Dylan Larkin is still in Detroit, but Todd McLellan now coaches through the fallout of a warning Steve Yzerman reportedly gave before losing the GM chair.
Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that Yzerman warned the Red Wings and ownership about the cost of moving Larkin before Detroit removed him as general manager.
The message was simple: Detroit probably wasn't going to win a Larkin trade in the short term. Any deal would need to be judged by the longer-term return.
That warning hits harder now because Larkin remains with the Red Wings after requesting a trade, while the organization has already moved on from Yzerman in the GM chair.
Detroit wasn't dealing from an easy position. Larkin controlled his destination through his contract protection, shrinking the list of possible trade partners and putting pressure on the return.
"Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast about Larkin: "Yzerman had warned the Red Wings and ownership that the if they traded Larkin they would probably not win the deal in the short term. It would be for longer term help. And I don't think the Red Wings like that"
-
And Yzerman apparently understood what that meant. Chasing immediate NHL help could limit Detroit's options while accepting futures would push the payoff further down the road.
Yzerman saw the problem coming
Friedman said the Red Wings didn't like the idea of losing the trade in the short term. That created a major gap between what ownership wanted and what the market could realistically offer.
Larkin's value wasn't coming off a down year, either. He produced 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games, keeping him firmly established as Detroit's top offensive center.
His contract carries a $8,700,000 cap hit through 2030-31. Moving that kind of player isn't just a roster decision. It changes the direction of the entire organization.
Yzerman was removed from his GM role on July 15, leaving the Larkin file for the next decision-maker. Shawn Horcoff has since taken over as interim general manager.
That makes Friedman's report especially notable. Before leaving the chair, Yzerman was apparently telling Detroit exactly what a Larkin trade could cost them.
The Red Wings now face the same choice without him making the call: prioritize immediate help, accept a longer-term package, or keep Larkin and try to repair the relationship.
Yzerman may be out as GM, but the warning he left behind is still sitting on Detroit's desk.
Did the Red Wings make a mistake by rejecting Steve Yzerman's long-term approach to a Dylan Larkin trade?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Connor Hellebuyck's full trade request list exposed by reputable insider and it leaves the Jets with nothing
