Dylan Larkin is sitting out again tonight, and Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff isn't in any hurry to move him.
Detroit is playing Chicago as you read this, and the center is not part of it. According to @PuckReportNHL, Horcoff is prepared to wait "as long as necessary" for a return that benefits the organization.
That's a firm line from a GM whose best-known forward has told the club he wants out.
Horcoff also acknowledged that Larkin's list of only 3 approved destinations makes a deal harder to complete. Fewer teams means fewer bidders, and fewer bidders means less pressure on the price.
So who holds the leverage? Right now, it looks like Detroit does.
Larkin is listed as day-to-day, with the status marked as not injury related and an expected return of at least Oct 31. That's an estimate, and it tells you nothing about when he plays again.
Here's what he walked away from this season: 10 games, 2 goals, 4 assists, and a +3 rating.
Why a Larkin trade could drag deep into November
Our earlier report on Elliotte Friedman's read on the Larkin market pointed to the same thing: nothing is done anywhere, and Detroit is still working out what the market looks like.
Horcoff's patience fits that picture. He doesn't have to take the first offer, and he clearly doesn't plan to.
The Red Wings aren't exactly cruising without him, either. They sit 21st in the NHL at 5-4-3, with a goal differential of -4.
They did win their last time out, 4-3 in a shootout at Edmonton on Monday. Todd McLellan's group has points to chase, and a locker room to keep steady while this plays out.
Larkin's career numbers show what Detroit is trying to get paid for: 818 games, 278 goals, 649 points over his NHL career. A center with that résumé doesn't come cheap, even with a restricted market.
Still, the 3-team list is the real problem. A GM can ask for a lot, but he can only sell to a short list of buyers.
And Larkin isn't budging either. Detroit wants the right return. Larkin wants out. Neither side has a reason to blink yet.
How long does a player stay away before the standoff starts to cost the team more than the player?
Should the Red Wings keep Dylan Larkin out until they get their price in a trade?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Dylan Larkin's agent Pat Brisson issues statement for his client after removal from Red Wings lineup
