The latest Dylan Larkin chatter is not helping the Vegas Golden Knights.
For a team that has been linked to the Detroit Red Wings star in rumor after rumor, the newest report only makes the path look even narrower. On the Fourth Period, the conversation shifted toward the Dallas Stars, who are said to be pushing hard after Larkin recently added Dallas to his list of preferred destinations.
The most eye-catching part of that discussion was the name attached to the deal. According to the report, “The Stars are believed to be willing to move restricted free agent sniper Jason Robertson to Detroit for Dylan Larkin.”
Fourth Period
That kind of offer changes the temperature fast. Robertson is only 26, and Detroit would be getting younger while landing one of the NHL’s most dangerous scorers.
The Red Wings have already said no once, but the report leaves open the possibility that Steve Yzerman could eventually soften if the right package is on the table. Detroit is still chasing a playoff return, and the idea here is simple: if the price is right, the Red Wings could decide to make a bold move to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
For Vegas, though, the message is pretty clear: this probably isn’t the one to chase right now.
The Golden Knights may still have fans waiting for Kelly McCrimmon to work some kind of magic, but the roster picture is tight. Even with Alex Pietrangelo going on season-ending LTIR, the team still would not have much breathing room under the cap - not even close to the $1 million mark. That leaves very little flexibility to make a major swing.
There’s also the matter of assets. Even if Vegas explored moving players such as Tomas Hertl or Adin Hill, the Red Wings’ stance appears firm. Yzerman wants a player who can step in immediately and help Detroit win now, and that kind of ask makes this a difficult fit for the Golden Knights.
Yes, things can change quickly. The source of these talks makes that much clear, and nobody saw Pavel Dorofeyev ending up with the New York Rangers. But the price tag in this case looks steep, and Vegas already passed on one costly possibility because the value wasn’t there compared with what Jack Eichel or Mitch Marner could provide.
So for now, the Larkin idea feels like one to put on the shelf. The Golden Knights don’t appear to have the kind of package Detroit wants, and this is the sort of situation that may be better revisited later, possibly at the trade deadline.
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