Florida Panthers Could Make Larkin Trade Work, But Cost Will Be Too High – Hockey Writers – Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are sitting on their couches as they wait for the NHL Draft and free agency period to begin. With a record of 40-38-4 and 84 points, the team failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019. Next season, he is looking to win his third Stanley Cup in the last four seasons.

One big piece of news that went down in the Atlantic Division sent shockwaves throughout the league. Detroit Red Wings forward and captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade. After making the request, he sent a list of three trade groups. This includes the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Panthers. While it’s possible to work Larkin into this matchup, the team holding him could cost an arm and a leg in terms of roster terms.

What Larkin Brings to the Table

Larkin was the 15th player selected by his hometown team back in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Since that day, he has grown to become the face of Red Wings hockey. He has rooted himself in the long history of the franchise. With 643 points (276 goals and 367 assists), he is tenth in franchise history in points.

Additionally, his goal total also makes the top 10 of all time for goals scored. He joins legends like Gordie Howe, Henrik Zetterberg, and his general manager (GM), Steve Yzerman, on that list. He is the ninth player in Red Wings history to have four consecutive 30-goal seasons. He is the fifth youngest Red Wing ever to lead the team in scoring with 63 points (16 goals and 47 assists) during the 2017-18 regular season.

Last season, he helped Team USA take home the gold medal for the first time since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at the Winter Olympics last November. Larkin has an impressive resume spanning ten years in the NHL.

How Can It Work in a Program?

Larkin’s natural position is at center, and Florida is arguably one of the deepest teams in the league when it comes to the center position. This includes guys like Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, and Anton Lundell. So what would be the solution?

Another idea is to move him to the left wing since he shoots from the left. The only problem is figuring out where to put him without compromising the chemistry. Given his talent, putting him up there with Barkov and Sam Reinhart would be dangerous. That way, a proven line like Carter Verhaeghe, Bennett, and Matthew Tkachuk can thrive and give the team a 1A and 1B line.

In addition, he could reunite with his Team USA teammate, Tkachuk, and be included in the power play unit. There will be plenty of combinations of good lines and plays for head coach Paul Maurice to work with when he comes to Broward County.

Sounds Good On Paper, But It Will Be Very Expensive

If this were another version of the EA Sports NHL video game series, an armchair GM could make this happen with a late draft pick. But given the type of player he is and what Yzerman wants, it will keep him from coming to town.

Most likely, Yzerman will ask Panthers GM Bill Zito to pick nine. Granted, Zito was willing to part with first-round picks, but the Red Wings also need a center to fill the void. In return, he can ask for a guy like Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, or a prospect like Sandis Vilmanis, among others. That can cause Zito to hang up or send it to voicemail immediately.

Verdict: Don’t Count On It

While the idea of ​​having a top six consisting of Larkin, Barkov, Reinhart, Verhaeghe, Tkachuk, and Bennett sounds like a match made in heaven, bringing him in would be an added luxury.

The team is currently in need of help between the pipes as they could lose both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov. Also, they could use a player on the third pairing of the defense, considering it was a revolving door last season. Expect Zito to address those gaps in the upcoming draft and free agency period rather than pursue Larkin.