The Minnesota Wild's trade offer for Dylan Larkin is proof the Maple Leafs don't have the assets necessary to land the Red Wings captain even if they tried.
Dylan Larkin's time with the Red Wings is coming to an end. It's a matter of when, not if, and not a day goesby when fans around the league aren't speculating about where he'll end up.
He's reportedly open to altering his trade list so that it's a bit easier to facilitate a deal, however that doesn't drop his price any and it certainly makes things harder for teams to acquire him.
Minnesota willing to pay a heavy price to add Dylan Larkin
Those who are interested in him are going to need to pay a handsome price, and according to Elliotte Friedman - the Minnesota Wild's package is the one that could end up being the most lucrative for Detroit:
Minnesota is believed to be dangling rapidly-improving Danila Yurov, another veteran (trade protection has me uncertain of whomst) and a Costco of firsts. But it is hands off the core, as the desire is to strengthen, not go sideways.
Educated guess: the Wild seem to be betting that their best offer beats the best offer from any other team Larkin is willing to go to. Let's see if the Red Wings draw anything on the river.
No word on if those firsts come with a free sample of pretzels, but considering that the Wild hold a total of three firsts, they could easily just decide to package them all up alongside that veteran and Yurov.
Why Minnesota has the advantage over the Maple Leafs
Who that veteran is remains unclear to Friedman, though when it comes to trade protection there is a potential that Yakov Trenin, Maxim Shabanov, or Ryan Hartman could be dealt.
Trenin and Hartman have 10-team modified no-trade clauses but it's unknown if the Red Wings are on that list, meanwhile Shabanov has no trade protection, is 26 years old, and could be a key NHL-ready piece that the Red Wings target.
If the Red Wings are desperate enough to trade Larkin, then a deal that looks like this could be enough to twist GM Shawn Horcoff's arm:
To Detroit:
(F) Danila Yurov
(F) Maxim Shabanov
2027 First-Round Pick
2028 First-Round Pick
2029 First-Round Pick
2029 Third-Round Pick
To Minnesota:
(F) Dylan Larkin
This trade gives the Wild their 2C and target they have been hungry to acquire for months meanwhile the Red Wings get a massive haul with a blossoming 22-year-old, a 26-year-old in his prime, and three firsts on top of another third rounder for an added sweetener.
Toronto can't even come close to that. Not only do they not have the player assets like Yurov and certainly have no intentions of trading Easton Cowan - so that's one down.
And three firsts? If this was 2018 maybe, but with only a 2027 first from Colorado they are seriously at a disadvantage.
If you're Horcoff, that's an offer you can't ignore especially when you have someone who refuses to play for you and would rather forgo salary then ever wear the jersey of a team who's legacy stretches over a century.
Do you think the Minnesota Wild are going to acwuire Dylan Larkin?
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