NHL Trade Rumors: Should The Detroit Red Wings Be Blamed For Dylan Larkin’s Trade Request?

Dylan Larkin has faced criticism since his trade request from the Detroit Red Wings became public, but the bigger question is whether the organization did enough to keep its captain committed to the team's direction. Larkin spent years with Detroit after being selected in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft and signed a contract extension, yet the team has continued to fall short of its playoff goals. Now back in the lineup without his captain's letter, Larkin has helped Detroit collect points, but the team remains outside the early-season playoff picture.

Jeff Marek and Tyler Yaremchuk Question Detroit's Handling of Dylan Larkin

On Friday's episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk spoke with Jeff Marek about the criticism directed at Larkin over his reported trade request. Yaremchuk argued that wanting to join a Stanley Cup contender was understandable after giving Detroit much of his prime years without seeing the team deliver the results he wanted.

Yaremchuk also pointed to Larkin's reported trade-acceptance list, which included 11 contenders but excluded the Edmonton Oilers. Rather than seeing the list as a reason to mock the forward, he said, “I kind of respect it. I look at that, and I kind of go, ‘No duh he wants to go to a winner.”  

He compared Larkin's position to Rick Nash's time in Columbus, “I know you can talk about his numbers down the stretch this year and that year, but the team was clearly on the downturn. Kind of similar to Rick Nash in Columbus. Where it's like okay, how many chances do I have to give you guys?”

Jeff Marek Says the Red Wings Are Not Forced to Trade Larkin

Marek agreed with Yaremchuk's broader point and challenged the idea that Larkin's request automatically meant Detroit had to move him. He stressed that a trade request is not the same as a forced trade, noting that teams have kept players who asked to leave and those players have continued playing under their contracts.

"Who's taking Team 32? Like, personalize it. Would you go to Team 32 or Team 30? No, of course not," Marek said. “This is not a forced trade. Detroit does not have to do this. There are plenty of players that have asked for trades that have never gotten them, and they've went out and they've played their entire contract.”

Since returning to the lineup, Larkin has recorded five points in eight games, while Detroit has posted a 4-1-3 record. The team, however, remains outside the playoff picture early in the season.