The Dylan Larkin situation in Detroit has settled into something neither side seems eager to budge from: a straight-up staring contest.
That’s how Elliotte Friedman described it on NHL Tonight, and the latest read is that the Red Wings and Larkin are dug in on their positions while the trade-list drama drags on. Cory Schneider framed the issue bluntly, pointing to Montreal and Boston as teams that would make sense and might be interested, but are not on Larkin’s list. The question, as Schneider put it, is whether Larkin has already done enough by expanding his list from three teams to 10 and is refusing to go any further, while Detroit waits for a better return.
Friedman said that, as things stand, nothing has changed. He said he had heard last weekend that Larkin was going to switch the list, and that Detroit believed that too.
But that never happened. Friedman also said some clubs, including Florida, Colorado and Vegas, are not realistic unless something major changes.
He added that there has been real interest from several teams trying to get into the mix. Friedman said he had heard Buffalo wants in badly, along with Montreal, St.
Louis and L.A. He also said Boston has been wondering why it is not on the list, noting that Boston is “a pretty good team historically and this year,” but that’s where the situation stands for now.
Friedman didn’t make it sound like this is just a business disagreement, either. He said the tension between Larkin and the Red Wings feels personal, with Larkin clearly disappointed enough to ask for a trade and Detroit equally frustrated with him. He pointed to comments this week from Nicklas Lindstrom and Henrik Zetterberg, calling them Hall of Fame-level figures whose disappointment reflects how deep this has gone.
He also tied in Zetterberg’s remarks about Steve Yzerman being fired and the Simon Edvinsson situation, saying Larkin has been adamant that he won’t play for Detroit again. Friedman said the sense around it is that if the Red Wings have to wait until December 1st to test his resolve, that’s the route they’ll take.
Even with all of that hanging over the situation, Friedman said the people in the room deserve credit for how they’ve handled everything on the ice. But his bottom line was clear: this has become personal on both sides, and neither the player nor the team looks ready to blink.
In Other News...
Red Wings Just Exposed A Bigger Problem On This Road Trip
The Red Wings road trip hit another rough patch in Denver, where Colorado rolled to a 4-0 win at Ball Arena and made the game feel lopsided long before the final horn. Detroit never found much of an offensive rhythm, and the Avalanche kept the pressure on with a special-teams edge that turned a manageable night into a chase the visitors could not catch.
Daniil Tarasov was left to absorb the damage behind a skidding lineup, while Andrew Copp and Moritz Seider were among the Detroit names trying to help steady things as the game slipped away. Instead, the momentum swung hard in Colorados favor in the second period, and with Martin Necas, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar all involved in the scoring, the bigger concern for the Red Wings was how quickly one bad stretch exposed the same kinds of issues that can sink a road trip. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Rookie Is Already Changing The Team's Identity
Michael Brandsegg-Nygrds rise has given the Red Wings a different kind of edge this season, one that goes beyond the box score. After spending time in the AHL to sharpen his game, the Norwegian forward came back to Detroit and quickly carved out a real role, producing 10 points in 17 games while bringing a physical presence that has stood out every night.
Todd McLellan has been especially taken with the way Brandsegg-Nygrd plays, praising the rookies style and the effect it has had on the teams identity. For a club trying to build something sturdier and harder to play against, that kind of impact from a young forward matters, and it helps explain why his return has become one of the more encouraging developments in Detroits season. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Enter A Stretch That Could Define Their Momentum
The Red Wings are heading into a road trip that feels like more than just another set of games on the schedule. Detroit has been dealing with recent challenges, and the next few nights will offer a clearer read on where the team stands as it tries to build momentum and keep its season pointed in the right direction. Alongside that, there has been some encouraging buzz around the organization from the AHL level, where prospects have continued to give the front office something to monitor.
Todd McLellan has made it clear the focus is not only on effort, but on execution when games tighten up. Closing out starts and getting more from the players who are supposed to drive the offense remain part of the conversation, and the coming stretch will test whether Detroit can translate those goals into results. With road games looming and little room for drift, this trip has the feel of a measuring stick for a team still trying to define its momentum. [Read more 🡒]