The Bruins made an offer for Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, and it was rejected along with one from the Wild, according to The Fourth Period.
The report didn't spell out which side turned Boston down, and that detail matters with his no-movement clause in play.
David Pagnotta had already listed the Bruins among the clubs showing "outside" interest since June.
The Wild part lines up with what Pierre LeBrun reported last week. He said the Minnesota offers didn't come close to what Detroit wanted back under Steve Yzerman.
The news landed the same day the Bruins named David Pastrnak their new captain.
Larkin carries an $8,700,000 cap hit through 2030-31.
So why does nobody's offer seem to land?
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Boston tried to land Dylan Larkin, but Detroit immediately said no
Money is part of it. Pairing Larkin with Pastrnak would have put $19,950,000 into two forwards.
The Bruins also carry Charlie McAvoy at $9,500,000 and Jeremy Swayman at $8,250,000.
The Wild already pay Kirill Kaprizov $17,000,000, the second-biggest cap hit in the league.
The asking price makes sense on paper. The center scored 34 goals and 67 points last season.
He also suited up for the Americans at the 2026 Olympics, playing six games. What he hasn't done since 2015-16 is play a playoff game.
Detroit was right to say no to both, if it was Detroit saying no. A center with five straight 30-goal seasons shouldn't be moved for a package that doesn't come close.
It's like bidding on a vintage watch at an auction with a reserve nobody will reveal. You can raise your paddle all day and still go home empty-handed.
At least 13 teams have now been linked to him in some form since the summer.
The Bruins open Tuesday against the Rangers, the same team the Red Wings host on October 2.
John Hynes' Wild open October 1 in Nashville.
Two offers are off the table. With Detroit's opener four days away, the next one has to land a lot closer to the asking price.
Should the Red Wings have accepted the Bruins' offer for Dylan Larkin?
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