​How the Dylan Larkin trade request was handled by GM Steve Yzerman was thought to be a possible watershed moment for his tenure in Detroit. As it turns out, someone else is going to land on that particular grenade.The Red Wings announced July 15 that Yzerman is being relieved of his GM duties and moved to an advisory role to Chris Ilitch, leaving the organization with Yzerman as a lame duck in the meantime. As such, it stands to reason the Larkin move — should it happen — will be handled by whomever the team appoints to take Yzerman’s mantle.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementREQUIRED READING: Why Steve Yzerman is out as Red Wings GM: Answering 5 big questionsLarkin, of course, requested a trade from the Red Wings in June, and has expressed interest in waiving his no-movement clause for the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers. The Dallas Stars have also been reported as a team Larkin would consider, but those reports are unconfirmed. Larkin has spent his entire professional career with the Red Wings since being drafted in 2014. They made the playoffs in his rookie year but haven’t made it since. He was named captain in 2021.Yzerman and Larkin’s relationship has been chilly, at least to the public eye. Larkin criticized a passive trade deadline in 2025, and Yzerman said at the NHL draft whether Larkin would be moved depended on if the return was worthwhile. As a GM, Yzerman has been known to be cautious about trading pieces. Larkin has proven to be no exception.The transition for the Red Wings creates two branching paths, and they hinge on a big question: Was Larkin’s problem with the Red Wings? Or was it with Yzerman?1 / 28Forward Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he will join brother Matthews.(James Guillory, Imagn Images)Yzerman is not exiting the Red Wings organization completely, but there is a world in which Yzerman being out of a decision-making role causes Larkin to rescind his trade request.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe center is on a team-friendly contract, and his extremely truncated list of contenders who would be unwilling to part with win-now pieces makes moving him difficult. The longer this saga drags out, the worse it looks for both parties. If Larkin perceives Yzerman’s GM exit as the team choosing him over Yzerman (this is unlikely the case, but some will see it that way), perhaps he stays.That’s still complicated. Captains asking out doesn’t happen especially often, so how the locker room would handle this path further muddies the waters of Larkin staying. But that’s a bridge the team would have to cross if it gets there.The problem with trading a player like Larkin, a franchise stalwart, is the return has to be worthwhile. Not just to the person making the trade, but also to the fanbase at large.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYzerman not making this deal takes every single piece on the board for a Larkin trade and moves it back to start. No passing go. N