NHL rumors: The depth forward Wild are shopping amid Dylan Larkin noise

Following a third-place Central Division finish, expectations were high for the Minnesota Wild. A 2-1 deficit in the opening round of the playoffs against the Dallas Stars was quickly overcome, with three wins in a row to advance to the second round.

However, the Central winners, the Colorado Avalanche, dispatched their division rivals in five games. Now, Wild GM Bill Guerin will look to retool his roster once again. Minnesota is reportedly chasing Detroit Red Wings star Dylan Larkin. If the Wild want to land Larkin, they’ll likely need to move another veteran forward, like Yakov Trenin, per The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith.

“Yakov Trenin is one player they’re shopping,” wrote Russo and Smith. “He makes $3.5 million for two more years. Nico Sturm has one year left at $2 million. If you trade one of them, perhaps you re-sign Nick Foligno at a reasonable price.”

Trenin is coming off his second season with the Wild, and it was his best campaign since 2021-22 with the Nashville Predators. The Russian forward played in all 82 games, the first time he reached the full-season mark. A +13 plus/minus to go along with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) showed a reliable third or fourth-line attacker for a contender.

However, Guerin is trying to add more star power to his lineup. Franchise forward Kirill Kaprizov is entering the first season of a record-breaking eight-year, $136 million deal. Guerin traded for Vancouver Canucks star defenseman Quinn Hughes during the 2025-26 season.

Kaprizov and Hughes are two of the NHL’s best players. However, they need help. Trading for Larkin would give the Wild a third star, and a difference-making center they so desperately need.

That, in turn, would certainly make Minnesota one of the NHL’s top threats for the Stanley Cup. It’ll be interesting if Guerin can put together a good enough package to satisfy Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman — and in turn bring Larkin to the State of Hockey.

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