authority to construct the roster as they see fit.
This doesn’t guarantee the Wild will end up with Larkin in the end. Minnesota’s organization is light on top prospects after the team's recent moves including a blockbuster trade to acquire Quinn Hughes last December. The Stars are also reportedly willing to include star wing Jason Robertson if they can not work out a contract extension per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
But Larkin’s fit with the Wild may be better than any other suitor and he has the leverage thanks to his no-trade clause. If Larkin wants to wind up in Minnesota, there’s a good chance it will happen and getting Yzerman out of the way – even if not immediately – is a positive development that could make it happen.
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