The Minnesota Wild’s pursuit of Dylan Larkin sounds like the kind of deal that may not get done without a little extra help.
On Daily Faceoff, Jeff Marek said the structure of a trade with the Detroit Red Wings “screams third team involved.” He pointed to two possibilities right away: the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vancouver Canucks.
“Given what Minnesota already has on offer for the Detroit Red Wings, this one screams third team involved. So two pop to mind right away.
One, the Carolina Hurricanes. This would, I would imagine, involve the (Alexander) Nikishin, and then you sell off or move the pieces individually after that.
The other team is an interesting one, and it’s one that Minnesota has already done a big bit of business with, the Vancouver Canucks. If it’s a third team, for me, it’s out of Carolina or it’s Vancouver.”
Tyler Yaremchuk took a different view, arguing Minnesota should not keep piling on if it has already put a serious offer on the table. He framed the move around the Wild’s current push to win now.
“Let’s assume Minnesota has actually made that offer to the Detroit Red Wings (Danila Yurov and futures), and if that’s the case, then there’s nothing else they can do. Adding more to that deal is going to hurt your ability to win the Stanley Cup this year, and the whole point of getting Dylan Larkin is to win the Stanley Cup this year.
So I don’t think they should add more. What can Minnesota do?
They got to be patient. They honestly just have to wait for Detroit to budge.
That’s my take. Don’t up the offer.
You got to wait for someone in the Red Wings organization to budge and take the deal.”
Jonny Lazerus said he doesn’t see how Detroit could turn away a package built around Yurov, Bobby Brink, Ryan Hartman or Max Shabanov, plus first-round picks and Charlie Stramel.
“If they’ve offered Yurov, if they’re throwing in Bobby Brink, if they’re throwing in even a guy like Ryan Hartman or maybe Max Shabanov, and the first round picks and Charlie Stramel. Like I don’t know how that’s not enough for Detroit.
But the more time goes on, the more desperate the bidders will get. And Detroit has clearly shown that they’re going to be as patient as they can, and they’re fine without Dylan Larkin.
They’re playing good hockey without Dylan Larkin. It’s actually brought the group together.
So it’s not looking good for Minnesota. But as the deadline comes up, if Larkin’s still in Detroit, maybe they get desperate and they’re like, you know what, Let’s just rip the band head off and do it.”
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