Three weeks ago, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade to one of three teams: Florida, Vegas and Minnesota.
Florida acquired Senators captain Brady Tkachuk in a blockbuster deal but Vegas and Minnesota have yet to make a major move.
Now, on the eve of the NHL Draft in Buffalo, the Red Wings are rumored to be in the running for former Little Caesars forward Jason Robertson.
Robertson is a 45-goal scorer for the Dallas Stars, who weren’t on Larkin’s original list of teams but are perennial contenders.
The big drawback?
The Northville native is reportedly targeting a $14 million per year contract, equaling the deal by Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.
“He (Robertson) isn’t a great skater but he has that Alex DeBrincat knack for scoring goals,” Red Wings beat reporter Ted Kulfan said on The Detroit News’ OctoPulse podcast. “He also plays with better talent and that always scares me when a guy like that comes to a lesser team. Sometimes that doesn’t work out too well.
“I don’t know if that’s an exact fit. I think Dallas might want a little more than Dylan Larkin from what I’ve heard. Would Robertson be thrilled about coming to Detroit? I don’t see Steve Yzerman paying $13 or $14 million dollars a year to a player. That seems a little far-fetched right now.”
According to multiple sources on Thursday night, the Seattle Kraken were given permission by Dallas to talk to Robertson and offered him approximately $15 million per year on a eight-year deal — but the offer was declined.
Neither the Stars nor the Kraken agreed to comment, nor did Robertson’s representative, Andy Scott.
Today’s podcast, episode 147, also includes Tony Paul’s interview with Hilary Knight, who signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday afternoon with Detroit’s PWHL expansion team.
Subscribe to Detroit News podcasts
iTunes
Spotify
Previous OctoPulse podcasts
Larkin trade could put Wings in draft lottery
Should Red Wings trade Lucas Raymond?
Red Wings endure staggering fall from grace
Wings’ McLellan pushes right buttons in Philly
Faulk to make debut vs. Devils; Larkin sidelined
USA Hockey ‘on top of the mountain’ with double gold medals
Unlikely assist on Red Wings goal; playoff chances
Edvinsson injury tests Wings’ blueline depth
Fedorov, Kane cap historic week in Red Wings’ history
Nate Danielson demoted; Dave Goricki tribute
OctoPulse guests in alphabetical order
A: Trey Augustine, Dave Andrews, Kenny Albert, Kashawn Aitcheson
B: Riley Brengman, John Bacon, Red Berenson, Matt Beniers, Scotty Bowman, Joe Bowen, Cooper Black, Phil Bourque, Jason Bukala, Nick Bogas
C: Steve Coates, Leo Carlsson, Mike Cammalleri, Logan Cooley, Caley Chelios, Cole Caufield, Mitchell Clinton, Mellissa Channell-Watkins
D: Nate Danielson, Dave Drinkill, Jamie Drysdale, Ken Dryden, Jake Davis
E: Cole Eiserman, Simon Edvinsson, Mike Emrick, Emerson Etem
F: Jordan Forgione, Everett Fitzhugh, Jim Fox, John Forslund
G: Cutter Gauthier, Dylan Guenther, Jerry Green, Stu Grimson, Gerard Gallant, Liam Greentree, Bruce Garrioch, John Garrett
H: William Horcoff, Mark Howe, Cross Hanas, Luke Hughes, Murray Howe, Milan Hejduk, Brian Hayward, Brandon Hawkins
I: Greg Innis
J: Kent Johnson
K: Joakim Kemell, Mark Kirton, Megan Keller, John Kelly, Mike Keenan, Emily Kaplan, Rich Kincaide, Alex Kannok Leipert, Ryan Kennedy, Hilary Knight
L: Ryan Leonard, Nick Libett, Chaz Lucius, Brian Lawton, Pat Lafontaine, Nicklas Lidstrom, Craig Laughlin, Dave Legwand, Bill Lindsay
M: Doug MacLean, Al Montoya, Tim Mayer, Wes McCauley, Dan Milstein, Max Namestnikov, Ken Morrow
N: Ted Nolan, Frank Nazar, Dwayne Norris, Pat Nagle
O: Mark O’Brien, Phil Osaer
P: Madison Packer, Dave Poulin, Gabe Perreault, Jakub Petr, Doug Plagens, Cole Perfetti, Darren Pang, Zayne Parekh, Julie Petry, Chris Pronger
R: Abby Roque, Jason Ross, Manon Rheaume, Lucas Raymond, Marco Rossi, Luc Robitaille, Marcus Ragnarsson, Sam Rosen, Daryl Reaugh
S: Riley Sawchuk, Bob Stauffer, Will Smith, John Shannon, Paul Stewart, Moritz Seider, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Craig Simpson, Kirsten Simms, Mats Sundin, Brad Stuart, Melissa Szkola, Callie Shanahan, Colin Stephenson
T: Tripp Tracy, Bryan Trottier, Tim Taylor, Jacob Truscott, Amanda Thiele
V: Rick Vaive
W: Paul Woods, Shane Wright, Bob Wilkie
Z: Rick Zombo, Trevor Zegras
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Can Red Wings afford Larkin-Robertson deal?: OctoPulse podcast
Reporting by The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

By The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
