Dylan Larkin and Todd McLellan are still in the rumor storm, but Detroit is not acting like a team under pressure.
That is the shift in this update. Chris Johnston's reported line says things are pretty slow on Larkin, and that Steve Yzerman is not giving him away.
That matters because it changes the tone from panic to patience. Detroit is not working like a club forced to dump its captain. It is sitting on the file and waiting.
That is exactly where leverage starts to come back. If Yzerman is comfortable holding the line, then any team calling has to deal with Detroit's price instead of hoping for a rushed move.
The other part is the market itself. A slow market does not mean no market. It just means the Red Wings are not letting this turn into a clearance sale.
And that is where the chase gets interesting. Around this rumor, the Flyers, Devils, Capitals, Rangers and Blackhawks all stand out as teams fans keep circling for different reasons.
"Chris Johnston: It sounds like it's pretty slow on Dylan Larkin; Steve Yzerman is not giving Larkin away, he's not feeling an ounce of pressure - Chris Johnston Show (6/22) "
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Philadelphia is easy to understand. Rick Tocchet now runs the Flyers, and Larkin would give them a proven center who can change the speed of their top six.
New Jersey fits too. Sheldon Keefe already has star talent, but the Devils are the kind of team that could look at Larkin as a win-now middle upgrade if the price ever drops.
Washington belongs in the conversation because Spencer Carbery's club is still trying to stay dangerous while pushing through a changing core. A player like Larkin would help that transition.
The Rangers are an obvious name because Mike Sullivan is behind that bench now, and New York rarely stays quiet when a major center becomes available.
Chicago is the wild card. Jeff Blashill and Kyle Davidson are still shaping that roster, and Larkin would bring a lot more certainty than another pure futures move if they ever pushed hard.
Still, none of those teams changes the main point. Detroit does not sound desperate, and that is the biggest detail in this whole story.
When the market slows but the seller stays calm, the message is simple. Dylan Larkin is still a real trade topic, but Steve Yzerman looks ready to wait until one of these teams pays like it.
Should the Red Wings wait until one of these teams meets the full asking price for Dylan Larkin?
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