It's no secret that the Minnesota Wild are looking for a No. 1 center this offseason. Reports indicated it, and general manager Bill Guerin has said it publicly that that is their goal for the summer. The thing is, there weren't big names available in free agency and the trade block that would become immediate difference makers for Minnesota. That was, until Thursday.
Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Detroit Red Wings center and captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade. After 11 years with the Red Wings, Larkin wants out and to play for a new team.
Given the Wild's need for a top-line center, they instantly came to mind as a logical landing spot for Larkin. Not to mention he has the Team USA connection with Guerin, Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy, and Brock Faber. The Wild need to add more talent to ensure they can get through the top of the Central Division to reach the Stanley Cup Final. Larkin fits the bill of a player that could help them reach new heights, and the center can finally make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
But what exactly would it take for the Wild to secure Larkin from the Red Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman?
Wild may have to give up some top young talent if they want Dylan Larkin
For Wild fans, they know what it could potentially cost for them to potentially acquire Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. The package that the Wild offered to the Rangers for Trocheck was prospect Charlie Stramel, a 2027 first-round pick, and another player or prospect. But that was for Trocheck, who is a good top six forward. For Larkin, the Wild would have to give up significantly more.
Sure, Larkin does have a full no-trade clause, but Yzerman will likely want a premium in return.
ESPN's Greg Wyshynski wrote up a trade candidate rankings list for the offseason, and Larkin was, unsurprisingly, included on it. Wyshynski brought up the Wild as a landing spot for Larkin, considering his close friendship with Hughes. But Wyshynski reminds readers that the Wild offered goalie Jesper Wallstedt and forward Danila Yurov to the St. Louis Blues for center Robert Thomas.
"It's here we'll note that one of his closest friends is Minnesota Wild star defenseman Quinn Hughes, who plays for a team that certainly could use a No. 1 center. The Wild had goalie Jesper Wallstedt and forward Danila Yurov in trade offer for Robert Thomas last season, as an FYI," writes Wyshynski.
Wyshynski wouldn't bring up that trade offer for no particular reason. Either Wallstedt or Yurov (or both) may be what it takes for the Wild to acquire Larkin.
It's no secret that the Wild have a goaltending controversy on their hands between Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson. Wallstedt received the starting nod heading into the playoffs, with Gustavsson only playing in Game 2 of their second round series against the Colorado Avalanche. Heading into the offseason, it felt entirely possible that one of them could be traded. Gustavsson was going to be a bit of a difficult move considering he holds a no-movement clause until 2028. Things only escalated after it was revealed that Gustavsson needed hip surgery this offseason, and there was no definitive time table for a return.
As for Yurov, it's no secret that Guerin is apprehensive about trading him. It was reported that the Rangers were seeking Yurov in a trade return for Trocheck, but Guerin was not willing to include him. Yurov, their 2022 first-round pick, just completed his rookie season, where he recorded 12 goals and 15 assists in 73 games. Maybe the Wild didn't want to give up Yurov for Trocheck. But Larkin? That may change things for Guerin.
There is going to be competition for Larkin, so the Wild may have to make their best possible offer to land him.
