Top NHL insider shuts down 'false and fabricated' claims of $69.6M Red Wings star's trade request

Rumors about Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin demanding a trade are "false and fabricated," according to NHL insider Chris Johnston.

Johnston addressed a social media post claiming that Larkin demanded a trade out of Detroit.

“This is patently, 100% false and fabricated. I've never spoken with this person or reported anything of this nature,” Johnston tweeted on Sunday.

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There are no reports by Johnston, or anyone, affirming that Larkin does not want to be a part of the Detroit Red Wings any longer. It's worth pointing out that Larkin is in the second year of an eight-year $69 million deal signed in 2023.

The Wings suffered a tough 2-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, with Larkin setting up Detroit’s lone goal.

Meanwhile, comments on the original social media post support Johnston’s debunking of it.

It remains to be seen if the Red Wings and Larkin will release a statement addressing the unsubstantiated claims.

Larkin leading the way for the Red Wings

Dylan Larkin continues to lead the way for the Wings as their captain this season. He leads the team with 12 goals and has added nine assists for 21 points in 27 games. He is third on the team in points behind Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat.

Larkin, Detroit's first round pick in 2014, has been a big part of its rebuild. He emerged as the undisputed leader, notching a career-high 79 points in the 2022-23 season.

Last year, Larkin topped another career-high, scoring 33 goals in 68 games. However, the Wings are having a disappointing season. They are near the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings after narrowly missing the playoffs last season.

Expectations were high entering this campaign, as fans hoped the Wings could take the next step toward contention. Unfortunately, that has not been the case so far. While there’s still time for things to turn around, the club has had some inconsistent performances.

With Saturday's loss to the Avalanche, Detroit has lost five in a row and has a slim one-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens for seventh place in the Atlantic. With a particularly tough part of the schedule coming up, Larkin and the Wings have little room for error.

Fans hope that 2025 will usher in a new opportunity for Detroit to turn things around, potentially leading to its first playoff appearance in nearly a decade. There is no question Larkin will be a key piece in that turnaround.

About the author

Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.

Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early '90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.

Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can't for stories.

When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.

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Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez