Trade rumors around Dylan Larkin continue to grow, and a new report has brought another surprise to the story. Earlier this month, reports said that the Detroit Red Wings captain asked for a trade, which quickly became one of the biggest topics of the NHL offseason.

Many people believed teams like the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild were the top choices to land Larkin. But a new report suggests things may have changed.

A different team could now be leading the race, adding a new twist to one of the summer's biggest NHL trade stories. According to NHL insider Nick Kypreos, the Dallas Stars may now be the top choice for Dylan Larkin.

In a report published by The Hockey News, Kypreos said Larkin still has a lot of control because of his full no-trade clause. However, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman will still decide whether to complete a trade.

Kypreos also said people around the league want Larkin to consider more teams. He reported that Pat Verbeek, a former Red Wings assistant general manager, could try to bring Larkin to the Anaheim Ducks. Even so, Kypreos believes the Dallas Stars now look like the leading team in the race for the Detroit captain.

Dallas becoming a possible destination is interesting because the Stars were not seen as one of Larkin's top choices at first. Their sudden rise in the trade rumors shows that the situation may be changing as more talks take place around the league.

Larkin still has several years left on his contract, so any trade would likely take time to work out. The Red Wings, the interested team, and Larkin's representatives would all need to discuss the details before a deal could happen.

Could Jason Robertson Become Part of the Conversation?

The same report from Nick Kypreos, covered by The Hockey News, also raised an important question about a possible trade between Detroit and Dallas: what happens with Jason Robertson?

Robertson is one of the NHL's top scorers and is nearing the end of his current contract. If he does not sign a new deal before the deadline, other teams could make an offer for him.

Because of his strong scoring record, including several 40-goal seasons, he could become a key part of any trade talks involving Dylan Larkin.

The report said Detroit may want to know that Robertson is willing to sign a long-term contract before completing a trade. The report also compared the situation to earlier rumors involving Quinn Hughes. According to the report, a rumored deal last December did not move forward because of concerns about a long-term commitment.

Yzerman has reportedly asked Larkin's camp to consider more teams as possible trade destinations. Reports say those talks have gone well. If that continues, Dallas could become a much stronger option in the race for Larkin.

Trade rumors around Larkin continue to grow. Over the next few weeks, Detroit may decide whether to keep its captain or send him to a new team.

What are your thoughts? If Dallas seriously pursues Dylan Larkin, what should the Red Wings ask for in return? Comment down below. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi