Red Wings GM Yzerman: ‘no guarantees’ of a Larkin trade

The drama in Hockeytown continues on with a slight update.

When speaking to the media following the 2026 NHL Draft, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was asked about the trade request from captain Dylan Larkin.

Yzerman confirmed that Larkin has asked for a trade, but it’s not set in stone that a move will be made by the time the 2026-27 campaign begins.

“My job as the manager of the Detroit Red Wings is always to do what is in the best interest of the Detroit Red Wings,” Yzerman said. “I will act accordingly to that. So, I cannot make any guarantees, or did not make any guarantees that that request could or would be met. There is certainly a lot of uncertainty around that.”

It came out earlier this month that the Waterford Township, Mich. native had requested a trade after the Red Wings missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th year in a row. Larkin reportedly gave a three-team list that he wanted to go to, with his interests lying with the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights. That list might have to change after the Panthers went out and acquired Matthew Tkachuk’s brother, Brady, from the Ottawa Senators.

On top of that, Larkin has significant term on his current contract. He’ll be heading into the fourth season of his eight-year contract extension, which he signed in March 2023 after months of back and forth between Larkin’s camp and Yzerman. The deal carries a cap hit of $8.7 million, with a full no-trade clause through the 2027-28 campaign.

Larkin has been Michigan through and through for his entire life. He played all of his minor hockey in the Detroit area, spent time with the U.S. National Team Development Program before spending a year at the University of Michigan, and has been a member of the Red Wings since 2015. He ranks 10th in franchise history in goals (276) and points (643). However, he’s only ever been to the playoffs once, that coming during his rookie season in 2016.