Red Wings Need More Than Yurov for Dylan Larkin

The Minnesota Wild remain one of the most logical landing spots for Dylan Larkin, but a deal with the Detroit Red Wings hasn’t come together. The closer the two clubs get to a framework, the more one question matters: What kind of young player should headline a return for a center who has scored at least 30 goals in five straight seasons?

The answer points to a familiar name in Minnesota. Danila Yurov is the type of player Detroit has been asking about, but he should not be the centerpiece of a Larkin trade on his own.

What the Red Wings Are Asking For

The asking price for Larkin has been the main obstacle since his trade request became public in June, but the focus of Detroit’s search may be shifting. On the Oct. 22 edition of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Red Wings are “starting to ask about young centers,” including highly regarded prospects who have not yet established themselves in the NHL.

That adjustment changes the shape of the price, not its size. Detroit appears open to a center who can grow into a top-six role alongside its young core. It does not mean the club should accept one promising player in exchange for its best center.

Danila Yurov Fits the Profile

Yurov matches the description Friedman laid out. The 22-year-old was Minnesota’s first-round pick, 24th overall, in the 2022 Draft, and the Wild list him as a left-shot center on the three-year entry-level contract he signed in May 2025. That deal runs through 2027-28 at a cap hit under $1 million.

For a rebuilding team, that kind of contract has real value. Detroit could add a young center at minimal cost for the rest of this season and next before he reaches restricted free agency, which fits the timeline of a core built around Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.

Yurov Can’t Be the Centerpiece

The production tells the other half of the story. Yurov finished his rookie season with 12 goals and 27 points in 73 games, according to PuckPedia’s player profile. That is a solid first season for a young forward, and our grade report on his rookie season looked at the strengths in his game.

It is also a long way from what Larkin brings. The former captain scored 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games last season, which marked his fifth straight 30-goal campaign. Swapping a proven top-line center for a player still finding his role would leave Detroit weaker in the middle for years.

That is why Yurov makes more sense as one piece of a package than as the headliner. A realistic offer would pair him with another significant asset, such as an established roster player or a highly rated prospect, along with a first-round pick.

Minnesota’s Cap Limits the Options

The salary cap adds another layer. Minnesota sits just over $1 million below the ceiling, according to PucksandStats’ cap projections, so any trade for Larkin’s $8.7 million cap hit requires salary going back to Detroit. A package built only on prospects and picks would not work for the Wild either.

That combination of salary and young talent is exactly what makes this negotiation difficult. Minnesota has to send established money to Detroit and still add enough quality to satisfy a club that has no obligation to move its center.

The Hughes Factor Still Matters

The Wild’s interest is easy to understand. Quinn Hughes is playing out the final season of his contract, and his friendship with Larkin has been a constant theme, as our latest NHL rumors on the friendship laid out last week.

That motivation works in Detroit’s favor. We already argued that it gives the Red Wings real leverage, and a team in that position has every reason to ask for more than one young forward.

Detroit Doesn’t Need to Rush

Larkin has five seasons left on his contract, and his list now includes 10 teams. Only two of them can absorb his contract cleanly, but that is still more flexibility than Detroit had in the summer.

The Red Wings are also competitive enough to wait, having earned points in six straight games before a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Oct. 24. Yurov should be part of any serious Wild offer, but he shouldn’t be the reason Detroit says yes.