Jets Should Be All-In on Acquiring Dylan Larkin From Red Wings

A significant piece of news that dropped Thursday about a star player presents the Winnipeg Jets an excellent opportunity to solve the second-line centre issue that’s plagued them for the past number of seasons.

Larkin Wants Out of Detroit

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported ahead of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final that Dylan Larkin, the Detroit Red Wings’ captain and longest-tenured player, has requested a trade away from the team that drafted him in 2015. The centre is reportedly disgruntled with the team’s lack of competitiveness in his career – they’ve missed the playoffs for nine-straight seasons and their last appearance was in Larkin’s rookie 2015-16 – and Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff should be all in on capitalizing on his unhappiness.

Larkin, a highly-skilled puck handler with great speed and play-driving abilities, is the type of player who will change the complexion and trajectory of whatever franchise he ends up with. In 11 seasons since being drafted 15th overall in 2015, he has put up 643 points (276 goals, 367 assists) in 808 regular-season games and has been consistent, with seven 60-plus-point seasons to his name. He’s also been strong in the dot, winning 52.8 per cent of faceoffs in his career.

The Michigan-born product had 67 points (34 goals, 33 assists) in 74 games this season and also won gold with the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 29 year old has scored 30-plus goals in five-straight seasons had a career high 79 points (32 goals, 47 assists) in 2022-23.

Acquiring Larkin Would Solve Jets’ Centre Depth Issue

The 2026 free-agent class is pretty thin and will probably not garner a “savior” for the Jets’ long-standing lack of a true second-line centre. Numerous players have been deployed in the role over the past number of seasons, but no one’s filled it either very long (Paul Stastny, Sean Monahan) or very well (Kevin Hayes, Cody Eakin, Vladislav Namestnikov, Jonathan Toews). Other players such as Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi, who played centre in junior, are now full-time wingers. Even the retired Bryan Little, now a highly-regarded player among the fanbase, was deemed by much of that same fanbase as a poor fit for the role in the early 2.0 Jets era.

Cheveldayoff’s end-of-season remarks indicate he believes that this season, which saw his team fall all the way to 26th and miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25, was a one-off and that they can get right back to competitiveness next season. He’ll have to do something bold to ensure that.

However, since Winnipeg is far from the most-attractive market for free agents, swinging a trade for someone with term, such as Larkin, is probably his best bet for finally filling this void for more than a season or two.

Larkin’s Contract Not An Issue, but the Winnipeg Market Might Be

Absorbing Larkin’s contract, which is worth $8.7 million per season and runs through 2030-31, would not be an issue as the Jets have $21.06 million of projected cap space for next season (the upper limit is rising to $104 million from $95.5 million). Larkin anchoring a second line behind Mark Scheifele’s top line and flexing his skills on the top power-play unit are certainly nice things to imagine.

While it’s unknown if Larkin would waive his full no-trade clause to go to Winnipeg — he’ll be highly sought after and will have no shortage of choice on where to go — Cheveldayoff needs to do his best to put a competitive offer forward. Players of Larkin’s calibre aren’t looking for a change of scenery too often, so significant roster players and the Jets’ 2026 eighth-overall pick should be on the table when it comes to the return.