Opinion: Dylan Larkin Trade Request Sets A Nasty Precedent For Brady Tkachuk And Zach Werenski

This is all kind of Mitch Marner's fault.

After stubbing his toe in the playoffs for nine straight years, the former Toronto Maple Leafs right winger is finally enjoying the kind of success that eluded him for nearly a decade in his hometown.

In the process, the leading scorer in the Stanley Cup final is now showing the rest of the hockey world what a change of scenery can do for a player - and a player's image.

Maybe that's why Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, who has missed the post-season in the past 10 years, has reportedly requested a trade. Maybe that's also why the Vegas Golden Knights, along with the Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild, are reportedly on his short list of teams he wants to be traded to.

Now, the hockey world waits to see what Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will do.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Red Wings' Dylan Larkin, More Canadiens Buzz

Plenty of trade chatter following Dylan Larkin's trade request from the Detroit Red Wings, plus the latest Montreal Canadiens trade speculation.

As some have said, the NHL better be careful because one of Gary Bettman's crowning achievements is the idea of parity and a competitive NHL.

But if contracts no longer matter and players are calling the shots and picking their destinations, then you don't have balanced competition.

Instead, you get something that starts to look a lot like the NBA, where players collude to form super teams.

It's not a good look for the NHL. Nor is it a good look for Larkin.

Don't like losing in Detroit? Well, do something about it.

The Buffalo Sabres had a losing streak that stretched on for 14 long and miserable years, but we never heard Rasmus Dahlin request a trade. Instead, we heard about how all the dark days were supposedly worth it this year when Buffalo finally took a step and not only made the playoffs but reached Game 7 of the second round.

Maybe Dahlin - and not Marner or Quinn Hughes or Matthew Tkachuk - is the example that Larkin should be following.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 9:20 AM.