Sports

New Red Wings' Dylan Larkin Scenario Floated After Expanded Trade List

By Antonio Losada Athlon Sports

Updated July 14, 2026 7:47 AM

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) celebrates after scoring on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Dylan Larkin's trade request remains unresolved more than a month after it became public.

The Detroit Red Wings captain controls the process through the full no-movement clause in his eight-year, $69.6 million contract. Larkin originally approved the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights as his preferred destinations before recently adding the Dallas Stars and expanding his list.

That expansion, however, did not create much progress. According to MLive's Ansar Khan, Detroit asked the Stars for Wyatt Johnston in return for Larkin, but Dallas rejected that proposal and instead offered restricted free agent Jason Robertson.

The Red Wings passed on entertaining that counteroffer because there was no guarantee he would sign long-term with them after he filed for arbitration.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) looks on during a stoppage of play. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

With the NHL offseason entering its slowest portion and all of Larkin's preferred franchises having already done their business, The Athletic's Chris Johnston believes the situation could carry into September, as he stated on Friday's episode of "The Chris Johnston Show."

"It's gone quiet on his file," Johnston said. "As I've been saying all along with this one, it would not surprise me if we fire up the podcast the first week of September and Dylan Larkin's still a member of the Red Wings. I think that's very much on the table."

Johnston made clear that he doesn't believe Detroit is going to move Larkin simply to remove the distraction surrounding the organization.

"The Red Wings are just not in a position where they're going to trade him to get rid of the headache, the storyline, or the distraction," Johnston said. "Detroit has just not found anything close to what it's going to take from the places that he's willing to go to make the deal."

Chris Johnston: Re Dylan Larkin trade request: It's gone quiet on his file; it would not surprise me if...we fire up the podcast the first week of September and Larkin's still a member of the Red Wings - Chris Johnston Show (7/10)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 13, 2026

Johnston added that a trade may ultimately require Larkin to approve a destination outside his current four-team list.

"If a trade happens, I think it's likely to a destination that isn't currently on his list," Johnston said. "That comes down to, 'How badly do you want to go? How open-minded are you willing to be?"

Johnston justified the current stalemate by the offseason's slower nature as it drags deeper into the summer.

"Some of the urgency goes away as you get into the second week of July," Johnston said. "If you couldn't make that deal already, what's going to bring it on now?"

Unless Larkin expands his list again and quickly, or Detroit receives an unexpected, stronger offer, the Red Wings captain could report to training camp with the trade request still hanging over the franchise.

This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 7:30 AM.