What Could the Blue Jackets Offer the Red Wings for Dylan Larkin?

Dylan Larkin‘s recent trade request should set the Detroit Red Wings up for some interesting offers. The Columbus Blue Jackets should be among the teams picking up the phone, knowing how good Larkin is and his connections to the team.

Plenty of teams will offer a package deal that could set the Red Wings up for long-term success, but Larkin has a full no-trade clause, meaning he will have a big say in the final destination. Columbus has a great chance because of Larkin’s ties to the team, but he also has to believe in the Blue Jackets’ ability to compete now.

Blue Jackets Bait

The Blue Jackets have a lot of young talent, but the Red Wings’ asking price will be high as they try to deal their captain and three-time All-Star, who just registered his fourth consecutive 30-plus-goal season. Larkin will turn 30 before next season, so the Blue Jackets will have to be ready to go on a run right now if this deal were to take shape.

Larkin would likely slot in as the second-line center, behind fellow Michigan Wolverine Adam Fantilli, giving Columbus one of the better top center duos in the NHL. However, the asking price will be high, and the Blue Jackets’ young talented wingers may be the first thing to go.

The Red Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman will need a young talented player in return to begin trade talks, likely one of Kent Johnson, Cole Sillinger, or Fantilli. The Blue Jackets would be smart to hold on to Fantilli, but the other two could be moved in this deal.

Will the Blue Jackets consider a Dylan Larkin trade?
Don Waddell does want to make a splash and push the roster.

It will largely depend on the Red Wings ask.

Werenski said he wants to win. He can begin extension talks next summer.

— Brian Wallace (@thedistrictbw) June 5, 2026

If Columbus begins with Johnson, the next piece of the trade could be a player with a high ceiling but a lower floor, like Cayden Lindstrom. The fourth overall pick in 2024 has struggled to find his footing at Michigan State due to injuries and has struggled to produce at a high level.

In this deal, however, the Red Wings get a proven playmaker in Johnson and a high-ceiling prospect in Lindstrom; this would be in addition to draft compensation, in which case, the Blue Jackets could throw in the 14th overall selection this year, as well as picks from day two, like a third-rounder and a fifth-rounder to make it work.

Red Wings Reason to Accept

The Red Wings might be willing to make this trade for a few reasons. First, they don’t have many options here. Larkin wants out, and they need him to agree to a deal to make it work, and they also want to do right by their captain. Second, this deal gives a team that was in prime position to make the playoffs before a late-season collapse a chance to recoup assets and make a push next season.

The Red Wings should be happy with a return of Johnson, Lindstrom, and a first and third-round pick for Larkin as they look to retool, and the Blue Jackets should be willing to make that deal, knowing they have a center of Larkin’s caliber joining the fold after missing the playoffs by seven points this season.

Larkin would add a ton of scoring after the Blue Jackets’ offense ran dry at the end of the season. He also adds a big boost to the middle to give them a true top-six forward group. As the second-line center, Larkin would allow the team to move Sean Monahan to his wing along with Conor Garland for a speedy and gritty scoring line.

This offer would give the Blue Jackets as good a chance as any team to land an All-Star player on a team positioned to make a big push for the playoffs in 2026-27. Adding Larkin could propel the Blue Jackets into Cup contention.