A proposed Dylan Larkin deal has the hockey world landing right in the middle.
On PuckGM, a user floated a trade that would send the Red Wings captain to Washington, and the reaction was almost perfectly split. The idea has enough logic to make sense on both sides, but it also comes with enough complications to keep it from feeling clean.
Under the proposal, the Capitals would send Dylan Strome, prospects Andrew Cristall and Ivan Miroshnichenko, and their 2027 first-round pick to Detroit. Washington would get Larkin and John Leonard back in the deal. Leonard is on a one-year, $850,000 contract with an $850,000 cap hit per season, and his contract runs through the end of the 2026-27 season before he becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent.
The centerpiece for Washington would be Larkin, who carries an $8.7 million cap hit and would slide in as a top-line center. The question, naturally, is whether the Capitals view him as a clear enough upgrade over Strome to justify the cost.
Strome has been productive this season, putting up three goals and 14 points in 14 games. Last season, he finished with 58 points, and his career high came in the 2024-25 season, when he reached 82.
For Detroit, the return is built around quantity and flexibility. Strome is a veteran center on a $5 million deal who could help cover the spot Larkin would leave behind.
Cristall and Miroshnichenko are both young forwards with contracts under $1 million, and the first-round pick adds another layer of future value. The source also notes that Detroit was said to want a center back in any Larkin trade, and this package checks that box.
The real snag is the cap math. Washington would be taking on an additional $3.625 million in cap hit, while Detroit would shed the same amount.
The Red Wings have $22.654 million in cap space, so they could handle that part without trouble. The Capitals, though, are already at negative $677,000 in cap space, which means the deal would need more salary moved out to fit.
PuckGM’s “Who Says No?” meter leaned into that uncertainty, saying Capitals GM Chris Patrick would want more in the deal. The community was dead even, with eight voters saying the trade is feasible and eight saying it isn’t.
That split makes sense. Washington would be paying heavily in assets and still have to solve the cap issue, while Detroit would be moving a superstar they’ve been reluctant to deal unless the return is right. It’s a compelling framework, but it would need some adjusting before either side would seriously bite.
There’s one more wrinkle: the Capitals are said to be on the 10-team list Larkin submitted to the Red Wings, so in theory, this is a move he would approve.
In Other News...
T.J. Oshies New Documentary Tells The Personal Story Capitals Fans Need To See
ESPN Films has put out a new 30 for 30 short called Coach Osh, and it gives Capitals fans a more personal look at T.J. Oshie beyond the goals, grit and playoff moments that made him such a familiar name in Washington. The documentary, directed by Griffin Nash and Clifford Nash, follows Oshie and his father, Tim Oshie, while exploring the family bond that has long shaped the Stanley Cup champions life.
The film is available to stream on the ESPN App, and it lands as a reminder that some of the most compelling hockey stories happen far from the rink. Produced by ESPN Films with other production companies, Coach Osh looks at the impact of Alzheimers disease on the Oshie family in a way that should resonate well beyond the Capitals fan base, even as one deeply personal thread in the story remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Need A Response In A Panthers Test Fans Will Notice
Saturday brings a little extra spotlight for Washington, which will step onto the ice in its new blue retro-inspired Hometown Remix sweaters for the first time when it meets Florida. The timing is notable because the Capitals are trying to halt a two-game skid, and the matchup comes against a Panthers team that has given them trouble lately.
Florida has also been playing well, winning four of its last five behind the Tkachuk brothers and looking every bit like a tough measuring stick. For Washington, this is the kind of night fans will notice right away, not just for the new look but for whether the Capitals can match it with a sharper start and a more convincing response against a familiar problem. [Read more 🡒]