The Dylan Larkin trade saga appears to be heading for a final answer, and the New Jersey Devils have enough in place to make themselves a serious option. Larkin is being held out of the lineup and will sit until Detroit closes out a deal, so the real question now is which team gives the Red Wings the package they want.
New Jersey already sits near the center of the conversation. Larkin has a no-trade clause, and the Devils are on his list of destinations he’s willing to join. They also just made a major splash by acquiring Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets, a move that has only fueled the sense that Sunny Mehta is pushing hard to build something bigger in New Jersey.
That push matters here. Mehta said during Hellebuyck’s introductory press conference, “We’re never done.
We’re never done,” and his early run as general manager has backed that up. He has already shown a willingness to be aggressive, and his offseason trades were a clear sign that he’s not afraid to keep spending assets if he thinks it moves the Devils closer to contender status.
The fit is not without complications, though. New Jersey already has two top-six centers to build around, so bringing in Larkin would create a crowded middle down the lineup. The Devils would have to decide whether adding another high-end center is worth the cost, especially if another blockbuster move is on the table.
Still, the Devils have real ammunition. They can offer young NHL players, a prospect, and draft picks, which is the kind of return Detroit appears to be seeking. The Red Wings, with Shawn Horcoff in charge, also have to decide whether they want to retool or rebuild, and that choice shapes how they value the package coming back.
The Devils may not be able to outbid teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals, since those clubs can send Detroit a young center in return. But New Jersey can still put together a fair offer, or at least one that matches what the Red Wings are looking for.
Arseny Gritsyuk is the type of young NHL player the Devils would have to weigh carefully in any deal, but with six goals and four assists in 13 games, Mehta may be reluctant to move him. That could leave bottom-six players as the more realistic NHL pieces, though those names would not carry the same appeal for Detroit.
Anton Silaev stands out as the prospect the Red Wings would likely push hardest for. He’s described as a big shutdown defenseman with high-end NHL potential, even if he still needs development time. For Detroit, he could be more than just a future building block; he could also help fill the gap eventually left by Simon Edvinsson, who is also at odds with the team and wants a trade.
Then there are the draft picks. New Jersey has two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, giving Mehta flexibility in how he structures a deal. He could send one and keep the other for a different move, or he could make both available if Detroit leans more toward rebuilding.
Larkin’s appeal to the Devils is clear. He brings speed, skill, and defensive value as a two-way center who can play in all situations, and he can slide to the wing if needed. That kind of versatility gives New Jersey options in playoff matchups, whether he centers the third line or shifts into a role with Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier to add another layer of offense.
He would also deepen a lineup that wants more than just star power at the top. The Devils would gain another player capable of changing the game, and they’d be better positioned to absorb injuries that have hurt them in the past. The idea is simple: the more elite pieces Mehta can stack, the harder the Devils are to knock off course.
Whether he chooses to pay that price is the bigger call. The pieces are there.
The appetite may be there too. What remains is whether Mehta decides Larkin is the one worth pushing over the finish line.
In Other News...
Devils Forward Thought He Might Be Gone In Hellebuyck Blockbuster
The first days around Connor Hellebuycks arrival in New Jersey brought the usual trade-deadline nerves, but they also highlighted how carefully the Devils tried to handle the human side of the move. Players such as Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad and Nico Daws were treated with respect by management and teammates before the deal went through, a small but meaningful detail in a business that can turn quickly on players who are suddenly waiting on their phones.
Cody Glass was among the players wondering whether he might be swept up in the blockbuster, which is the sort of anxiety that hangs over a room once rumors start moving. What stood out in the aftermath was the way general manager Sunny Mehta handled those conversations, giving a reminder that even in a major transaction, the Devils were trying to make sure the people involved were seen as more than just pieces in a roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Face A Pricey Decision In Their Push For Dylan Larkin
Dylan Larkin is sitting out of the lineup while the Red Wings work to finalize a trade, and the Devils have emerged as one of the teams with real interest. Larkins no-trade clause gives him control over where this goes, and New Jersey is among the destinations he has approved, which at least keeps the door open as the Devils keep pushing to add another major piece.
Sunny Mehta has already made clear the Devils are prepared to keep building aggressively, but this is the sort of move that comes with a hefty cost and no guarantee of a finish. For a club trying to stay in the thick of the race, the question is whether New Jersey is willing to pay what it takes to make the pursuit of Larkin turn into something more than just another rumor. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Trade Theory Has Fans Wondering What Team USA Stars Know
The chatter around New Jersey has picked up because of what could be an intriguing ripple effect from Team USAs Olympic group. With the Devils already landing Connor Hellebuyck in a trade and names like Dylan Larkin and Quinn Hughes now linked to possible interest, the idea has started to build that more than one national team star might be eyeing the same destination. Nothing is confirmed, but it is the sort of rumor that naturally grabs attention for a club looking to stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference picture.
For now, it remains exactly that, a theory with no public confirmation behind it. Still, the timing has added extra fuel, especially as other teams around the league weigh veteran moves of their own, with Vancouver reportedly considering changes after a long losing streak and Edmonton making it clear that even a big contract does not guarantee ice time. In that kind of market, every hint of alignment among elite players gets noticed, and New Jersey suddenly feels like one of the more interesting teams to watch. [Read more 🡒]