Dylan Larkin’s trade request may not get any easier to unwind just because Steve Yzerman’s role has changed.
That was the read from TSN’s Helene St. James, who said the situation has already gone on for two months and may be too far along for a simple reset, even if Detroit’s front office looks different.
“Yeah, that’s a great question. But man, that would be a lot to walk back.
I mean, it’s been going on now for two months, and you know the organization is upset with him for asking for a trade after they’ve paid down the chunk of the actual salary, $31 million over three years for that contract. And I don’t know.
To me, you know, the (Zach) Werensky, Don Waddell in Columbus was, took, that that only took place over a few days, right, and was very well handled by everybody ultimately.
But I just don’t know, even if, if it’s a different GM. I mean, Steve Yzerman still works for the team. I just don’t know if, I don’t know if Dylan Larkin can walk this back.
But at the same time, it may be his best option because I think a trade, you know, the Wings basically have to get back Dylan Larkin in a trade. They need a top-line center.
Getting a first-round pick just sets them back another four or five years in the rebuild. I mean, that’d be miserable.
You know.”
St. James also pointed to the Columbus situation involving Zach Werenski and Don Waddell as an example of a move that was handled quickly and cleanly over just a few days. But she drew a clear line between that and what Detroit is dealing with now.
Even with Yzerman no longer in the GM seat, St. James said she isn’t sure Larkin can simply reverse course. At the same time, she suggested a trade may still be Larkin’s best path, since Detroit would need a top-line center back in any deal and would not want to settle for a first-round pick that would only push the rebuild further back.
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