Dylan Larkin's trade request from Detroit hasn't gone anywhere, and Elliotte Friedman just confirmed it directly.
Kyle Bukauskas asked Friedman point blank on the 32 Thoughts podcast whether the request still stood.
"I think it does for now," Friedman said, "because we'll see what the new GM comes in and says and how Larkin feels."
That's not a denial. That's an insider saying the situation is still very much alive heading into training camp.
Friedman's answer also hints at something bigger brewing behind the scenes in Detroit's front office.
The idea of a new GM shaping how this plays out suggests change could be coming to how the Red Wings handle their captain's future.
Larkin posted 67 points last season, with 34 goals and 33 assists over 74 games, still Detroit's best offensive weapon by a wide margin.
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Friedman confirms Dylan Larkin still wants out of Detroit/h2>
He also delivered 9 game-winning goals and 14 power play goals, exactly the kind of production a rebuilding team hates to lose.
Larkin carries an $8,700,000 cap hit as Detroit's captain, a title that makes any trade request feel heavier than a typical one.
Detroit finished last season 41-31-10 for 92 points, 16th overall, a middle of the pack finish that hasn't quieted any of the noise around Larkin.
Head coach Todd McLellan and GM Steve Yzerman now have to navigate a captain who wants out while a front office shift may still be coming.
That combination makes this one of the more unresolved situations heading into camp anywhere in the league right now.
This isn't the first time Larkin's name has surfaced in trade speculation, but hearing Friedman confirm it directly changes the tone of the conversation.
Friedman's answer wasn't dramatic, but it didn't need to be. Confirming the request still stands is enough to keep this story alive all summer.
Whatever Detroit decides, Larkin's name isn't going quiet, and neither is the market watching every single move the Red Wings make next.
Should the Red Wings trade captain Dylan Larkin if he truly wants out?
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