By now, you've seen Dylan Larkin's name so many times you're probably sick of it.
The Detroit Red Wings and Larkin have been through a lot over the last six months. As of right now, it doesn't seem like either party is ready to cave to the other's interests. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes this could carry on up until American Thanksgiving, where one party will eventually cave to the other's interests.
With so many moving parts (and so much happening since the day of the trade request), I thought the best thing to do would be to document how far we've gone since the day the news broke.
Without further ado, I present to you the Dylan Larkin Trade Request Timeline (as of November 6, 2026):
The offseason saga: From request to press release
A few weeks before formally requesting a trade, Larkin made it clear to the media that he wants to remain a Red Wing for life.
Boy that quote didn't age well.
According to NHL insiders, Larkin made his trade request the moment the season ended. The request itself went public in June when announced by Elliotte Friedman. From there, chaos erupted. Questions on why Larkin requested the trade quickly emerged, with speculation ranging from the team's performance to his participation in Team USA. His fellow teammates, Brady Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck, both requested trades of their own, leaving many wondering what went on in the locker room to create this chain reaction.
Then came the list.
Larkin has a full no-movement clause, meaning he can choose the destination he'd like to go to if a trade occurs. Save for refusing to play (which we'll get to later), this is the main leverage in any trade talks.
Shortly following the request, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press announced that Larkin had a three-team trade list. At this time, Larkin would only go to three teams: the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild. He refused to budge on this request (at the time).
That is, until he adjusted his list later in the offseason.
Nearly a month after his request went public, Larkin expanded his trade list to four teams, throwing the Dallas Stars in the mix. At this point in time, fans had no contact from either Larkin or his agent, Pat Brisson. With no communication, frustrations boiled among fans. By the time September rolled around, the Red Wings still hadn't offered any clarity on what was going to happen with Larkin.
Then came the official statement.
Statements from Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings. https://t.co/P2sZjqp9Iz
September 11, 2026Larkin, unsurprisingly, was stripped of his captaincy shortly after.
The statement, the press conference and the disaster that followed
If the statement left by Larkin gave no clarity, the press conference was somehow worse. "The fans deserve answers," Larkin told reporters before giving them no answers whatsoever. He refused to provide any sort of clarity to the media, telling them that he's "not ready to go there" when it comes to talking about the request.
Many people wondered why he even bothered to have a press conference if he wasn't going to actually answer any questions.
At this point in time, the vibes seemed, at the very least, professional. Larkin was going to play with the Red Wings and they were going to work with him in order to facilitate that trade request. Then, Larkin sustained a preseason injury -- one that some doubted existed in the first place.
During Detroit's home opener, every player on the roster received an announcement and ovation (scratches included). When the time came for Larkin's, fans were, to put it bluntly, less than pleased. Boos rained down from every corner of Little Caesar's Arena. Larkin waved awkwardly before slinking down the tunnel toward the locker room.
Credit where credit's due: he took the beating in stride.
A few games later, Larkin made his season debut for the Red Wings. The boos turned into cheers as he scored his first goal of the season, propelling the Red Wings to a win over the Ottawa Senators.
This hero's welcome would, of course, be short lived.
Larkin's poor performance, refusal to play and the suspension
On paper, Larkin's six points in 10 games isn't particularly bad. In practice, however, his lack of effort was more than noticeable. He'd float around on the ice, fail to make key passes and put in the bare effort needed to produce. Despite ample play time (including key power play minutes), Larkin seemed disinterested in actually contributing in a meaningful way.
Soon, Larkin's list expanded, first becoming seven teams (adding the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche) before ballooning to 10 teams (the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes and Utah Mammoth entering the fold). Things seemed optimistic from a trade standpoint. With nearly a third to work around, interim general manager Shawn Horcoff had a lot to work with.
Then, following a win against the Edmonton Oilers, Larkin drew his line in the sand.
Larkin announced that he'd had enough and would no longer play for the Red Wings. He finished his time in Detroit with 818 career games, 278 goals and 649 points. The Red Wings, rather than waste time, suspended Larkin immediately, releasing another statement shortly after.
“We are disappointed by his decision, particularly given his obligations to the organization and his teammates," the statement reads. "Any trade must also be in the best interests of the Detroit Red Wings and support the organization's long-term goals. I want to thank and commend our coaches and players for their continued focus, and being committed to competing every day."
To add insult to injury, Larkin has reportedly refused to expand his 10-team trade list. Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson, released the following quote:
“Dylan’s had enough of the situation. We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process.”
Unfortunately for Brisson, Larkin's only point of leverage remains his no-movement clause. He can decide his destination, but he's still on the books for another four seasons after this one. There's not a whole lot he can do beyond that.
Where the Larkin - Red Wings saga currently sits
Right now, it looks like neither side is willing to budge. Horcoff, in his statement, made it clear that he isn't going to trade Larkin unless the trade represents the best interest of the Red Wings. Larkin refuses to budge on his 10 team list. Thus, it's become a proverbial game of chicken. Some have speculated that we'll see one (or both) parties crack by Thanksgiving.
Historic precedent has shown only one party budging so far, though. Larkin expanded his list from three to four to seven and now 10 teams. If that pattern is any indication, Larkin will likely move the goalposts if nothing changes.
Until then, we at Octopus Thrower will continue to update this piece as more information comes in.
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