Everyone, from hardcore Detroit Red Wings fans to casual NHL watchers, is up in arms about the inevitable Dylan Larkin trade. Some expect middling returns, while others compare the pricetag to Jack Eichel's trade from the Buffalo Sabres.
The thing that seems to stick the most, though, is the direction of the team after the move. Will the Red Wings commit to a longer rebuild, or are they looking for immediate help in return?
With the way people are talking, one might think that the Larkin trade is the only move that general manager Steve Yzerman will make this offseason.
Let's be quite clear here: this team's issues will not be solved with one singular move. A Larkin trade, no matter how lucrative the return, won't fix the Red Wings overnight. There will need to be a few moves - likely more than two - that need to happen in order to turn the Red Wings into a serious organization again.
Don't expect moves until Larkin is traded
It's hard to imagine that any trades - big or small - will occur until Larkin is out of Hockeytown. There may be a few smaller moves to free up roster space or something to prime the inevitable Larkin trade, but the lions' share of decisions will come after he's gone.
The direction the Red Wings take from this point on hinges entirely on the return they get for Larkin.
If it's immediate help, they'll stay the course and look to add a second line center and top line winger (or whatever they're missing following the trade). If they aim for futures, it's fair to expect the Red Wings to bottom out this upcoming season while chasing a top-five pick.
No matter what route they take, they'll need to wait and see what comes from the Larkin deal. This is the first time we'll likely see general manager Steve Yzerman take some risky moves for the rebuild. Players like Elias Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks, while risky, might net a risky but enticing deal. Others in search of fresh starts may look to Detroit for a place to take that next big step.
Other unanswered questions plaguing the Red Wings
One name that keeps popping up among the rumor mill is goaltender Sebastian Cossa. Cossa had another great season in the AHL, but, sooner or later, he's bound for the NHL. Whether that's with the Red Wings or antoher organization is up to Yzerman, but it's clear that they need to determine whether he or fellow goaltender Michal Postava gets the backup role.
The other big questions revolve around upcoming free agents. What happens to Alex DeBrincat? Do the Red Wings plan on keeping Justin Faulk for the future? Once the Larkin trade is finished, these answers will become clearer. It's entirely possible both players stick around if the team looks like it's headed in the right direction.
But, if it looks like the Red Wings are pushing the timeline back, there's a chance the organization will part ways with their older players.
Buckle up, Hockeytown. We're in for a long offseason.
