Lightning, Capitals and More Dylan Larkin Mock Trades

Washington is both the most interesting and most complicated team on this list. Washington has a slew of young assets Detroit would be thrilled to get in return for Dylan Larkin. Cole Hutson, Ryan Leonard, and the Protas brothers would all be thrilling headliners for the Red Wings to get back. Their organizational depth runs deep with Andrew Cristall and Ivan Miroshnichenko.

Frankly, the first three names are the ones I’d want most. I’d be fine swapping Dylan Larkin for Ryan Leonard, but I don’t see it happening. Instead, I think it’s the second group where this trade might materialize.

Andrew Cristall is an exciting but flawed offensive prospect who has all the offensive tools but lacks the size and speed to promise success at the NHL level. Ivan Miroshnichenko has had multiple great stints in the AHL, but has been pretty lackluster at the highest level. Because of their shortcomings, I actually think Detroit gets both. Both have top-six ceilings, but career-AHL guys being a possible outcome means Detroit deserves both kicks at the can.

The problem here is still cap space, where the Capitals have less than $200,000 to play with. Naturally, Pierre-Luc Dubois who makes $8.5M through 2031 (though he does have a no-trade clause) is the main candidate to come back. Washington can stand to lose Dubois, a center who is faster, healthier, and better on both ends of the ice.

Detroit swapping their number one center for a top-six forward with a slew of off-ice issues and two risky prospects isn’t enough alone to sway Shawn Horcoff in all likelihood, so some draft capital is probably added. I land on a deal like this.

Detroit Receives: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Cristall, Ivan Miroshnichenko, 2027 2nd round pick, 2028 2nd round pick

Washington Receives: Dylan Larkin

Lightning Shakeup Second Line by Moving Cirelli

Jon Cooper’s golden boy at second line center would be a hard move for Lightning fans to stomach. But after losing in the first round for the third season in a row, if the Tampa Bay Lightning view themselves as contenders, they’re going to need to upgrade, and Dylan Larkin is certainly that.

Anthony Cirelli is a dependable, all-situations center who chips in nicely on offense. As great as Cirelli is, Dylan Larkin is comfortably better in just about every way. Offensively, even in a down year, Larkin still had more points than Cirelli’s career high pretty comfortably. Dylan Larkin is also used to tougher deployments (57% defensive zone starts for Larkin to 47% for Cirelli) with lower-quality line mates (~80th percentile line-mates to ~99th percentile line-mates).

Tampa Bay has the talent on the defense and in net to be considered contenders. Adding Dylan Larkin to the forward core gives them two first lines instead of a great first and second line.

Detroit wants to stay in the playoff hunt, and bringing in a great top-six center who can score at even strength into their group would be as close to a lateral move as these deals are going to get. Tampa would need to tack on some extra assets to make the value equal, but there is a trade to be made here.

Detroit Receives: Anthony Cirelli, 2028 1st round pick, 2028 3rd round pick

Tampa Bay Receives: Dylan Larkin

Minnesota Raises Offer Amidst Competition

Minnesota is the team that needs Dylan Larkin most, and yet they haven’t been able to put together the right offer. Now, with a trade list that has more competition on it, Minnesota may raise their offer to try and get things done.

To start, Detroit is going to need some win-now talent because Minnesota seriously lacks the high-end young talent the Red Wings should be looking for. The first two names I’m taking if I’m Detroit are Yakov Trenin and Jonas Brodin. Both of them are great middle-of-the-lineup guys that should give Detroit’s depth a serious jolt.

After that, it’s going to take Minnesota’s two best young prospects. Danila Yurov and Charlie Strammel are going to need to come back the other way for Detroit to even consider a deal. It’s probably a little uncomfortable for Minnesota, but they need to compete now, and prospects aren’t going to get them there.

Finally, I think Detroit gets a first round pick to seal the deal. It’s not perfect; Detroit takes two role players and two young guys with pretty ho-hum ceilings for Dylan Larkin, but the logic here is more in line with quantity, not quality.

Detroit Receives: Danila Yurov, Charlie Strammel, Jonas Brodin, Yakov Trenin, 2027 1st round pick

Minnesota Receives: Dylan Larkin

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