Kristen Shilton ponders what a Florida Panthers trade for Dylan Larkin could look it in ESPN’s Trades we’d like to see during the 2026 NHL offseason article.
Florida Panthers get:
F Dylan Larkin, 2026 seventh-round pick (CGY)
Detroit Red Wings get:
F Anton Lundell, F Mackie Samoskevich, 2026 second-round pick (WSH)
Why it works: It’s not as if Detroit GM Steve Yzerman wants to be backed into a corner — but he sort of is when it comes to Larkin. Given that the 29-year-old has a full no-trade clause — and reports have indicated that his three approved destinations are Vegas, Minnesota and Florida — Yzerman’s best bet is to make the strongest deal he can among the available options.
The Panthers have potential as the ideal trade partner. Florida’s disappointing 2025-26 season should only motivate GM Bill Zito to explore every option in seeing the Panthers back as top Cup contenders. Adding a top-tier center such as Larkin is how to make that happen. Florida floundered in 2025-26 without Aleksander Barkov — who was injured before the regular season and did not play because of ACL and MCL tears — which only highlighted how the Panthers could stand to bolster their center depth. Larkin wouldn’t come cheap, but Florida does have picks and players available to swap.
Lundell is a rising star down the middle, and has proved his worth at critical points in both the regular season and playoffs for Florida in recent years. The No. 12 pick in 2020 put up six goals and 18 points in the Panthers’ last Stanley Cup run, and took on more responsibility with Barkov out last season, collecting 18 goals and 44 points in 64 games. Samoskevich was the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2021 and is coming off a strong second season with 12 goals and 32 points in 77 games. The 23-year-old will continue to improve and would give the Red Wings a potential top-six winger option for years into the future. A second-round pick in this year’s draft also helps Detroit in the long term to keep building its prospect depth.
A scenario such as this one gives Florida the type of game-changing talent that’s rarely available, and offers the Red Wings several players and assets in return to bolster their overall depth and build for the future.
While this trade might work just fine for Red Wings, and I understand you have to give to get, the cost for the Panthers in this thought exercise is simply too high. The Cats, who will return to full health this season, are under no pressure to make such a deal. Take Anton Lundell out of the equation and I’m all ears.
Jonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups with Chicago Blackhawks, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after taking two years off to get healthy, producing 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg. Toews put up 10 goals and 21 points in 25 career games against the Panthers.