How Dylan Larkin’s Trade Request Impacts the New York Rangers’ Offseason

A major piece of news broke on Thursday (June 4). Dylan Larkin, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, requested a trade from the team after 10 seasons with only one playoff appearance (his rookie season in 2015-16). This news completely changes how this offseason is going to look for a number of teams, as many, if not all, 31 other teams, are going to look at bringing this player in. For the New York Rangers, this news impacts them in more ways than one, as Larkin is someone they have had interest in before, but him being on the market also impacts the trade value of a current Ranger that the team is looking to move this offseason.

Should the Rangers Target Larkin?

The Rangers are trying to get this “retool” done as quickly as possible, and there have been rumors going around that they want to try and make a big swing this offseason. Going after Larkin would be a major swing, and adding him to the top six of this forward group would be a major get, but is it the smart move? Larkin is going to be 30 years old when next season begins, and with him being under contract for four years at $8.7 million, the Rangers would be adding yet another 30-year-old on a long-term deal. He has connections on the team already, as he played with J.T. Miller at the Olympics and won gold, coached by Mike Sullivan. The Rangers could be a fit for Larkin, but the big question is what they would have to give up.

The Rangers are trying to add to their prospect pool and rebuild their farm system, which is why they are retooling in the first place. Trading for a player like Larkin would likely mean giving up a young roster player like Alexis Lafreniere, one or two first-round picks, and maybe even a decent prospect. While Larkin is a great player who could take the Rangers to a higher level, the price it will cost to get him likely won’t be worth it. Replacing Lafreniere with Larkin is an improvement, but the Rangers already have holes in their top six that they need to fill, so replacing one player with another isn’t solving that issue. The Rangers are going to be a rumored destination for Larkin, but it should not be the place he ends up.

The Impact on Vincent Trocheck’s Trade Market

Before this news broke, the biggest center on the trade market was Vincent Trocheck. With the lack of top-end centers available in free agency, the trade market for Trocheck was going to be higher than it was even at the trade deadline a few months ago. Now, with Larkin on the market and most teams focusing on getting him, it means the Rangers are going to be left with the scraps of whatever teams don’t get Larkin this offseason. While the Rangers are still going to get a good return, they might have to wait longer than they wanted to trade Trocheck, as the teams that are in on him are now going to shift their attentions to Larkin.

One team that comes to mind that will likely have interest in both of these players is the Minnesota Wild. They lack a true number one center, and if that’s what they are looking for, they are going to try hard to get Larkin on their team. However, if the price for him is too high, they could circle back to Trocheck, who was a player they wanted at the deadline, but did not get due to the high asking price. Other teams to watch for both Larkin and Trocheck are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. They both want to get better and are in need of centers, so both of these players will likely be on their radars as the offseason continues.

Chris Drury Needs to Remain Patient This Offseason

While general manager Chris Drury wants to get the Rangers back to contention as soon as possible, he can’t make any rash decisions this offseason. This offseason will be a true test of patience for Drury, as he needs to hold out and get the best deal for Trocheck, while also not getting involved in the Larkin sweepstakes. Drury might see Larkin as a player that could help this team get back to being contenders faster, but draining the team of what little assets and future they have to try and get him is not a smart move. He also can’t trade Trocheck for pennies on the dollar when the asking price has been high for months. He needs to stick to that asking price and get the best return possible for the Rangers’ best trade asset this offseason.

Just because the Rangers have almost $27 million in cap space this offseason doesn’t mean Drury has to spend it all. He needs to be smart about how he uses it, and while Larkin does have a reasonable cap hit for the production he brings, adding another player about to be 30 to a core that is already aging is not a smart move. The only way a Larkin trade would work for the Rangers is if Larkin said he only wanted to play in New York, as that would drop the asking price for him. With that unlikely, Drury needs to stay smart and patient this offseason as he looks to build the Rangers up for the future.

Larkin is a star in the NHL, and it’s not very often that a player of his caliber becomes available. While his becoming a Ranger would be a fun addition, it is not in the team’s best interest to acquire a player like him this offseason. However, wherever he does end up and how long it takes him to be traded is going to impact what other moves the Rangers are going to make this summer, especially when it comes to moving Trocheck to another team.