Larkin's Agents Reject Red Wings' Request to Broaden Trade Options
The Detroit Red Wings asked Dylan Larkin’s agents to expand his list of preferred trade destinations, but were denied. According to reports, interim GM Shawn Horcoff sought additional teams beyond the 10 already on Larkin’s list, including potential suitors like Boston, Buffalo, and Los Angeles. Larkin’s camp, led by agent Pat Brisson, maintained that deals could still be made with the current list, despite Detroit’s belief that better offers exist outside it.
The Detroit Red Wings, through interim general manager Shawn Horcoff, requested that Dylan Larkin’s agents—Pat Brisson and Matt Williams—expand his list of 10 preferred trade destinations, citing insufficient offers from those teams. According to reports by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Horcoff specifically asked for inclusion of clubs like Boston, Buffalo, Los Angeles, and Montreal, which he believes could provide better value. Larkin’s camp rejected the request outright, asserting that deals can still be made with the existing list, which includes Minnesota, Vegas, Florida, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Washington, Carolina, New Jersey, and Utah. Despite Horcoff’s claims that negotiations with the original 10 teams have yielded no viable options—such as a prior Wild offer involving multiple first-round picks—the agents maintained that Detroit has not exhausted all possibilities within Larkin’s constraints. The situation is complicated by Larkin’s full no-trade clause and his ongoing suspension without pay, which limits the Red Wings’ leverage while preserving his control over his future. The team has also been in talks with external clubs outside the list, including the Bruins, who reportedly want to be added, but Detroit has not yet secured a deal with any of them.
Larkin’s agents are holding firm, emphasizing that the current list is binding and sufficient. Horcoff has publicly acknowledged the difficulty of completing a trade under these conditions, yet remains committe
This impasse could influence how teams approach player trade negotiations in the future, particularly with high-profile players holding significant cap hits and contractual protections. If Larkin’s agents succeed in maintaining control over his destination list despite team pressure, it may embolden other players to assert similar leverage during rebuilds or contract disputes. The Red Wings’ struggle highlights a growing trend where player representation is increasingly central to trade dynamics, potentially shifting power away from front offices and toward agents. A comparable case was the 2019 trade of Patrick Kane by the Blackhawks, where agent Paul Kariya’s influence delayed negotiations for weeks, ultimately affecting team strategy and fan sentiment. Here, the Red Wings’ inability to move Larkin may signal broader challenges in managing high-salary players during transitional seasons. The outcome could affect how NHL teams structure future contracts, possibly leading to more flexi