It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re on the edge of the 2022-23 season, but teams are already thinking about the next few seasons ahead. The league’s salary cap could be coming up soon, which means more money for key players. Teams are still looking at recent contracts as a template for their respective players. Today’s NHL rumours look at what a Dylan Larkin contract may look like for the Detroit Red Wings.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours – Dylan Larkin Contract
Looking at the Next Dylan Larkin Contract
Max Bultman of The Athletic looked at what the Red Wings captain’s next deal may be. Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman might use the recent Mathew Barzal extension as a framework for Larkin’s next contract. The Islanders forward inked an eight-year, $73.2 million extension earlier in the week.
Mat Barzal has a big new contract — and it could be the best new comparable for the Red Wings and Dylan Larkin, with the cap reportedly set to rise significantly in the coming years. Laying it all out: https://t.co/cLVeLK2Dzz
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 5, 2022
There’s been no update between the two parties on contract talks. The Waterford, Mich. native becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He’s currently making $6.1 million and has a no-trade clause on the final year of this deal. Larkin is currently 26 years old and has more contract leverage due to him becoming a UFA.
Bultman used the deals of Robert Thomas and Tim Stutzle as comparable contracts. Both of those were eight-year deals that were in the $8 million range. There were also comparisons to Mika Zibanejad‘s deal last season.
What it Means
Barzal’s contract does through a monkey wrench into what Yzerman may have offered his captain. However, maybe the Wings should take Larkin’s word for it and get a deal done before the end of next season. Yzerman did this in the past when he was running the Tampa Bay Lightning and took care of a Steven Stamkos deal.
Detroit is poised to take the next step and finally return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Larkin seems to be a key player in the Wings’ move up the standings. Will he finally be there to see the fruit of Detroit’s long, painful rebuild?
