Bruins Should Inquire About Dylan Larkin Amid Trade Rumors

If the Boston Bruins are serious about finding a No. 1 center this offseason, a new and exciting option just presented itself for general manager Don Sweeney and company. Multiple sources have told Elliotte Friedman that Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings, though Larkin, his agent Pat Brisson and Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman have yet to comment. Still, Friedman is as tapped in as anybody in the hockey world and there’s no reason to believe these sources aren’t telling the truth. If Larkin is on the market, the Bruins should absolutely inquire about the potential cost of acquiring him.

It’s a tricky situation to navigate for every team involved.

For the Red Wings, the request for a trade in conjunction with Larkin’s full no-trade clause means there’s less leverage for Detroit than they’d hope for when moving their top center. At the same time, though, the Red Wings are under no obligation to make any trade and Yzerman isn’t likely to move Larkin unless he feels like he’s getting reasonable value for his asset.

For any team looking to add Larkin, the cost could prove to be steep even with Larkin’s trade protection and request. Another thing that could give teams pause is the fact that Larkin will be 30 years old when the 2026-27 season starts. Larkin hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet, though, and he carries a very team-friendly $8.7 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season. Any team acquiring him would be getting a perennial 30-goal scorer through his age-34 season. There’s legitimate value here and the age shouldn’t be too intimidating a factor.

This is especially true for the Bruins, who would be pairing Larkin with fellow 2014 Draft classmate David Pastrnak. If the Bruins believe Pastrnak still has several prime years ahead, Larkin’s age should be of little concern. Larkin has scored upwards of 30 goals and 67 points in each of the past five seasons and has been a 52.8% faceoff player across his career in Detroit. Those numbers are actually dragged down by his early years in the NHL, as he’s hovered closer to 54% over the past four seasons.

The only real unknown for Larkin is postseason performance. He has played just five playoff games in his career, all coming during his 19-year-old rookie season, providing a limited sample size for how his game translates to the playoffs.

The Bruins aren’t looking for a center who can score 70 points in a sheltered role. They’re looking for someone who can play 20-plus minutes a night, win faceoffs, play in all situations, match up against top competition and still produce offensively. Larkin has been doing exactly this in Detroit for years.

The leadership component shouldn’t be overlooked either, as Larkin has served as Detroit’s captain since 2021.

Bruins Need to Bolster the Center Position

Since the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the Bruins have been searching for a center capable of maximizing Pastrnak’s offensive skill set. Larkin’s speed, transition ability and playmaking would arguably make him the most talented center Pastrnak has played with since Bergeron or Krejci.

Age won’t be the determining factor in acquiring Larkin, but instead, trade cost will be the mitigating factor if any exists. Should the Red Wings demand a player like James Hagens or Fraser Minten in the deal, the Bruins should probably move on and find another option. Both represent the type of young, controllable center the team cannot afford to move on from without letting them reach their potential. If the package instead consists of first-round draft selections, prospects such as Will Zellers, Dean Letourneau or Matt Poitras, and roster players like Pavel Zacha or Mason Lohrei, then Sweeney should be far more receptive to those discussions.

One additional factor in any potential trade is Larkin’s full no-trade clause, which gives him control over where he would accept a deal. If Boston is not on his list of approved destinations, the conversation would effectively be a non-starter from the outset.

Whether Larkin ultimately becomes available remains to be seen. But if Friedman’s reporting proves accurate, the Bruins would be foolish not to explore the possibility. Players of this caliber rarely hit the trade market. The Bruins have spent a few seasons searching for a long-term answer down the middle, and Larkin might be the closest thing to one they’ll find. It’s almost impossible to acquire a true top-line center in the NHL, and if one becomes available, it’s worth pulling out nearly all the stops.