Dylan Larkin chatter isn’t going away anytime soon, and Elliotte Friedman poured a little more fuel on it Monday.
On 32 Thoughts, Friedman said there’s still a chance the Red Wings center could be moved because of the ongoing drama around him. He even put it plainly: "Part of me still doesn't believe that Dylan Larkin will start next year in Detroit."
That kind of talk is enough to keep the rumor mill spinning, especially with the 2026-27 season still ahead and the speculation already stretching into overdrive. But Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman has not made this easy on anyone. According to the reporting, he has been firm about wanting a marquee piece back in any deal, and that’s where things start to get messy.
The Dallas Stars are now part of the picture too, after Larkin added them to his preferred destinations. That only adds another layer to an already complicated situation. Detroit also turned down a Jason Robertson deal because of his contractual demands, which tells you how high the bar is for any serious negotiation.
For Golden Knights fans, Friedman’s comments offer only a sliver of hope, but it’s a thin one. Vegas has been linked to Larkin, yet the fit looks awkward at best. The Red Wings are said to be looking for a return that’s difficult for the Golden Knights to assemble, and the team’s most obvious trade chip, Pavel Dorofeyev, is no longer available after being dealt to the New York Rangers.
That leaves Vegas with a tough question: what exactly is the path to making this work? Mitch Marner?
Jack Eichel? Those names are part of the conversation because the Golden Knights don’t have much obvious to offer Detroit.
They could try to build a package around multiple first-round picks and Trevor Connelly, along with other pieces, but the sense here is clear: Detroit still doesn’t have what it wants from Vegas. And because this kind of move would likely need multiple teams involved, the odds only get longer.
So yes, there’s still a little hope for the Golden Knights. But it’s the kind that hangs around more than it truly grows.
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Golden Knights Face A Huge Decision On Two Franchise Cornerstones
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What makes this especially tricky is the blend of importance and uncertainty around both players. They are over 30 and have each dealt with notable injuries in recent seasons, which complicates any long-term thinking even as the team knows how much they still matter. Vegas also has to weigh how hard it can be to keep cornerstone players on team-friendly terms, and the real tension is whether the Golden Knights can find a way to do that without forcing an uncomfortable choice. [Read more 🡒]
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A similar pattern has played out after the 2023-24 title, when Vegas stormed out to an 11-0-1 start and looked every bit like a team ready to keep rolling. But the months that followed brought a cooler pace, with tighter margins and a more ordinary rhythm that can make even a champion feel vulnerable if the grind starts to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Foley Is Making A New Push To Bring NBA To Vegas
Bill Foley is back in the mix for an NBA team in Las Vegas, and this time the push looks more organized. The Golden Knights owner is assembling a group to bid for one of the leagues potential expansion franchises, leaning on the sports footprint and arena infrastructure he already has in place. With the NBA exploring expansion and weighing Las Vegas alongside Seattle, the citys case has never looked more realistic, especially with the league bringing in PJT Partners to help manage what is expected to be a competitive process.
Foley is hardly alone in the chase. Other groups are lining up their own bids, including a Las Vegas effort led by Vinny Del Negro and Jerry Colangelo, with names like Magic Johnson, Bob Iger, Josh Kushner and Marc Lasry also connected to the market. For Vegas, the appeal is obvious: the building, the fan base and the momentum are already there. The question now is how the league sorts through the competition, and whether Foleys group can separate itself in a field that is getting crowded fast. [Read more 🡒]