What would you trade Larkin for... a thought exercise

[lilidk]

Someone taken in the next two drafts will be 22 or 21 in 4 yrs.

Larkin and DeBrincat will be 12yrs older, and at the end of their careers.

Both should decline shortly , one because he is undersized, other because of his style of game. So if we keep Larkin , in 5 years he will not be our first line center

 

[lilidk]

So if you like to trade them , this is the best time

 

[Frk It]

He’s hit on 100% of his 1st Rd picks thus far. Hitting on 50% of these 4 1st Rd picks…….and trading Larkin/DeBrincat for two good players a decade younger…….would be a complete coup.

And the odds are that he would probably hit on at least 3.

Have we talked about how your “4 1st round pick” return is totally arbitrary and pie in the sky?

It’s a lot more likely they would return two first round picks and a bunch of throw-ins.

 

[ElProfessor]

Both should decline shortly , one because he is undersized, other because of his style of game. So if we keep Larkin , in 5 years he will not be our first line center

By the time we reach our contention window, they’ll both be 3rd liners. And expensive. DeBrincat on a new deal especially. Time to trade both is now.

 

[ElProfessor]

Have we talked about how your “4 1st round pick” return is totally arbitrary and pie in the sky?

It’s a lot more likely they would return two first round picks and a bunch of throw-ins.

No. Larkin and DeBrincat would both return at least two 1sts.

Bertuzzi on an expiring deal returned a 1st.

 

[SoupNazi]

Seider, Raymond, Edvinsson, Cossa, Kasper, Danielson, ASP, MBN. “Hits”.

Last I checked, half of those guys hadn’t made their NHL debuts. How can you say they’ll be “hits” and productive NHLers, Professor?

 

[lilidk]

By the time we reach our contention window, they’ll both be 3rd liners. And expensive. DeBrincat on a new deal especially. Time to trade both is now.

Both probably will have solid 3 more years . Most importantly if there's a problem between Yzerman and Larkin and if is he should get traded. Problem is there is no guarantee that we get good return . There is always guys like Zadina or Yakupov and our scouts not the best in the business

 

[lilidk]

Bottom line if there is no conflict between Yzerman and Larkin ,we should not trade our best player and if Larkin wants out there is no reason to keep Cat. Then we should tank for greater opportunities in 2026

 

[heyfolks]

Why are we downgrading our roster?

A question was asked and answered. I didn't say I would trade him (I would not). However, in the how do you improve the Wings thread I want them to sign Bennett and Ekblad. This leads to that end, plus leaves money to sign another top 6 forward.

 

[lilidk]

Willander +unconditional 2026 first

 

[ElProfessor]

Last I checked, half of those guys hadn’t made their NHL debuts. How can you say they’ll be “hits” and productive NHLers, Professor?

Yeah. They look like busts. Great observation. Thank you for your input.

 

[SoupNazi]

Yeah. They look like busts. Great observation. Thank you for your input.

Have you seen them play in the NHL? I’m really curious. Can you share some of the highlights of those guys playing against other NHL teams?

Please do.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Thought exercise; if we trade Larkin then Minnesota is a team that would greatly benefit from it. They have a good prospect pool of guys just knocking on the door.

Larkin for Ohgren and Zeev Buium.

That’s about as close to win win that we’re going to get. Detroit gets younger with a solid top 6 winger prospect and a top 4 D prospect. Minnesota gets a top line center that’s better than anyone else they’ve had in the past.

It’s also only successful for Detroit if both Danielson and Kasper prove to be legit top 6 centers.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Thought exercise; if we trade Larkin then Minnesota is a team that would greatly benefit from it. They have a good prospect pool of guys just knocking on the door.

Larkin for Ohgren and Zeev Buium.

That’s about as close to win win that we’re going to get. Detroit gets younger with a solid top 6 winger prospect and a top 4 D prospect. Minnesota gets a top line center that’s better than anyone else they’ve had in the past.

It’s also only successful for Detroit if both Danielson and Kasper prove to be legit top 6 centers.

I’d be a big fan of Zeev from Minnesota or Willander from Vancouver. We’d have to feel really good about Marco (check!) and Nate at center, and if so the defense would be nasty.

 

[ElProfessor]

Have you seen them play in the NHL? I’m really curious. Can you share some of the highlights of those guys playing against other NHL teams?

Please do.

Yes. I have. They were great. Thanks for asking about all of our 1st rd busts.

 

[Henkka]

I was really surprised Z.Buium played 1st PP QB instead of Faber for the Wild at last playoff game.

 

[SoupNazi]

Have you seen them play in the NHL? I’m really curious. Can you share some of the highlights of those guys playing against other NHL teams?

Please do.

Yes. I have. They were great. Thanks for asking about all of our 1st rd busts.

Well then the bolded should be an easy feat.

 

[Ulysses31]

ive always been high on rossi. Rossi plus maybe a 1st considering the steal of a contract larkin is on.

 

[USAHockey97]

Last I checked, half of those guys hadn’t made their NHL debuts. How can you say they’ll be “hits” and productive NHLers, Professor?

Wondered the same.

 

[USAHockey97]

Well then the bolded should be an easy feat.

Careful, he’ll call you nuts soon.

Yzerman absolutely crushed his first three years of 1st round picks. Kasper looks decent so far and ASP looks promising. Danielson and MBN not as much. I want them all to succeed but as some writers and podcasters have mentioned, the wings lack high end talent in their current prospect pool. A lot of nice depth pieces though.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Careful, he’ll call you nuts soon.

Yzerman absolutely crushed his first three years of 1st round picks. Kasper looks decent so far and ASP looks promising. Danielson and MBN not as much. I want them all to succeed but as some writers and podcasters have mentioned, the wings lack high end talent in their current prospect pool. A lot of nice depth pieces though.

If you don't view Kasper as a "hit" you have a totally different definition of the word than I do.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

ive always been high on rossi. Rossi plus maybe a 1st considering the steal of a contract larkin is on.

I have never understood this board's fascination with Rossi. Nice player, but certainly not someone I pine for and certainly not someone I would pin our center depth on. The fact that MN would be willing to move on from him says a lot.

For purposes of full disclosure, I have little time for undersized centers.

 

[SirloinUB]

Have we talked about how your “4 1st round pick” return is totally arbitrary and pie in the sky?

It’s a lot more likely they would return two first round picks and a bunch of throw-ins.

He has full NTC so any trade discussion has to begin with an assumption that he is asking for a trade which typically hurts trade value. Fans are typically disappointed in the returns of star players. It is tough to win a deal where you move the best player, especially in the short term. All of that said, you present a legitimate perspective.

On the other hand, my question is: has an asset like Larkin been traded recently?

Quality 1st line player, prime aged, long term value contract. There is absolutely no uncertainty attached to Larkin which is the exact opposite situation of any star player trade I can think of.

Star's that are traded are typically pending free agents, have injury concerns, are overpaid, or demand out.

In Larkin's situation any version of this would probably fly under the radar for a while. Why? Two reasons. 1) I'd guess Larkin's top priority in this hypothetical would be playoffs/competing implying some level of flexibility on his landing spot 2) I don't think he'd want to completely sewer the organization on the way out so the "demand" would be more so of the nature of "let's work together to find a win-win change for Larkin and the Red Wings"

Yzerman runs a tight ship and because of the contract has no obligation to trade Larkin. I think trade talks would fly under the radar mitigating the impact the NTC has on the trade value.

All of that said, I'm probably talking my self into hypothetical disappoint because of my first paragraph. It just seems like a unique scenario. Realistically the range of outcomes is somewhere between Horvat and Rantanen imo.


Regardless, other than off season BS'n were a long ways away from this hypothetical.

 

[heyfolks]

He's also slated to be a FA in 2 months!

I did say trade and sign. All of you looking for off season content and projected angst... you are welcome.

It is amazing how many say Larkin is a #2 center and then have these fits when he is considered a #2 center.

To be clear, see UFA signing thread, I do not want him moved. I want

Larkin
BENNETT (Yes, he is a free agent)
Kasper
Copp


Let the Karate Kid over ripen. Sign Ekblad! < This is why I am rotting for Tampa. I want these two fresh and hungry for next season.

 

[Hockeyfan200]

Thought exercise; if we trade Larkin then Minnesota is a team that would greatly benefit from it. They have a good prospect pool of guys just knocking on the door.

Larkin for Ohgren and Zeev Buium.

That’s about as close to win win that we’re going to get. Detroit gets younger with a solid top 6 winger prospect and a top 4 D prospect. Minnesota gets a top line center that’s better than anyone else they’ve had in the past.

It’s also only successful for Detroit if both Danielson and Kasper prove to be legit top 6 centers.

There's less than zero chance at all wild are going to trade Buium for anyting. Rossi is the one whose getting traded. You won't get Buium from wild