2026 Wings Summer Trade Predictions

[Steve Yzerlland]

Larkin doesn't get traded and plays in Detroit until at least the trade deadline.

He could also have a change of heart and decide to stay ... and because Red Wing fans are so understanding and calm, everything that transpired this off-season will be forgotten.

DeBrincat gets the "C" and a shiny new 6-year contract extension at 12M per annum.

This will never happen. Larkin will be booed every time he touches the puck and he will look like a chump skating around without the C he forfeited. Get his ass tf outta here or sit him out.

 

[stillwater]

See, Red Wings fans are the epitome of calm and understanding.

 

[SirloinUB]

Larkin doesn't get traded and plays in Detroit until at least the trade deadline.

He could also have a change of heart and decide to stay ... and because Red Wing fans are so understanding and calm, everything that transpired this off-season will be forgotten.

DeBrincat gets the "C" and a shiny new 6-year contract extension at 12M per annum.

I try to be open minded but Larkin was already on thin ice with me before this request. I'm okay with slow playing it but I don't think Larkin has a long term future with this organization.

Could cooler heads prevail? I suppose stranger things have happened but he made his bed.

 

[stillwater]

Sure, I completely agree ... but given how emotional Larkin is, the winds blow one way one day, and the other the next day.

The odds are long, but you don't win the big money, if you don't bet the long odds.

 

[izlez]

See, Red Wings fans are the epitome of calm and understanding.

I have no trouble very calmly booing him every time he touches the puck

 

[TheOctopusKid]

I'm going to make alternative trade prediction:

I think Yzerman is trading for an aging, proven veteran leader to add to the team and is giving them an 'A' immediately. I think this will be a top priority for the offseason and kind of end up being 'panned' as a move because it will be a "why is Stevie adding another washed up vet?' kind of vibe to it but it's done expressly to reset the locker room culture and to help out Mo + Ray, etc.

It's going to be at the high end a guy like a O'Reily, Stamkos, or Schenn (don't scream, I'm using then as an example). Someone whose a Captain or A level leader whose know for being hardworking, great locker room leader, veteran whose gone deep or won it all, etc. but definitely someone that commands respect, etc.

 

[SirloinUB]

I have no trouble very calmly booing him every time he touches the puck

Sometimes I feel bad for Larkin. Not in a, "he is so hard done by" kind of way. He made his bed, now he can lay in it.


One thing Ill never take away from him is the time he put into this organization and the previous desire to win with this team. Obviously things didn't work out and and he quit on the team, fans and city. I don't think fans owe him shit at this point and he deserves to be booed. Still, he was a guy that badly wanted to win in Detroit.

I'm no longer a fan of his, I don't want him on this team moving and he deserves to be booed. Still, I do have some empathy for the human being who be booed by his hometown moving forward. That can't feel good.

Not sure if this sentiment resonates with anyone else.

 

[saska sault]

Sometimes I feel bad for Larkin. Not in a, "he is so hard done by" kind of way. He made his bed, now he can lay in it.


One thing Ill never take away from him is the time he put into this organization and the previous desire to win with this team. Obviously things didn't work out and and he quit on the team, fans and city. I don't think fans owe him shit at this point and he deserves to be booed. Still, he was a guy that badly wanted to win in Detroit.

I'm no longer a fan of his, I don't want him on this team moving and he deserves to be booed. Still, I do have some empathy for the human being who be booed by his hometown moving forward. That can't feel good.

Not sure if this sentiment resonates with anyone else.

It does. He had some hardships off the ice and has represented the Wings with pride, unfortunately he never was able to accomplish much with the team and will be remembered for his exit rather than his decade plus of work. Wish him well but I will be booing him on the ice for the rest of his playing career. I am sure he is a great person, just couldn't live up to the lofty expectations of being the captain in "Hockeytown".

 

[The Zermanator]

I'm going to make alternative trade prediction:

I think Yzerman is trading for an aging, proven veteran leader to add to the team and is giving them an 'A' immediately. I think this will be a top priority for the offseason and kind of end up being 'panned' as a move because it will be a "why is Stevie adding another washed up vet?' kind of vibe to it but it's done expressly to reset the locker room culture and to help out Mo + Ray, etc.

It's going to be at the high end a guy like a O'Reily, Stamkos, or Schenn (don't scream, I'm using then as an example). Someone whose a Captain or A level leader whose know for being hardworking, great locker room leader, veteran whose gone deep or won it all, etc. but definitely someone that commands respect, etc.

I could see what you’re saying happening, and if this incoming player is replacing say a Rasmussen, it’s easily an improvement.

That said, I think Larkin’s departure on its own will have a big effect in terms of resetting the locker room culture. Same thing probably about to happen in Ottawa with Tkachuk gone. Hard to establish any kind of positive vibes in the room when the supposed “leader” is a chronic malcontent.

I think the room will be in a much better state with Seider setting the tone from the top down.

 

[jaster]

Sometimes I feel bad for Larkin. Not in a, "he is so hard done by" kind of way. He made his bed, now he can lay in it.


One thing Ill never take away from him is the time he put into this organization and the previous desire to win with this team. Obviously things didn't work out and and he quit on the team, fans and city. I don't think fans owe him shit at this point and he deserves to be booed. Still, he was a guy that badly wanted to win in Detroit.

I'm no longer a fan of his, I don't want him on this team moving and he deserves to be booed. Still, I do have some empathy for the human being who be booed by his hometown moving forward. That can't feel good.

Not sure if this sentiment resonates with anyone else.

I'm kinda there with you, though for me it's less empathy for him inevitably getting booed and more a mourning of what could have been. Getting booed will surely suck for him, but these kinds of things always have me return to "these are people getting paid millions to play a game for a living while other humans are perpetually starving" and my empathy promptly returns to where I believe it should be. No, empathy isn't a zero-sum game, but one kind can sort of negate the other imo. In short, I just really don't care about Dylan Larkin anymore.

 

[SirloinUB]

It does. He had some hardships off the ice and has represented the Wings with pride, unfortunately he never was able to accomplish much with the team and will be remembered for his exit rather than his decade plus of work. Wish him well but I will be booing him on the ice for the rest of his playing career. I am sure he is a great person, just couldn't live up to the lofty expectations of being the captain in "Hockeytown".

I'm kinda there with you, though for me it's less empathy for him inevitably getting booed and more a mourning of what could have been. Getting booed will surely suck for him, but these kinds of things always have me return to "these are people getting paid millions to play a game for a living while other humans are perpetually starving" and my empathy promptly returns to where I believe it should be. No, empathy isn't a zero-sum game, but one kind can sort of negate the other imo. In short, I just really don't care about Dylan Larkin anymore.

Ya, Ill shed no tears for him, nor will I suggest he shouldn't be booed. I just know there is a human there that badly wanted to win in Detroit and put it in a lot of work to help push the team in that direction. He'll be fine and as pointed out, makes millions to play a game so I'm definitely not trying to start a pity party for him.

I also think there is some merit to the angle of: it's just time for both sides to move on. The Dylan Larkin led Detroit Red Wings wasn't working for anyone.

It's clearly a setback but we may end up better for it in the long run.

 

[The Zermanator]

I'm kinda there with you, though for me it's less empathy for him inevitably getting booed and more a mourning of what could have been. Getting booed will surely suck for him, but these kinds of things always have me return to "these are people getting paid millions to play a game for a living while other humans are perpetually starving" and my empathy promptly returns to where I believe it should be. No, empathy isn't a zero-sum game, but one kind can sort of negate the other imo. In short, I just really don't care about Dylan Larkin anymore.

My feelings on it perfectly represented in gif format:

 

[jaster]

Ya, Ill shed no tears for him, nor will I suggest he shouldn't be booed. I just know there is a human there that badly wanted to win in Detroit and put it in a lot of work to help push the team in that direction. He'll be fine and as pointed out, makes millions to play a game so I'm definitely not trying to start a pity party for him.

I also think there is some merit to the angle of: it's just time for both sides to move on. The Dylan Larkin led Detroit Red Wings wasn't working for anyone.

It's clearly a setback but we may end up better for it in the long run.

Nah, I know you're not trying to start a pity party, I get what you're saying. I'm just over here trying to dehumanize millionaire athletes a little. Just a little.

 

[SirloinUB]

Nah, I know you're not trying to start a pity party, I get what you're saying. I'm just over here trying to dehumanize millionaire athletes a little. Just a little.

They do live a bubble wrapped life with all of the luxuries and definitely miss out on some of the "human experience" the rest of us "get to" experience.

 

[jaster]

They do live a bubble wrapped life with all of the luxuries and definitely miss out on some of the "human experience" the rest of us "get to" experience.

"Get to" haha, yeah that's right!

 

[USAHockey97]

Sometimes I feel bad for Larkin. Not in a, "he is so hard done by" kind of way. He made his bed, now he can lay in it.


One thing Ill never take away from him is the time he put into this organization and the previous desire to win with this team. Obviously things didn't work out and and he quit on the team, fans and city. I don't think fans owe him shit at this point and he deserves to be booed. Still, he was a guy that badly wanted to win in Detroit.

I'm no longer a fan of his, I don't want him on this team moving and he deserves to be booed. Still, I do have some empathy for the human being who be booed by his hometown moving forward. That can't feel good.

Not sure if this sentiment resonates with anyone else.

While I was bummed he wanted out, I don’t blame him one bit. I wouldn’t boo him at all. He’s doing what’s best for himself. He’ll be fine. He’ll go make a lot of money and live in a nice place. Detroit should be the least of his worries. The dude gave 10 years trying to help this franchise with 7 under Yzerman. I think he saw the writing on the wall that Yzerman isn’t getting them there. I hope he wins a cup elsewhere. People forget too that these athletes want to win, not be stuck in mediocrity their entire career.

 

[jaster]

While I was bummed he wanted out, I don’t blame him one bit. I wouldn’t boo him at all. He’s doing what’s best for himself. He’ll be fine. He’ll go make a lot of money and live in a nice place. Detroit should be the least of his worries. The dude gave 10 years trying to help this franchise with 7 under Yzerman. I think he saw the writing on the wall that Yzerman isn’t getting them there. I hope he wins a cup elsewhere. People forget too that these athletes want to win, not be stuck in mediocrity their entire career.

Don't worry, for every person who won't boo, I'll boo twice.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

If Cat is also on the table call Utah and package them for a monster haul

 

[Ricelund]

Pagnotta has no clue what he's talking about.

 

[The Zermanator]

If Cat is also on the table call Utah and package them for a monster haul

Larkin
Debrincat
Cossa

for

Desnoyers
Iginla
Simashev
19th OA

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Larkin
Debrincat
Cossa

for

Desnoyers
Iginla
Simashev
19th OA

Add Peterka and LFG!