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Dylan Larkin apparently wants out.
The Detroit Red Wings star center has requested a trade, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
It's not necessarily news that anyone saw coming, and it's big news.
"Second, Larkin’s involvement in the trade market is massive," Friedman wrote. "He has a full no-trade clause both this season and next, so his control over the situation does not change July 1. He’s a top-line center in a league desperate for centers, so there’s going to be a ton of interest. His play at the 4 Nations and Olympics was stellar. That’s going to excite potential trade partners."
Still, it came a bit out of nowhere from a guy who has spent his career in Detroit.
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Why did Dylan Larkin request a trade?
Larkin's trade request stems from a lack of winning and a bad relationship, according to Friedman.
"Because no one will talk, we can only guess at the rationale, but there appear to be two critical factors: Detroit’s inability to make the playoffs, and a somewhat frosty relationship between the captain and the team’s top hockey executive," Friedman writes, referring to Steve Yzerman. "This is also another sign of how the league is changing."
The Red Wings now have the longest playoff drought active in the NHL, after the Sabres ended their drought.
That can't make Larkin happy, especially if he thinks the front office hasn't addressed it the right way.
This season, the Red Wings were in great position before the trade deadline, got Justin Faulk for a first-round pick, and still collapsed in epic fashion.
Regardless of the reason, it's clear that Larkin wants to move on, and now the hockey world will wait to see what happens next.
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Where can Dylan Larkin go?
Larkin has a full no-movement clause, so he's in control.
Friedman doesn't name any possible destinations yet, but Larkin will have to approve of whichever team wants to acquire him.
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