Wild Most Persistent Suitor for Larkin, but Detroit Has Yet to Bite
Minnesota has submitted more offers for Dylan Larkin than any other club, according to Pierre LeBrun. Detroit has rejected the packages so far, partly because Minnesota depleted its assets in the Quinn Hughes deal. LeBrun suggests that adding Larkin could help convince Hughes, a pending UFA, to sign an extension.
Minnesota’s repeated pursuit of Larkin has not produced an agreement, with Detroit declining the packages so far. The Wild’s reduced stock of trade assets after last December’s Quinn Hughes acquisition from Vancouver is a central obstacle, according to LeBrun.
Larkin is under contract through 2030-31, so Detroit faces no immediate deadline; Shawn Horcoff is interim GM. Minnesota’s push also connects to Hughes, an unsigned pending UFA, before the March 1 deadline. Larkin has Minnesota on his 10-team list and won Olympic gold with a U.S. squad assembled by Bill Guerin.
The Larkin talks could affect Wild and Red Wings fans, players, and front-office planning, as roster uncertainty may shape media attention, ticket interest, and team morale. A deal—or continued rejection—may influence how Minnesota handles Quinn Hughes’s contract situation and how Detroit’s interim leadership is viewed. For players and staff, relocation and contract stability are personal; for supporters, the saga may heighten engagement or frustration. Broader societal impact is likely limited mainly to sports communities and local hockey culture.