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Detroit Red Wings Captain Larkin Approaching UFA Status

By Richard Jelinek

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 25: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings reacts after scoring during the shootout and winning the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Little Caesars Arena on November 25, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 25: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings reacts after scoring during the shootout and winning the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Little Caesars Arena on November 25, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Red Wings have had a somewhat successful season, yet they have one big issue ahead. That issue? The contract of captain, Dylan Larkin.

The Detroit Red Wings have three options

With $5,266,413 in cap space currently and over $41 million in projected cap space for next season, general manager Steve Yzerman is going to have to get creative in order to sign Larkin. Larkin’s last contract was a $6.1 million dollar deal and it is expected he will want between $8 million and $10 million on his new deal. Aside from Larkin, the Detroit Red Wings also have Pius Suter, Oskar Sundqvist, Adam Erne, Olli Maatta, Jordan Oesterle, Jake Walman, Alex Nedeljkovic, Magnus Hellberg, Tyler Bertuzzi, Mark Pysyk, Robert Hagg as UFA’s also.

Let Larkin Walk

When it comes down to it, Larkin and his camp may be asking for too much money. Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings have just so much to spend. If Larkin prices himself out of Detroit, Yzerman could use that cap space to acquire more centers. Larkin has been the heart and soul of the Red Wings since his debut, but if his price is too high, he could find himself with a new team.

Sign Larkin to a new deal

Larkin knows the Red Wings are short on center depth and he knows he is a big part of the Red Wing’s future success going forward. He is the best player on the team and Yzerman is afraid of losing a talent like Larkin for nothing. With all of the UFA’s Detroit has coming up some of them are going to walk, freeing up money for Larkin. Yzerman will do everything he can to bring back the talented Larkin. However, he can only do so much.

Trade Dylan Larkin

If Larkin is asking too much and Yzerman does not want to lose him for anything, trading Larkin is a possibility. This way, Yzerman does not have to pay Larkin top dollar and he gets something instead of letting him walk for nothing. The return for Larkin would be impressive as he is a top-six, two-way forward. The return could set up the Detroit Red Wings for success, as it would be sure to include some top prospects.

Larkin and his contract, or lack thereof, is going to be the big topic in Detroit from here on out. Will he sign? Will he be traded? Yzerman has a big decision to make and it could impact the future of the Detroit Red Wings in a big way.

As of right now the Detroit Red Wings only have 12 players under contract for the 2023-24 season, with 24 standard player contracts. The 2023-24 salary cap is expected to be $41,571, 111, which will help but will not be enough. Larkin currently accounts for 7.4% of the cap. Larkin is 26 years old and has 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points in 37 games this season. He signed a five-year deal worth $30.5 million on August 10, 2018.

Yzerman has been known to give out short-term contracts, usually nothing more than three years. Does Larkin sign a short-term deal? The center depth, if Larkin leaves, would be Pius Suter, Joe Veleno, and Andrew Copp.

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