As if the 2025-26 regular season wasn't enough of a nightmare for Detroit Red Wings fans, they are going to have to brace for a difficult offseason. That's because captain Dylan Larkin reportedly requested a trade from the team last week, which would bring an end to his tenure in Detroit after 11 seasons. Trading any face of the franchise will be difficult, and it will be one that general manager Steve Yzerman must navigate this offseason.
Even though Larkin does hold the cards on where he gets traded, Yzerman does hold a final say in the matter. Larkin may have the full no-movement clause and reportedly only has interest in the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Minnesota Wild, Yzerman can still choose to hold onto the captain if he doesn't feel he's getting a good return. However long this saga goes, it will define Yzerman's tenure.
Next offseason, Yzerman may have another difficult decision ahead of him, as forward Alex DeBrincat becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Steve Yzerman may have difficult Alex DeBrincat decision ahead of him next year
Once the Red Wings trade Larkin (whenever that may be), DeBrincat will instantly become the team's most important forward on the roster. Losing Larkin instantly depletes their center depth, with the Red Wings desperately needing to rely on young players to take that next step like Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson. When it comes to scoring, DeBrincat is their best forward.
This past season, DeBrincat led the Red Wings with 41 goals and 85 points through 82 games. His 41 goals and 44 assists were the most he ever recorded in a season in his entire nine year career.
DeBrincat is on the brink of entering the final year of his four-year, $31.5 million contract with the Red Wings. Detroit can consider themselves lucky that he's not a free agent this summer, as he very well could have cashed-in in a weak open market. Even so, it's not a given that DeBrincat will stay with the team. The chances of him staying could very well get affected if Larkin is truly dealt to another team this summer.
While one of the main reasons for Larkin wanting out is the team's 10-year playoff drought, the other was his relationship with Yzerman. ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that things became frosty between captain and general manager since the two sides negotiated a contract extension back in 2023. Then, there was Larkin's public criticism of Yzerman's lack of moves at the trade deadline in 2025 to help them make a push for the playoffs that season, saying that the team needed a morale boost. Yzerman responded, saying that it was up to their best players and leaders are expected to give the team a morale boost, not outside players.
Could the detriorating relationship between Larkin and Yzerman serve as a bit of a warning for other players on the roster? Who knows. But it does serve as a bit of a wake-up call for Red Wings fans.
DeBrincat could very well cash-in as a free agent in 2027, given that he is a consistent 65-point-plus player in the past five seasons. To retain him, Yzerman would have to make him the highest-paid player on the team, with The Athletic's Max Bultman suggesting that Adrian Kempe's eight-year, $85.5 million ($10.625 million annual salary) could be the floor of a deal.
Losing Larkin will be brutal for the Red Wings. Potentially losing DeBrincat next offseason could be a nightmare for Detroit and Yzerman.
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