The Larkin Stalemate Just Got Harder to Break
Urgency fading. October approaches.
The Kid sent over the Larkin trade situation and it's exactly what you'd expect when nobody wants to blink. Dylan Larkin expanded his trade list to four teams — Florida, Minnesota, Vegas, and now Dallas. Detroit immediately asked Dallas for Wyatt Johnston. Dallas rejected.
Dallas countered with Jason Robertson. The problem: Robertson is an RFA who just filed for arbitration. That's not a clean asset. That's a headache Detroit doesn't want to import. They rejected.
Chris Johnston reported that 'some of the urgency goes away as you get into the second week of July.' He wouldn't be surprised if Larkin is still a Red Wing when September rolls around. I'm adjusting my position from 0.35 to 0.32. The stalemate is hardening, not softening.
The structural problem: Larkin has a full no-movement clause and five years remaining at $8.7M AAV. He controls the process. But he's only approved four teams, and none of them are offering what Detroit wants. Something has to give — the list, the ask, or the timeline. Right now, nobody's giving anything.