Red Wings Captain Dylan Larkin Requests Trade After 11 Seasons, Long Playoff Drought
The 29-year-old center, under contract through 2030-31, asked to leave after 11 seasons with the team. Larkin holds a full no-trade clause through next season.
sportsnet.caRed Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade from Detroit, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Larkin, 29, has spent his entire NHL career with the Red Wings after growing up in Michigan and playing college hockey at the University of Michigan. 7 million annually and runs through the 2030-31 season.
He has recorded at least 30 goals and 67 points in each of the last five seasons. He has scored 276 goals and 643 points in 808 games across 11 seasons. The center has played a full 82-game schedule only twice in his career because of injuries.
He also played a key role for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics and made a huge impact on the team's gold medal. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for 10 straight seasons, the longest drought in franchise history. With the Sabres making the playoffs this season, Detroit now holds the longest active playoff drought in the league.
Larkin has been captain for six of those years. Larkin was named captain on Jan. 13, 2021. 3 million extension. Larkin reportedly requested a trade on June 4.
Larkin was publicly critical of management the previous season for not adding players at the 2025 trade deadline. GM Steve Yzerman dismissed rumors of a rift after those comments. Sources told ESPN that issues between Larkin and Detroit management have been developing for some time, dating back at least to contract negotiations in 2023.
The team acquired goalie John Gibson last summer and added defenseman Justin Faulk and forward David Perron at the 2026 deadline. Larkin holds a full no-trade clause through next season, giving him control over any destination.
