The Dylan Larkin fiasco with the Detroit Red Wings has nearly hit its breaking point.
Between Steve Yzerman's resignation and Helene St. James confirming the front office is furious with Larkin, the battle of the unstoppable force vs. the unmovable object wages on.
Despite this, one member of this feud has overplayed his hand. As of right now, it looks like he's run out of options.
Dylan Larkin has one big bargaining chip in this whole process: his no-movement clause. He gets the final say on where he's traded to and can veto that trade at any time. Beyond that, though, he really doesn't have much in terms of bargaining power.
His insultingly short trade list may have hamstrung the organization in terms of negotiating power, but in a roundabout way, it's also backfired on Larkin.
Larkin out of options with Red Wings
As of right now, Dylan Larkin has three actions he can pursue with his future:
- Expand his trade list
- Wait for the right deal to manifest itself
- Refuse to play, rendering the Red Wings off the hook on his salary
The last of these options is the least likely. If Larkin truly does want to move on, the best thing he can do is either expand his destinations or perform well enough to justify a suitable return.
Larkin is a cost-controlled top-20 center in the NHL with five years left on his contract. Until the Red Wings find a deal that makes them happy, they won't trade Larkin. No matter what anyone on social media says (Minnesota Wild fans or otherwise), the Red Wings are under no pressure to move Larkin unless they're thrilled with the deal.
Larkin move on hold until new GM is hired
Additionally, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Red Wings likely won't trade Larkin until the new general manager is selected. There are too many moving parts to justify pulling the trigger on a Larkin trade -- especially at this time of year. There are still two months to go before puck drop, and, in that time, the Red Wings will go to any lengths possible to find the right candidate.
For those who think that a new general manager will convince Larkin to stay, I have some bad news. Helene St. James confirmed on the Jason Gregor Show recently that the front office is furious with Dylan Larkin. Larkin's contract was front-loaded, meaning he earned the majority of its value during the first three years of its terms.
To the Red Wings, who have invested untold amounts of money into drafting and developing Larkin, this is seen as a slap in the face. It's hard to blame the organization, either, considering how he's gone about this process.
Ultimately, Larkin's left with three moves: expand his list, wait out the right deal or refuse to play (or get paid). If he wants this over with quickly, he'll need to expand his list. Until then, it's just another day in the waiting game.
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