Rejoint: avr. 2017
Messages: 1,120
Mentions "j'aime": 439
No way DET trades Larkin. The reasons being:
1. DET hasn't traded its captain since before the Illitch family bought the team (Yzerman, Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Larkin). They actually made Larkin wait for the C with the intention that he'd retire with it on. Family and publicity are also part of the Illitch legacy.
2. Larkin is a hometown kid. Played in the Wings sponsored programs across Detroit. The Illitch family won't allow that connection to be given away unless Larkin asks for it.
3. Yzerman knows a thing or two about how to play C and be a captain. Remember, he didn't win his first cup until he was out of his prime (31).
4. While Larkin may not be an "elite" C, you need more than 1 C to win. Giving him away for "maybes" when you have a sure thing isn't how to build a team, or a legacy. Remember, Steve was almost traded to OTT before he won a cup (DET doesn't win a cup, let alone 3, without Yzerman).
5. Unless you think this team is more than 7+ years away, he would still be an incredibly useful piece into his 30s (7 years he'll be 32).
6. Finally, you need to ice a competitive team for the fans to show up.
If Larkin walked into Chris Illitch's office and said he wanted out, they'd try their hardest to get him to stay, and then trade him for a package like this (though, knowing Yzerman's pattern, this wouldn't do it). Stephenson is 2 years old than Larkin even. Dean and Brisson are B prospects at best, and the 1st rounder would be at the end of the 1st round. It's not like VGK is giving Yzerman early lottery picks.