Dylan Larkin has become one of the more intriguing names tied to the Detroit Red Wings, and that ripple could matter far beyond Little Caesars Arena. With the regular season nearing, the Edmonton Oilers are being pointed toward a possible fit that could solve a glaring lineup question.
For now, the immediate noise around Larkin has quieted a bit. Detroit moved former general manager Steve Yzerman into an advisory role and appointed Shawn Horcoff as interim general manager, a shift that at least keeps Larkin in place to start the season.
But the situation is far from settled. Larkin is recovering from an upper-body injury, and the Red Wings enter what looks like a volatile Atlantic Division with real pressure to open strong.
That matters because Detroit’s first stretch is favorable on paper. Seven of its first 10 games are at home, and only two of those matchups come against divisional opponents. If the Red Wings stumble anyway, the questions around whether this version of the team can truly go anywhere are only going to get louder.
That is where Edmonton enters the picture.
A recent The Athletic piece raised the obvious question for the Oilers: who actually fills the second-line center spot alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman? That hole is big enough to change how the whole forward group is arranged, and Larkin stands out as a clean answer.
He checks the box Edmonton needs most. Larkin can handle top-line or second-line center duties, and if the Oilers got him, the lineup would almost sort itself out. Nugent-Hopkins could shift to left wing, Hyman could stay on the right side, and Babcock could keep Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together on a first line that already feels overwhelming.
Production is part of the appeal too. Larkin put up 67 points, with 34 goals and 33 assists, in 74 games last season.
That was the fifth straight year he cleared 60 points. Nugent-Hopkins finished with 56 points, including 20 goals and 36 assists, in 72 games, while Hyman had 52 points, with 31 goals and 21 assists, in 58 games.
The piece also notes that Hyman missed enough time that, over a 70-game pace, he would have landed at 63 points.
Larkin’s value is not just on the scoresheet. He plays a two-way game, and that fits cleanly with Nugent-Hopkins’ own ability to work both ends of the ice and Hyman’s motor. Put it together, and the idea of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Podkolzin on one line with Nugent-Hopkins, Larkin, and Hyman on the next starts to look downright dangerous.
Still, Edmonton cannot ignore the obstacles.
The biggest one is Larkin’s willingness to control where this goes. His preferred list appears to include the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars, with Dallas added in July. A move to the Stars would likely require Wyatt Johnston in return, but nothing came of that request.
If Detroit keeps spiraling, Larkin may eventually have to widen the list. The trade request is already a major issue around the organization, and if the Red Wings falter early or slide again later in the year, the pressure will only build. At that point, Detroit would be staring at a tough set of options: suspend him, take a minimal return just to move on, or ask him to open the door to more teams so the club can extract better value.
That last part is not simple. Larkin has not been willing to add Montreal, and his current four-team list has held firm since early summer. But if that changes, Edmonton could absolutely become part of the conversation.
Then there is the price.
Yahoo Sports floated a potential framework that included Matt Savoie, Josh Samanski, Beau Akey, and a third-round pick, but also noted how difficult that would be given the production and salary involved. The issue is especially clear with Savoie and Samanski, neither of whom has played more than a full NHL season.
To make Detroit even consider it, the Oilers would likely have to include Trent Frederic, who does not bring Larkin’s offense but does bring more playoff experience. From there, Isaac Howard and/or Matt Savoie would likely need to be added as well. Howard was recently ranked as the team’s top prospect, which makes him a particularly interesting trade chip if he does not make the roster out of training camp.
Akey and a third-round pick could help finish the deal, but Edmonton would then be taking on all of Larkin’s $8.7 million AAV. The cap side is the real squeeze. Moving Frederic clears almost $5 million, but the Oilers would still likely need to send both Savoie and Howard to Detroit just to get close to matching Larkin’s number.
Yahoo Sports suggested Edmonton would still win that kind of trade, but the money makes it complicated. The Oilers would either need to find more cap room or hope Detroit would retain half of Larkin’s salary. Frederic softens the financial hit, even if it lowers the experience level coming back.
So yes, Larkin could help push Edmonton closer to a Stanley Cup run. But there are a lot of moving parts here, and until Detroit’s situation changes, this is the kind of idea that stays in the background. Oilers fans, for now, are waiting.
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