Dylan Larkin hasn't changed course, leaving Todd McLellan and the Red Wings with a captain who still wants out.
The latest report says Larkin has not backed away from the trade request he made shortly after Detroit's season ended on April 15.
That decision carries even more weight following the reported firing of Steve Yzerman. There had been speculation that a major change in Detroit's front office could convince Larkin to reconsider.
It hasn't. Larkin's position remains the same, turning what might have looked like frustration at the end of a disappointing season into a serious offseason problem for Detroit.
The Red Wings finished 41-31-10 with 92 points and a -17 goal differential. Their season closed with a 2-6-2 stretch over their final 10 games.
Larkin still delivered from the middle of the ice. The Detroit captain produced 34 goals and 67 points across 74 games, including 14 goals on the power play.
Dylan Larkin keeps the pressure on Detroit
This isn't a depth forward asking for a change of scenery. Larkin is Detroit's top center, captain and one of the biggest pieces McLellan has to build his lineup around.
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He also carries an $8,700,000 cap hit through the 2030-31 season, meaning any trade would reshape the Red Wings' roster well beyond opening night.
That term gives Detroit leverage. There is no need to rush into a deal simply because Larkin has made his preference clear, especially when moving a first-line center requires a major return.
But the longer the request remains active, the harder it becomes to treat this as a temporary disagreement. Larkin has now had an offseason management shakeup and still hasn't changed his direction.
For McLellan, the hockey consequence is obvious. Detroit could enter camp with its captain under contract, healthy and still seeking an exit from the only NHL organization he has played for.
That puts the next move squarely on the Red Wings. Either they find a trade capable of replacing Larkin's impact, or they prepare for a locker room storyline that will follow the club straight into training camp.
Larkin has made his decision. A front-office change hasn't erased it, and Detroit's biggest offseason question is now what the Red Wings do with it.
Should the Red Wings trade Dylan Larkin before training camp?
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