The Detroit Red Wings' centerpiece for years now has been Dylan Larkin, who has essentially played his entire life in Michigan. However, in a surprising move, Larkin has requested a trade from Detroit, and it could make a lot of sense for a team like the Utah Mammoth to try to trade for the superstar.
Larkin Has Reportedly Already Listed Three Teams
Since Dylan Larkin has a full no-trade clause, the Red Wings have to ensure that Larkin wants to be traded to that team. Unfortunately for Utah, there have been reports that Larkin has already listed three teams he is interested in: the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and the Vegas Golden Knights. That doesn't mean this is entirely true, nor does it mean that Larkin would be completely unwilling to come to Utah, but it makes life harder on the Mammoth if the report is true.
What this shows is that Larkin is looking to win, especially since the Red Wings haven't reached the postseason for a franchise-record 10 seasons. Of coure, the Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2023-24 and 2024-25, while the Wild are a very talented team with many superstars. As for Vegas, they are looking to win their second Stanley Cup in just four years, highlighting that Larkin really desires to win. That doesn't mean that a trade to the Mammoth doesn't make sense, though.
The Mammoth Could Still Give Larkin What He Wants
Ultimately, even with Larkin showing he wants to win, the Mammoth can still give him what he wants. Utah has a list of extremely talented players, including Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, future superstar Logan Cooley, and many other talented players, both older and younger. The Mammoth had 6 players who scored over 20 goals, including two, Guenther (40 goals) and Nick Schmaltz (33 goals), who scored over 30.
The team is simply one thing: young. Cooley is only 22 and scored 24 goals in just 54 games. Guenther is just 23, and several other youngsters are waiting for their turn to become stars for the Utah Mammoth, with many of them not even in the NHL yet. Larkin could add veteran talent and experience, ultimately turning the Mammoth into a juggernaut.
Larkin Remains a Very Valuable Superstar
Larkin isn't one of the best offensive players in the NHL, but he is still very good at many things. Firstly, Larkin is consistent, as he has scored between 30 and 34 goals and added between 69 and 79 assists over the last 5 seasons each. Secondly, and maybe more importantly, Larkin is one of the best defenders in the game at his position, as Larkin is also one of the biggest pieces to the penalty kill in Detroit as well.
The Mammoth penalty kill was nothing special this season, as it ranked only 19th with a 78.1% kill rate. The fact that Larkin could help Utah both offensively and defensively makes him a very interesting trade target for really any team. Ultimately, Larkin is one of the best all-around players in the NHL. Utah would probably have to give up a big bundle of either prospects, picks, or maybe even both, but it could be worth it in the long run.
With Larkin likely listing three teams already, the Mammoth have some work to do to get Larkin. However, with his offensive and defensive capabilities, Larkin could definitely be what the Mammoth are looking for. The Mammoth are ready to take the next step, and Larkin could be a huge piece of the puzzle.
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