The Dylan Larkin trade saga appears to be nearing the finish line, and the Detroit Red Wings center is already out of the lineup while the team works toward a deal. At this point, the real question is not whether he moves, but which club comes through with the right package.
The New Jersey Devils are very much in that mix. Larkin has a no-trade clause, and New Jersey is on the list of teams he’d accept.
That keeps them in play, especially after the Devils made a splash by landing Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets. From the outside, it has started to look like a roster built with the 2026 U.S.
Olympic team in mind.
With Jack Hughes, Hellebuyck, and potentially Larkin, the Devils would already have a strong base if they want to chase Quinn Hughes in the summer. General manager Sunny Mehta has made it clear he isn’t interested in stopping anytime soon, saying, “We’re never done.
We’re never done,” during Hellebuyck’s introductory press conference. He has already shown in his tenure that he’s willing to be aggressive, and the offseason trades have backed that up.
For Detroit GM Shawn Horcoff, the bigger issue is deciding whether the club is retooling or rebuilding. The Jets asked New Jersey for a return that could support both paths, with young NHL players, a prospect, and draft picks. The Red Wings can push for something similar, though the package likely would not need to be as heavy as what Winnipeg received for Hellebuyck.
New Jersey does have assets to work with, but not every piece is equally appealing. Arseny Gritsyuk fits the mold of a player the Devils could move, though that would be a harder call after he put up six goals and four assists in 13 games. If the Devils decide not to go that route, they may have to dig into their bottom-six depth instead, which is less likely to excite Detroit.
The prospect that stands out most is Anton Silaev. He’s described as a big shutdown defenseman with the kind of upside that could matter at the NHL level, even if he still needs time. Detroit could value him both as a future piece and as a potential long-term answer after Simon Edvinsson, who is also at odds with the team and wants a trade.
The Devils also have draft capital to dangle. They own two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, which gives them options. They could include one in a Larkin deal and keep the other for another move, or simply send both to Detroit if the Red Wings lean harder toward rebuilding.
New Jersey may not top offers from teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals, since those clubs can send a young center back to the Red Wings. But the Devils can still put together a return that makes sense for Detroit.
The other question is whether Mehta even wants to push this far for Larkin. A two-way center with speed, skill, and defensive value can change what a playoff team looks like, and Larkin has that kind of profile. He can also shift to the wing when needed, which gives a coach more ways to create matchup problems.
That flexibility is part of the appeal for New Jersey. Larkin could strengthen the third line in a playoff series, or he could jump onto a Hughes or Hischier line and add yet another layer of skill. He would also give the Devils another star and more insurance if injuries strike, something that has hurt them before.
The fit is not perfect, though. New Jersey already has two top-six centers to build around, so adding Larkin would create a logjam.
Still, Mehta has shown a willingness to keep swinging, and the idea is simple enough: more elite players make a team harder to handle. The Panthers have shown what that can look like, and recent winners have followed a similar path.
So the Devils have the pieces, and they have the ambition. The only question left is whether Mehta decides Larkin is the one worth emptying the bank for.
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For a Bruins team that has leaned on Zachas versatility and two-way value, the gap in expectations matters because it can shape how the rest of the roster is built around him. The situation does not have an easy short-term answer, and with Boston still sorting out its longer-range plans, the contract talks now feel like one more decision that could influence how the club approaches the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]