A leaked version of Dylan Larkin’s updated trade list has Colorado on it, but that doesn’t make the Avalanche a fit.
The list, first reported by the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James, includes 10 teams, with the Avalanche among them.
For Colorado fans, though, this isn’t exactly fresh ground. Roughly a month ago, Elliotte Friedman floated the idea that Colorado was a preferred destination for the former Red Wings captain.
Dylan Larkin has submitted an updated trade list for the Red Wings, per @HeleneStJames 👀
Larkin's original trade list from June only featured the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights. pic.twitter.com/iLhTPmaKMO
- BarDown (@BarDown) October 21, 2026
The bigger question is whether any of this actually changes anything for the Avalanche. The answer, at least right now, looks like no.
Colorado doesn’t need Larkin, even after back-to-back losses on the East Coast. What happened Monday night in Philadelphia and Tuesday night in New Jersey would not have been solved by putting Larkin in the lineup. Unless he could suddenly repair the power play and help the team play more consistently at 5v5, the cost simply doesn’t make sense.
And the cost is the real issue. The Red Wings are still asking for a massive return, which makes a serious push from Colorado hard to justify.
Still, it’s worth saying this: never say never.
Roster and trade dynamics can change fast, and a deal that looks dead one week can come alive the next. But for the Avalanche to truly get involved, two things would have to shift.
First, Detroit would need to lower its asking price. If the price came down to something like a mid-tier prospect such as Hamilton Beckett, a couple of third-round picks, and a 2029 first-round selection, that still wouldn’t match what the Red Wings appear to want.
Second, the money would have to work. Larkin carries an $8.7 million cap hit, and Colorado would have a tough time fitting that in without moving out a major contract. If Detroit were willing to retain about half of that cap hit for the next five seasons, then maybe the math starts to get a little friendlier.
Until then, the picture is pretty clear. No matter how much Larkin might want to end up in Colorado, the Avalanche don’t need him and probably can’t afford him.
Could that change? Sure.
But the odds seem remote.
For now, the rumor mill can have its fun.
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