The Minnesota Wild’s search for a No. 1 center took a big turn last week when Dylan Larkin requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings. A Michigan native and current captain for Detroit, Larkin could fill the Wild’s need down the middle, but there are several obstacles they need to clear before they hand him a green sweater this summer.
Fortunately, it appears the Wild have cleared the first hurdle. According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Larkin has included Minnesota on a list of three destinations he would like to be traded to this summer along with the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights.
While St. James cautioned the list may have to be expanded if Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman can’t get the return he’s looking for, the inclusion of the Wild is a big step considering Larkin has a full no-trade clause. That could be the genesis of a deal and help Minnesota potentially solve its need for a top center.
Wild may already have the advantage in Dylan Larkin trade pursuit
Larkin’s reported three-team list seems to be in the Wild’s favor. The Panthers could offer more in a trade and The Athletic’s Max Bultman and Corey Pronman speculated that could include the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 draft, center Eetu Luostarinen and left wing Sandis Vilmanis. But St. James added that “the return would have to be phenomenal” for the Red Wings to trade Larkin within the Atlantic Division.
The Golden Knights also are an attractive team that entered Monday with a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. But while Vegas could send a top prospect like Pavel Dorofeyev, they would also need to do some financial gymnastics to complete a trade.
According to Puckpedia, Vegas has just $4.63 million in cap space remaining for next season, meaning they would have to send center William Karlson ($5.9 million for 2026-27) or goaltender Aidn Hill ($6.25 million AAV through 2030-31) back in a deal to fit Larkin’s $8.7 million AAV through the 2030-31 season. The Golden Knights also don’t have a first-round pick until 2028, watering down a potential offer.
With this in mind, the Wild seem like the front-runner for Larkin’s services. The Athletic floated an offer of Jesper Wallstedt, Danila Yurov and Charlie Stramel in exchange for Larkin and goaltender Sebastian Cossa and Minnesota has $12.7 million in cap space, which is enough to bring the Red Wings captain aboard.
Of course, the question will be whether that’s enough. St. James speculated the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning could all be in consideration if Larkin is asked to expand his list. But the Wild may be the team he chooses based on their standing as a Cup contender and his familiarity with Bill Guerin, who served as the general manager of the United States 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympic teams which Larkin was selected for over the past two seasons.
It’ll be up to the two sides to complete a deal. But if the Wild have made the initial cut, it’s a good step for fans hoping to fill the top center void this summer.
