Dylan Larkin could be out of Detroit within days, and the Red Wings aren't giving him away.
Larkin logged 24:39 in last night's 4-3 shootout win over San Jose, with trade talk hanging over every shift.
John Buccigross said on Frankly Hockey that a deal could come within 7 to 10 days. Asked to clarify, he confirmed he meant the former captain, not holdout defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
The price is steep. TSN's Darren Dreger reported Detroit wants three or four pieces: two A-quality prospects, a top-nine NHL forward and a first-round pick.
That's a rebuild in a box, and it's a fantasy for most of the teams Larkin would actually accept.
He holds a no-trade clause with a short list, reportedly Vegas, Minnesota, Florida, Colorado, Washington, Tampa Bay and Dallas.
Those are contenders built to win now. Most of them don't have the prospect cupboard Shawn Horcoff is trying to raid.
A no-trade list full of contenders shrinks Detroit's market
It's like listing your house at a premium but only letting in buyers who already spent their savings on renovations.
Dallas is the name to watch. The Stars were viewed as his preferred landing spot this summer, and they just lost a veteran forward to surgery for three months.
Jim Nill's group can defend. The Stars have allowed just 13 goals through eight games, and they blanked Chicago last night.
Detroit, meanwhile, is 3-3-2 and still on the outside of the playoff picture.
Larkin's frustration runs deeper than one season. The Red Wings haven't made the playoffs since his rookie year in 2015-16.
He was stripped of the captaincy after asking out, and he has three points in six games this season.
Alex DeBrincat scored again last night, a reminder of who the Red Wings are building around now.
So who blinks? Horcoff's price only works if a contender decides Larkin is the missing piece and empties the cupboard anyway.
Detroit opens a four-game road trip Tuesday in Seattle, with stops in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
If Buccigross is right, Larkin might not finish that trip in a Red Wings sweater. The bigger question is whether Horcoff gets his three or four pieces, or settles for two.
Should the Red Wings lower their asking price to finally trade Dylan Larkin?
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