Red Wings Can Trade Larkin & Edvinsson Without Rebuilding

This move would also make the Devils an even more appealing destination for 2027 free agent Quinn Hughes, who would have the opportunity to join his family and close friends on a win-now team.

As for Edvinsson, the Utah Mammoth reportedly have interest and have assets that the Red Wings would value. They’re also on the verge of becoming a Western Conference powerhouse, which would bode well for owner Ryan Smith and his newly established franchise. 

Edvinsson’s addition would balance out the lineup and give the Mammoth a two-way top pair alongside Mikhail Sergachev. A massive trade like this would be good for the team and good for business.

So, if the relationship with Edvinsson is beyond repair, then the Red Wings need to pull the trigger. They can realign their core with two trades:

• Larkin to the Devils: A package centered around defenseman Anton Silayev and the better of New Jersey’s two first-round picks in 2027.
• Edvinsson to the Mammoth: A package centered around center Caleb Desnoyers and Utah’s 2027 first-round pick.

Additional players and prospects would be needed to balance the respective trades and ensure Utah/New Jersey remain cap compliant. Still, the foundation is there.

Detroit isn’t starting over. They are simply exchanging established players for younger assets who could reach their prime alongside Detroit’s existing core. Desnoyers would address the organization’s need for a potential top-line center, while Silayev could eventually help replace Edvinsson on the top pair. Both players would have time to develop as Detroit’s other young players mature.

Looking ahead to 2028-29, here’s what the Red Wings could look like as they enter their next competitive window:

Overall, this is a strong lineup, and that’s before adding in other pieces from the Larkin/Edvinsson trades, 2027 or 2028 free agents, or a potentially high 2027 first-round pick.

Of course, the projection depends on several players reaching their potential. Desnoyers would need to develop into a legitimate top-line center, Kasper and Danielson would need to establish themselves as reliable middle-six options, and Silayev would have to develop into a capable top-four defenseman.

In general, this illustrates the purpose of realignment: giving Detroit’s next core time to develop together rather than forcing the current roster to contend before it is ready.

Apart from a brighter future, there’s value in Detroit moving Larkin and Edvinsson now. For one, it would remove the outside noise/distractions that have been plaguing the franchise for months. 

In addition, the Red Wings have actually played well defensively in 2026-27 – top five in expected goals against (xGA/60), scoring chances against (SCA/60), and high-danger chances against (HDCA/60) at five on five. In fact, their 8.16 HDCA/60 is the lowest in the league. Plus, they’re just outside the top five in shot attempts against and goals against, too.

Those numbers suggest Detroit has developed a defensive structure that could help it absorb Edvinsson’s departure. They don’t prove that the team would be better without him, and the sample remains limited. His ability to handle difficult minutes would be difficult to replace immediately. Still, if the Red Wings can maintain their defensive performance while redistributing responsibilities, they may be better positioned to trade from their defensive assets than the conventional wisdom suggests.

Lastly, there is the caveat that the Red Wings would need to find ways to offset Larkin’s production in the meantime, whether through changes to their forward lines, contributions from younger players, or additional NHL-ready assets acquired in the deals. A short-term decline in offensive output is possible, but it wouldn’t necessarily undermine the long-term objective.

The key is that Detroit would be exchanging established players for assets whose development timelines better align with the rest of its young core. Rather than treating every season as a push to reach the playoffs, the organization could focus on building a more balanced roster capable of sustaining success.

Final Word

On paper, trading Larkin and Edvinsson would realign the Red Wings around a slightly later competitive window, giving their young core time to develop while adding assets who could contribute when the team is ready to contend. Plus, by the time the dividends are fully realized, the talent gap between Desnoyers/Silayev and Larkin/Edvinsson would be minimal. 

In theory, these trades would benefit the Red Wings. Executing said moves is another story, though. Remember, this is the same front office/ownership that allowed the Red Wings to get to this point.

Data courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and PuckPedia.