The Dylan Larkin situation in Detroit is drifting into the regular season with no clean resolution in sight, and around the league, rival executives are starting to sound increasingly skeptical about how the Red Wings are handling it.
In a report prepared exclusively with casino.org, NHL insider Frank Seravalli said multiple executives believe Detroit’s stance is disconnected from what a trade market can realistically deliver. One GM didn’t mince words, calling the Red Wings “unrealistic” under the current circumstances.
“They have essentially asked for a younger version of Dylan Larkin back,” the GM said. “Even if someone had it, who is giving that up?”
That pushback goes beyond one opinion. Another general manager who has shown interest in acquiring Larkin told Seravalli that Detroit still hasn’t clearly stated what it wants in return, and that lack of definition has made any real progress difficult.
Larkin’s availability for Friday’s opener is now part of the same cloud of uncertainty. Detroit told Seravalli twice this week that Larkin is injured, but the explanation hasn’t cooled the speculation around the league. “The longer Larkin sits out without transparency, the more eyebrows will be raised,” Seravalli said.
Some around the NHL believe the injury designation is being used as cover for a deeper split between the player and the team. A serious injury would complicate any trade effort, which may explain why Detroit has not offered a timeline for his return. Larkin has been involved in some portions of practice over the past two-plus weeks, though Seravalli noted there has been no obvious sign of real progress.
There’s also a practical layer to all of this. Seravalli suggested Detroit may have allowed Larkin to sit out while this standoff plays out, using the injury label as a kind of grace period. That arrangement could work for both sides: it keeps Larkin away from a possible real injury, and it gives the Red Wings time while remaining above the salary cap floor.
“I think it probably should be pointed out that Detroit is only clearing the salary cap floor by $1.6 million with Larkin on the books,” the executive told Seravalli. “Paying him for now works for everyone.”
For now, the silence is doing the talking. Detroit isn’t saying what it wants.
Larkin remains out. And the teams that might have interest are still waiting for the Red Wings to set terms that make sense.
Until that happens, the standoff doesn’t look close to ending.
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