Dylan Larkin has requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings, according to multiple news outlets. The Free Press has not been able to independently verify the news.
It’s a remarkable development.
Larkin, who turns 30 this summer, is from Waterford, Michigan, is the captain of the Red Wings – as named by general manager Steve Yzerman – and a cornerstone of the team. He is also under contract through 2030-31 on a deal carrying an average annual value of $8.7 million.
Sportsnet and ESPN both cited the contract demand, without naming sources. The Free Press reached out to multiple people within the organization for comment.
The demand runs contrary to how Larkin sounded when he met with reporters shortly after the Wings missed the playoffs for a 10th straight season in 2026.
“For a lot of those years, yes, you go into the season and you want to make the playoffs, but realistically was that going to happen?” he said. “There were some years where it wasn’t really what we were trying to do. I understood what was going on with rebuilding and getting draft picks.
“I’m just thinking going back to when I signed an eight-year deal and I knew that we had work to do and I knew that we weren’t going to win the Stanley Cup the next day, but I wanted to be here and I want to be here to help this team in any way I can to win the Stanley Cup.”
The Wings were 12 points inside the playoff picture on Jan. 24, but that deflated through March and became a deficit down the stretch.
“I feel like when it got tight, we also got tight,” Larkin said. “This is the best team I’ve been on record-wise and it’s stressful because we’re pushing for more and we pushed and pushed. Guys do the right things here, guys work hard, guys are out there 30 minutes before practice. We do the right things and I just think when it got tight, which it does, we just got tight as a group and allowed teams to get back into it.
“It’s very disappointing to be sitting here today. I did believe we were going to make the playoffs.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dylan Larkin reported trade request from Red Wings is a shocker
Reporting by Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
