The Detroit Red Wings are dealing with the worst case scenario this summer after once again failing to make it to the playoffs. On Thursday, Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that team captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade from the team. This would bring an end to Larkin's tenure after 11 seasons with the team, and puts the team in a difficult situation.
Obviously, the Red Wings are planning to finally get past the road block and get back into the playoffs. They nearly had a chance this season, but a late collapse and a barrage of injuries ended their chances. What makes it more frustrating was that the Red Wings were in a playoff spot for the majority of the season. The reporting suggests that Larkin is frustrated by the repeated failures to make the playoffs and has a frosty relationship with general manager Steve Yzerman, dating back to contract negotiations in 2023.
If Larkin is indeed sent out, what would the Red Wings' plans be? Would they begin retooling? Or could they find a way to get a superstar to Detroit? Regarding the latter, would it really be the right direction?
Red Wings pivoting to replace Dylan Larkin may not help them out
The Athletic's Red Wings beat reporter Max Bultman laid out scenarios to fill the void left by Larkin. When discussing the team potentially targeting Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson or St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, but stresses that both would not really help them.
When it comes to Robertson, Bultman says that while it would be considered a splash, the Red Wings would still need help at center. That, and their younger centers in Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson haven't panned out just yet.
"But now, even if Detroit were to acquire a splashy winger such as the Dallas Stars’ Jason Robertson, there would still be a glaring question as to who would center the top line," writes Bultman.
"The Red Wings did draft two young centers with top-10 picks in 2022 and 2023 in Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson. But Kasper struggled through a sophomore slump after a strong rookie season and may be better cast in the middle six than on the top line, while Danielson has just 28 NHL games under his belt and finished the season injured. Both will be just 22 next season."
When looking at the center depth on Detroit, it looks pretty dire. Emmitt Finnie and Andrew Copp would slot in as their top two centers, with J.T. Compher and Kasper filling the bottom two center roles. As Bultman mentions Danielson didn't get much playing time in Detroit due to injury. That is a gamble the Red Wings will be taking. It's the worst possible time to need center help when your top option in Larkin wants out. As for Kasper, he played 81 games this year, recorded 19 points 9nine goals, 10 assists) and won 51.5 percent of his face-offs.
As for Robertson, there are conflicting reports as to whether or not he'll be retained by the Stars. Robertson is a restricted free agent, and the Stars are strapped for cash (cap space), so they'll need to make some moves to retain him. ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports that all signs point to the Stars signing Robertson to an extension. AFP Analytics projects Robertson could earn an eight-year extension which carries an $11.9 million annual cap hit.
If the Red Wings wanted to replace Larkin with Thomas, they'd have to give the Blues a call. It's well known since this past trade deadline that the Blues are looking for a ton for Thomas, with The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reporting back in February that they were looking for "three first-half-of-the-first-round assets" for Thomas. That means the Blues are looking for the equivalent of established young players, prospects, or draft picks that were either selected or could be selected in the top 15. That's a lot for the Red Wings, who don't even have a Top 15 pick in this year's class, because of the Justin Faulk trade at the deadline.
While Thomas would be one of the top additions of the entire offseason if the Red Wings are to pull off a trade, Bultman says that it would put the team in the same situation as they are with Larkin. As in, they'd still have needs across the roster.
"Detroit could instead pursue another top-line center via trade, such as the St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas, but that would essentially get them back to where they are now — a little younger, but still with major holes to fill just to get into the playoffs," writes Bultman.
Thomas would not fix what ails the Red Wings. Plus, they'd have even less assets at their disposal considering the Blues are looking for a huge haul in return for Thomas.
Whatever is to happen when it comes to Larkin, it's not going to be an easy fix for the Red Wings and Yzerman. One has to wonder if things would have been different if the Red Wings didn't have the late-season collapse and made the playoffs.
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