Report: Detroit Red Wings star Dylan Larkin expands trade list to 10 teams, none in Canada

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No, Canada.

Disgruntled Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has expanded the list of teams he would accept a trade to from three to 10 — and none of them are Canadian teams.

According to an ESPN report, Larkin, an American, is willing to waive his no-trade clause to move to the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild or Vegas Golden Knights. Those three teams were on his original list. His expanded list now includes the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth and Washington Capitals.

He simply doesn’t appear interested in playing for a Canadian team. Who wouldn’t want to play alongside Connor McDavid on the Edmonton Oilers? He’d rather play in East Rutherford, N.J. for the Devils than the beautiful city of Montreal for the up-and-coming Montreal Canadiens?

Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons recently took Larkin to task, calling his reluctance to consider Montreal a poor decision. He wrote: “With Larkin and Nick Suzuki at centre on the same team, the Montreal Canadiens would be as equipped as any team east of Edmonton up the middle.”

And what about the Maple Leafs? Would Larkin really rather suit up for the Mammoth in Salt Lake City than play alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander and No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna? That said, the Maple Leafs are unlikely to pursue Larkin after making a major deal of their own just weeks ago, acquiring Kirill Marchenko from Columbus in a blockbuster trade that sent Matthew Knies the other way.

Is Larkin tired of losing and playing in Detroit?

Larkin, who lost the captaincy in the off-season, is in the fourth season of an eight-year, $69.6-million US contract.

After missing the first two games of the season with an upper-body injury, Larkin made his season debut on Oct. 6, 2026, in Detroit’s 5-3 win over Ottawa. He also addressed the boos from Red Wings fans, saying: “I’m trying to be a man and face it, and I understand why that’s happening.”

The Larkin situation is part of a debate over the growing influence of no-trade clauses in the NHL. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who signed a seven-year, $59.5-million US contract in 2023, wants out of Winnipeg and has been suspended by the team through Friday. If that suspension stands, he will have forfeited nearly $925,000 in salary.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman isn’t happy with what he sees as players using their contractual leverage to dictate their destinations. In an interview with Sportsnet’s FAN 590 earlier this month, he expressed concern about the trend.

“As I look at what’s happened or is happening now, I don’t think that’s a good thing. I don’t think it’s good for the player, I don’t think it’s good for the club, I don’t think it’s good for fans watching and their connection to the game… I think we’ve gotten past the way no-trade clauses were originally intended.

He elaborated, explaining why teams originally offered no-trade clauses in good faith.

“The no-trade clause was originally put in place for the following situation: You’re going to sign a long-term contract to be in a place you want to be. Maybe you’re giving a hometown discount, and you wanted to make sure that you could be where you wanted to be and where you were signing up to be. This notion now, where A) you can select where you want to go to and B) you can demand a trade, that was never the original intention.”

No-trade clauses becoming a big issue for NHL owners

NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh pushed back on Bettman’s comments, defending his players.

“I don’t think one season or one off-season sets the tone for overreacting or making changes. … It’s the player’s right when they negotiate a contract,” he said in an interview on the FAN 590.

He also emphasized that team owners willingly agree to include no-trade clauses in players’ contracts.

“It’s the player’s right when they negotiate a contract. And I think 300-plus players have it, so general managers have no issue negotiating with players and putting it in there.”

As players continue to seek and secure no-trade clauses, it’s clear they have an increasing say in where they play, and Canadian teams aren’t always on their list

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