Chris Johnston says Dylan Larkin isn't waiving to go to Buffalo, even after the Sabres made a pretty big offer for him.
The Larkin trade talk has been building all week. Johnston already put a number on it, saying four or five of the 10 teams on the Red Wings center's list are truly trying to get Larkin in Johnston's market read.
Now one of those suitors appears to be out. Johnston said on his show Monday that the Sabres made a big offer at some point in the last few weeks, but were told it's not something they can do.
-
Johnston was blunt about the reason: Larkin isn't waiving to go there. Buffalo can make the best offer in the world, but without the player's sign-off it goes nowhere.
The Sabres are not a desperate team. They are 7-4-3, they've won three straight, and they host the Senators tonight under Lindy Ruff. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen clearly saw a center he liked and went after him.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | DIFF | |
| 1. Boston Bruins | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 23 | +20 |
| 2. Montreal Canadiens | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 21 | +5 |
| 3. Tampa Bay Lightning | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20 | +7 |
| 4. Ottawa Senators | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 19 | +1 |
| 5. Florida Panthers | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 18 | +3 |
| 6. Toronto Maple Leafs | 17 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 18 | +6 |
| 7. Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 17 | -6 |
| 8. Detroit Red Wings | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 17 | -2 |
Detroit's side is less comfortable. The Red Wings are 7-6-3 and sit eighth in the Atlantic Division after losing 4-2 at Tampa Bay last night. They play Vegas on Thursday.
Larkin himself has 6 points in 10 games this season and is a +3, so his production isn't the issue anywhere he lands.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | |
| 2026-27 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | +3 |
| Career | 818 | 278 | 371 | 649 | -98 |
What Larkin's no does to Detroit's trade leverage
A big offer is only worth something if the player can actually be moved to that team. Detroit and GM Shawn Horcoff now have one fewer realistic buyer on a short list, and that's a problem.
It also fits what we heard earlier this week. Johnston said half of Larkin's list isn't chasing him, and now one team that was chasing has hit a wall.
Larkin is 30, a first-round pick, 15th overall in 2014, with 649 points in 818 NHL games. He's signed through 2030-31, so nobody forces Detroit's hand. But the list of teams that both want him and are acceptable to him keeps getting shorter.
Buffalo takes the ice tonight with its Larkin pursuit apparently stalled. Detroit gets Vegas on Thursday, and the market still has to produce a deal that Larkin will approve.
Should Dylan Larkin accept a trade to a team that wants him badly, or does he hold all the power with his list?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Connor Hellebuyck writes an open letter to Jets fans and finally reveals why he requested a trade
