Dylan Larkin rumors heat up — and Devils could be in position to pounce

The Dylan Larkin saga in Detroit has taken another dramatic turn, and the New Jersey Devils could find themselves right in the middle of it.On Thursday, the Red Wings suspended their former captain without pay after Larkin informed the organization that he would no longer play until he was traded.The situation has been brewing for months, dating back to Larkin’s trade request over the summer. Since then, the 30-year-old center has been stripped of the captaincy, booed by Red Wings fans and remained the subject of ongoing trade speculation.Now, it appears he has reached his breaking point, and the latest developments have only intensified speculation about where Larkin could end up, with the Devils one of the potential destinations. According to a report from the Detroit Free Press on Oct. 21, New Jersey is among the 10 teams Larkin, who has a full no-trade clause, would be willing to accept a trade to.FOLLOW ANTHONY CORONA ON X: DEVILS REPORTER AND ‘SPEAKING OF THE DEVILS’ HOSTSUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL NOW: IT’S FREE!“Dylan’s had enough of the situation,” Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, told NHL insider Pierre LeBrun on Thursday. “We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process.”Detroit interim general manager Shawn Horcoff responded by announcing the suspension and that the organization would continue exploring trade opportunities.That doesn’t necessarily mean a deal with the Devils is imminent, or even that New Jersey is currently the frontrunner. But there are several reasons why the possibility is intriguing.With Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier already anchoring the Devils down the middle, adding Larkin would give the Devils one of the deepest center (and forward) groups in hockey. It would also create additional flexibility throughout the lineup, with the possibility of moving players to the wing depending on the situation.Larkin has scored at least 30 goals in each of the last five seasons and brings speed, offensive production, leadership and the ability to play in virtually any situation. He fits the Devils’ speed and rush offensive game.There’s also the Team USA connection.Larkin was part of the American team that captured Olympic gold in Milan earlier this year, alongside Hughes and new Devils goalie Connor Hellebuyck.Hughes and Larkin spent time playing together during the tournament, and the two were also prominently featured in the celebrations that followed the Americans’ gold medal victory. The Red Wings have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons. New Jersey, meanwhile, has spent the past several months aggressively positioning itself to contend for a championship.Since taking over the Devils’ front office in April, Devils general manager Sunny Mehta has shown little hesitation in making significant changes to win now. He acquired Luke Evangelista from Nashville before the season and, just last week, pulled off his biggest move yet by landing Hellebuyck.“I would say I’m never done. It’s never done,” Mehta told reporters in July. “It’s like a painting that’s never finished.”He expanded on that thought by acknowledging that even after a busy stretch of transactions, there were still opportunities worth considering.“There’s definitely things we’re still considering,” Mehta said. “But we’ll see. A combination of being both excited about what we’ve done and also somehow never feeling like we’re done.”Those comments have taken on new meaning as Mehta continues reshaping the Devils, though actually acquiring Larkin would present some significant challenges.Larkin carries an $8.7 million cap hit that runs through the 2030-31 season. Fitting that commitment into New Jersey’s salary-cap structure would require some creativity, particularly after the acquisition of Hellebuyck, who has a cap hit of $8.44 million through 2031. According to Puck Pedia, the Devils have $103,189 in projected cap space. That means they would need to move out salary to accommodate Larkin.Mehta has already used significant draft capital and other assets to acquire Evangelista and Hellebuyck. Another major acquisition could require New Jersey to part with additional premium draft picks, prospects or established NHL players.During Thursday’s episode of Speaking of the Devils, I discussed the possibility of Mehta putting together a package centered around mostly future assets rather than dismantling a significant portion of the current roster.That could make sense for a Detroit organization that appears to be in transition.MORE BY ANTHONY CORONADevils’ Sheldon Keefe has no interest in obsessing over loss to Avs: ‘Trash can unopened’Oct. 29, 2026, 11:07 a.m.Connor Hellebuyck delivers in Devils debut as New Jersey makes a statement in DallasOct. 28, 2026, 11:49 a.m.The NHL’s rising salary cap ($104 million this season) also changes how long-term contracts should be evaluated. An $8.7 million cap hit isn’t necessarily the same obstacle it would have been just a few seasons ago, especially for a player with Larkin’s production and versatility. Horcoff made clear Thursday that he won’t rush to accept an offer, emphasizing that any trade must serve the organization’s long-term interests.But if the first several months of Mehta’s tenure have taught us anything, it’s that the Devils’ general manager is always willing to explore opportunities to improve his team, even when it appears the roster is already set.Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.