Devils’ perfect trade offer for Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin

The NHL offseason just got a lot more interesting with the June 3, 2026 news that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin had officially requested a trade. Larkin, 29, is a Michigan native who has spent his entire 11-year NHL career with Detroit, but years of mounting frustration over management’s inability to build a playoff contender has him ready to go.

The situation is complicated further because Larkin has a full no-trade clause through the last year of his eight-year, $69.6 million deal, which has a $8.7 million annual cap hit through the 2030-31 season. That gives Larkin a lot of leverage in his destination, and Pierre LeBrun has reported that Larkin has already sent a “short list” of preferred destinations to Detroit GM Steve Yzerman. That list can grow over time but any team that wants to sign Larkin will have to be approved by him first. That should not be a problem for the New Jersey Devils and here’s why it is a perfect fit.

Why Dylan Larkin Is the Missing Piece in New Jersey

The Devils have spent the better part of two offseasons desperately trying to find a top-six forward to juice their offense. General manager Tom Fitzgerald made it clear at the 2026 trade deadline that upgrading the forward group was still his main focus and he even toyed with the idea of moving a defenseman to make that happen. New Jersey, with one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL, missed the playoffs altogether in 2026, a damning indictment of a roster lacking enough punch up front.

Larkin would fix that problem right now. The Detroit center proved he is still one of the better two-way centers in the Eastern Conference with 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games in 2025-26. Larkin would be a deadly 1B option behind Nico Hischier, who is already entrenched as New Jersey’s No. 1 center. That’s a dynamic combo and it would make New Jersey’s top six one of the most dangerous in the conference. Add his speed, his faceoff ability and his leadership credentials as a former NHL captain and this is the exact “new juice” Fitzgerald said he needed.

The Perfect Trade Offer

New Jersey has the defensive depth and prospect capital to put together a compelling package. Here is the trade that makes sense for both sides:

New Jersey Devils receive:

• Dylan Larkin, C

Detroit Red Wings receive:

• Seamus Casey, D
• Lenni Hämeenaho, RW

This two-for-one-package provides Yzerman two legitimate young NHL pieces to anchor Detroit’s rebuild. One of the Devils’ top defensive prospects, Seamus Casey is an offensive-minded 22-year-old blue liner who spent 2025-26 developing in the AHL with the Utica Comets, scoring 18 points in 30 games. He’s already shown he can produce at the NHL level, scoring his first goal in just his second NHL game. Skating ability, offensive vision and high hockey IQ make for a potential top-four defender for Detroit for the next decade.

The 21-year-old power forward-in-the-making was the 58th overall selection out of Finland’s Liiga, where he had 20 goals and 51 points in 2024-25. He’s skated in 33 NHL games for the Devils this season and has already shown flashes of his ability to win battles along the boards and find the scoresheet. Detroit gets a skilled winger with middle-six potential who can develop alongside their own young core.

Detroit gets two high-ceiling assets under 23, while New Jersey gets the proven, big-game center it has sorely lacked. Fitzgerald gets his top six upgrade without gutting his defensive core and Larkin gets the winning environment he’s been looking for. This trade hits every mark, the cleanest, most logical fit on the entire trade board, with the Devils overloaded on the blue line and Larkin looking to head to a contender.

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