Last night was one of the craziest nights in NHL offseason history.
From the early morning trade of Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames to the brutal hosing the Chicago Blackhawks took in their Bowen Byram trade, it seems like everyone's in on the action this offseason.
Well, everyone but the Detroit Red Wings, that is.
It's been full radio silence from both the Steve Yzerman and soon-to-be former captain Dylan Larkin camp since the day Larkin requested a trade from the organization. No one, from Yzerman himself to the players, has said much of anything regarding the request -- or the direction the team is bound to take.
The worst part is, the team's all but handcuffed by this Larkin situation.
They can't make any additional trades without knowing what they're getting from the Larkin trade. Any and every move Yzerman could potentially make may be drastically shifted depending on the return for Larkin. If he's traded for futures, it's likely that the Red Wings start exploring markets for their older players. If they get immediate help, the team will pivot to adding rather than subtracting.
Still, anything - even a single hint - would work wonders for Red Wings fans right now.
Red Wings keeping the lid on things for now
Unfortunately, anyone familiar with the Red Wings knows their front office is notoriously tight-lipped. Nothing - not even a peep - leaves the organization without an intended purpose. This confounds both the media, who are desperate for information, and the fans, who are desperate for a sense of direction.
For better or worse, it doesn't appear as if we'll hear anything until after it happens.
The good news is that all of these moves have turned the offseason into a seller's market. Bowen Byram, a solid defenseman in his own right, netted the Sabres the fourth overall pick, the 45th pick and defenseman Louis Crevier. Oh, and they got to offload the Jordan Greenway contract, too.
For those eager to get Yzerman in on the action, it's a good thing he didn't jump the gun. Imagine if he'd traded multiple high-end picks and prospects for a middling return. Instead, these impulsive trades from teams like the Blackhawks have increased Larkin's trade value, making him one of the top trade candidates in the NHL.
What Red Wings fans can expect over the next few days
There are two major milestones Red Wings fans should keep an eye on for potential trades: the draft and the start of free agency.
Free agency this season looks to be pretty quiet, with Alex Tuch and Darren Raddysh, the two highest-ranked free agents, signing extensions with their new teams. The draft, on the other hand, could be a golden opportunity to force a team's hand. If the Red Wings can convince the Dallas Stars to part ways with some serious value, they can secure their long-term future and benefit from the short-term gain as well.
Despite the frustrating silence, Yzerman - and Larkin - will soon have their time in the limelight.
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