Dylan Larkin trade chatter just took a turn, and the Red Wings don't sound sold on what the Wild are putting on the table.
Frank Seravalli said Tuesday on Flames Now that, in his read, Detroit has balked a little at Danila Yurov being one of the centerpieces in talks with Minnesota.
That hesitation lands at a strange moment. The Red Wings are 3-3-3 and sit eighth in their own division.
None of that falls on Larkin. Last night in Seattle, he piled up six shots on goal and two assists in a shootout loss.
Todd McLellan had him out there for 23:02. Detroit doesn't have many forwards it trusts with that kind of load.
So what exactly is Minnesota dangling? Yurov is 22 and carries a $972,500 cap hit.
He's been heating up lately, with three goals over his last five games.
-
Shawn Horcoff has every reason to hold out for more
He also played 14:55 in last night's overtime loss in Edmonton and didn't register a shot on goal.
That's where Detroit's skepticism makes sense. A sub-million cap hit is nice, but it doesn't replace what a player like Larkin drives every night.
Building a Larkin package around Yurov is like trading in your car for a good set of tires. Useful, sure, but you still need something to drive.
And there's a wrinkle in the front office. Horcoff holds the GM job on an interim basis, which makes any franchise-altering move a heavier lift.
Bill Guerin's club is 6-2-2 and second in its division. Kirill Kaprizov already has 11 goals.
That's a contender's start, and contenders who want Detroit's No. 71 should expect to overpay. Minnesota's opening pitch looks light, and the Red Wings are right to say so.
The money side isn't simple either. Kaprizov's $17,000,000 cap hit already sits on the books, and Larkin carries $8,700,000 of his own.
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old has dressed for seven games this season, with five points to show for it.
Alex DeBrincat leads the way with 11 points. Pull a key piece away from him and the Red Wings get even thinner up front.
Detroit opens a road trip Thursday in Vancouver before stops in Calgary and Edmonton. Minnesota visits Calgary the same night.
These two clubs haven't met yet this season. That first meeting could get awkward if talks drag into the winter.
Horcoff can afford to wait. The real question is whether Guerin puts something better than Yurov on the table, or lets Detroit's record do the negotiating for him.
Should an interim GM like Shawn Horcoff be the one to trade Dylan Larkin?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Lukas Cormier placed on waivers by Golden Knights; 31 other teams can claim him
