The Buffalo Sabres at the NHL Trade Deadline made a push to trade for Robert Thomas with the St. Louis Blues to address the center position. They certainly could revisit that discussion this offseason, but they now have another option to add to their Top 6 after it was reported that Dylan Larkin requested a trade.
The Detroit Red Wings' center really holds a lot of the leverage with a no-trade clause, but the Sabres could be an attractive destination coming off a playoff appearance and looking like a team on the rise. However, for the Sabres to get a deal done, they are probably going to have to overpay to convince the Red Wings' general manager, Steve Yzerman, to trade Larkin within the division.
Even with all the hurdles, Larkin would be a perfect addition to the Sabres' lineup as he steps in immediately as the number one center. He is a veteran who is under contract for five more seasons and really in the prime of his career, with 67 or more points in five straight seasons.
Larkin could also be a boost for the power play unit that struggled in the playoffs with double-digit power play goals in the past four seasons.
Buffalo Sabres trade package led by Radim Mrtka and the 2026 first-round pick
The Detroit Red Wings are a team that is going to try and balance adding pieces that can help them win now while also adding for the future. They have missed the playoffs now in 10 consecutive seasons, although they are coming off a season with 92 points.
The Red Wings aren't that far off but will create a huge hole by trading Larkin. The good news is that they have cap space and could minimize the hole he leaves with the right trade package.
For the Sabres, any trade package is going to have to include Josh Norris, as he has an AAV of $7.95 million, which almost lines up exactly with Larkin's AAV of $8.7 million. When Norris is healthy, he absolutely can be a Top 6 center, but he has struggled with injuries that the Red Wings would need to be willing to take the risk.
After Norris, the Sabres could include Jack Quinn, who is coming off the best season of his career with 20 goals and 51 points. He is still only 24 years old, however already has 260 career NHL games, which should allow him to step right into a middle-six role for the Red Wings.
The last two pieces in this trade package would be last year's first-round pick, Radim Mrtka, while also including the Sabres' first-round pick this season. Jarmo Kekalainen has already shown a willingness to trade, as evidenced by the failed trade at the deadline for Colton Parayko, so for the right player, it would make sense that he would be available.
If the Sabres are able to get a deal done before the NHL Draft, it not only allows them to include this year's pick but also is done before Josh Norris' 10-team no-trade clause kicks in on July 1st.
A deal like this would not only help the Sabres' top line but also create roughly an extra $3 million in cap space. It may not be enough to sign Alex Tuch and their restricted free agents, but it certainly gets them closer to that goal, if that is the direction the Sabres want to take.
In the end, it might be a tough sell to Steve Yzerman to trade Larkin within the division, but this trade package should at least get him to consider it.
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