Red Wings Trade Pitch Lands Former No. 1 Pick in Dylan Larkin Blockbuster

A trade proposal published on PuckGM suggests the Detroit Red Wings send captain Dylan Larkin to the Buffalo Sabres in a blockbuster seven-player deal. Under the proposed trade, Detroit would acquire 2021 No. 1 overall pick Owen Power alongside Noah Östlund, Konsta Helenius, and Beck Malenstyn. Buffalo would receive Larkin, holdout defenseman Simon Edvinsson, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka to resolve Detroit's ongoing contract standoffs.

Larkin was suspended without pay after refusing to play following an offseason trade request, while Edvinsson remains unsigned ahead of a December 1 deadline. Detroit interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has previously stated he has zero interest in trading Edvinsson. Jonathan Vankin notes that while the trade addresses the team's contract issues and brings back young assets, it would leave Detroit searching for a new top-line center.