The recent woes of the Detroit Red Wings have left the team in a tough spot. Where some believe in sticking to the plan, others are prepared to hit the panic button. A culture shift, ultimately, is what the team needs, but some would prefer to take it a step further by trading a piece of the core. The name that most frequently pops up in these discussions is, of course, captain Dylan Larkin.
Larkin represents the heart and soul of this roster. You don't have to believe me, though -- take it from his teammates. “One of the things I’ve noticed is just his leadership," Patrick Kane said. "How not only can you say the right things in the locker room, but you bring it on the ice every night."
While Larkin has yet to bring his team to the playoffs, there's no denying that he gives his all every night. In his last game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Larkin, while in physical pain after every shift, ended the night with a goal and an assist. Despite his injuries, he's giving 110% every single night he's out there.
Whether you want him traded or not, though, he isn't going anywhere.
Dylan Larkin praised by USA teammates, coaches
No matter your opinion on the center, it's hard to deny Larkin's impact on his team. Take his post-game interview with Team USA, for example. Emily Kaplan of ESPN describes Larkin as a "heart and soul guy" and says all of his teammates praise him as a "big-game player".
Dylan Larkin is a heart-and-soul guy for every team he plays on. His USA teammates all gush about him showing up as a big game player.
You can see why, as he details the emotional rollercoaster of the 2-1 OT quarterfinal win against Sweden.https://t.co/rijhVpEvH4
“Larks has been like a little bit of an older brother mentor since I’ve known him,” said Team USA teammate Quinn Hughes. "Just a tremendous player, tremendous person and really close friend."
Every one of Larkin's coaches has sung praises for him. “Larks has done a great job of what we’ve asked of him,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “And whatever we ask him he embraces.”
It's hard to believe the Red Wings will move on from Larkin this offseason.
Why the Red Wings won't move on from Dylan Larkin
If you're ignoring the praises from coaches, insiders, players and staff and simply want a change, Larkin isn't the solution. He's the only player on this roster that's experienced Red Wings playoff hockey. He's a consistent 30 goal-scorer. He plays two-way hockey with a focus on both ends of the ice. Larkin is the only one that takes full accountability every time there's a loss. Every player that plays with Larkin performs at a higher level than they did before.
If the Red Wings were to trade Larkin, how would they replace these factors? That kind of production doesn't just pop up overnight. It's not every day you can find a 30-goal two-way center. Trading Larkin would signal a complete shift in direction and energy in the locker room. What would the return rate be on Larkin? A first round pick? A handful of first round picks? It's hard to imagine general manager Steve Yzerman would find a deal worth making at that level.
Patrick Kane on Dylan Larkin 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Fc7PClHVu5
February 20, 2026Trading Dylan Larkin doesn't make sense from any standpoint. To do so would signal the start of a longer rebuild and extend the playoff drought another several years. Even if the Red Wings were to package Larkin to acquire a player like, say, Elias Pettersson, there's no guarantee he can replace the two-way play and leadership Larkin brings to the table.