The Minnesota Wild are still in the hunt for Dylan Larkin, and they’ve reportedly put a serious offer in front of the Detroit Red Wings. The problem is that Detroit doesn’t seem sold on the shape of the package.
According to Pierre LeBrun, Minnesota “remain very interested” and have come at the Red Wings with multiple proposals, including ones built around two or three first-round picks. That’s where the tension starts.
LeBrun said the Wild’s offers are heavy on futures, while Detroit is believed to want NHL help that can step in right away. “It’s not nothing,” LeBrun said of the proposals.
That view didn’t sit well with The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, who questioned why Detroit would turn it down. “According to Pierre, one of the Wild’s offers for Larkin has included 2-3 first-round picks, and the Red Wings’ issue is they don’t want a futures package and desire immediate NHL talent.
This logic across teams has never made any sense to me. You can flip those first-round picks for what you want!
Take the best package from a total value standpoint.”
Wheeler also pushed back on the idea that Detroit should be forced to do the extra work of converting picks into players. He argued that smart general managers do that sort of thing all the time and called it “creativity.”
Detroit, though, may have room to take its time. Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff could check around the league to see what Minnesota’s picks might bring back, just as was done in a previous trade.
That would take time, and with Detroit suspending Larkin without pay, there’s no real pressure to rush. If the right market develops, the Red Wings could still assemble a strong return by moving those picks for players.
Not everyone thinks Detroit should have to build the deal for Minnesota, though.
There’s also a possible third-team route. Anthony Di Marco reported that the Philadelphia Flyers could be open to helping bridge the gap between the Red Wings and Wild.
DFO was told by team sources that the Flyers would be willing to serve as a broker in a three-team trade. Flyers sources said they’d be willing to absorb Trenin’s contract for the right price, and Stramel is a player they have some interest in.
One Central Division executive told DFO that the Red Wings have the cap space to eat Trenin’s salary themselves, but the Flyers are willing to get involved if needed.
Wheeler also addressed the value of the kind of return Minnesota is reportedly offering. Asked whether three late first-round picks, likely in the 20-28 range, are enough for Larkin, he said those selections still carry real value, especially this close to the trade deadline. He added that players who have gone for multiple first-rounders have usually been stars or major impact pieces, and said the right deal will eventually show up if Detroit is the only team sitting on that kind of asset.
For now, the Red Wings are still searching for a deal that fits what they want. The Wild may be the team closest to the finish line, but LeBrun noted that no one else on Larkin’s list has come prepared. He said only the Montreal Canadiens, who are not on the list, have a package ready.
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