Dylan Larkin’s trade request has been the biggest headache for the Detroit Red Wings all summer, but now a rival GM just pulled back the curtain on why it is such a mess. Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell, talking about his own star defenseman Zach Werenski, spilled some serious truth that hits way too close to home for Detroit.
Larkin’s Leverage Trap
“If he only gave us two or three places that would have ended the conversation because we saw what happened in another city,” Waddell said on The Sick Podcast: The Eye Test. He did not name Larkin or Detroit, but let’s be real, everyone knows what he meant. This entire summer, Larkin’s short list of acceptable trade destinations has completely hobbled the Red Wings. Back in June, GM Steve Yzerman himself confirmed Larkin’s agent handed over a tiny list of teams where Larkin would even *consider* waiving his no-trade clause. Yzerman was straight up, too, saying Detroit had “no guarantees” they would just go along with it. We heard the list was initially Minnesota, Florida, and Vegas, with Dallas later getting added. Yeah, that expands options by one team, but it is not exactly creating a bidding war, is it? Detroit gave Larkin this control, and now he is using it. It is not “gaming the system,” it is the system they agreed to. But man, it is brutal to watch when you are on the team’s side.
What a Real Market Looks Like
Waddell’s comments on Werenski really show the flip side. Columbus had their own trade chatter around Werenski this summer, including Dallas as a potential spot. But Werenski decided he wanted to stay and publicly said Columbus is where he wants to be. Imagine if he had dropped a super restrictive list on Waddell? Waddell made it clear: that conversation would have been over. Why? Because a trade market needs *more* than just a couple of buyers. If most of the league is off limits, those few teams left at the table know Detroit is boxed in. Their leverage? Gone. They can ask for whatever they think their top center is worth, but if only a handful of teams can even talk seriously, Detroit is negotiating with one hand tied behind its back.
Detroit has been stuck in this grind for months, and they are reportedly looking for “meaningful NHL talent,” not just draft picks. That is a tough ask when your trade partners know exactly how limited your options are. Waddell’s candidness is a wakeup call to every GM out there. Detroit is learning the hard way that a no-trade clause is powerful, and while they do not *have* to make a bad trade, finding a good one in this situation is proving to be a monumental challenge. They still need a solution, and fast, before this stalemate absolutely crushes them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply