Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet discussed the New Jersey Devils in his latest episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. He mentioned that the Devils are on Dylan Larkin's list of ten teams he would consider.
"That's an interesting situation. A Devils fan texted me and asked, 'Do you think Larkin is playing 3D chess?" Friedman noted. "Instead of going to Minnesota, where (Quinn) Hughes is, could he be choosing New Jersey, where Hughes is likely to be as well?"
On Tuesday night, it was reported that Dylan Larkin, the center for the Red Wings, has included the New Jersey Devils on his limited list of ten teams to which he would accept a trade. While it can be exciting to be mentioned in trade rumors, one must consider whether Dylan Larkin is a necessary addition for the Devils.
What would a Dylan Larkin trade look like?
Devils receive: Dylan Larkin
Red Wings receive: Dawson Mercer, Seamus Casey, Brenden Dillon, 2027 1st-Round Pick (via Vegas Golden Knights)
A trade for Dylan Larkin would be tricky for New Jersey, but Sunny Mehta should have enough to grab a big-time player like Larkin. A deal would likely begin with Devils forward Dawson Mercer; it has been reported that the Red Wings are seeking a young center in any deal involving Dylan Larkin. Mercer does have experience in the middle; it isn't his primary position, but Detroit could develop the ironman into a permanent center. Dawson Mercer has been in trade rumors for almost two years now; could this be where he finally gets dealt?
The New Jersey Devils selected Seamus Casey with the 46th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He is a standout defenseman who played for the University of Michigan. Known for his offensive skill set, Casey has a very high potential but has struggled with injuries that have limited his ability to showcase his talents in the NHL. He has played only 14 games in the league; in the 2024-25 season, he scored 4 goals and provided 4 assists in that brief span. He underwent knee surgery in early October and is not expected to return to the ice until early December, depending on his rehabilitation progress.
Brenden Dillon is included in the deal primarily for financial reasons. Last season, he reportedly rejected a potential trade, but the trade's destination remains unclear. The Devils had attempted to send him to another team. Additionally, head coach Sheldon Keefe has benched Dillon in the Devils' lineup.
The Devils possess two first-round picks in the 2027 draft. With the team viewed as contenders, one of these picks should be traded to upgrade the roster, creating an ideal opportunity for improvement.
What does Dylan Larkin bring to the Devils?
A Dylan Larkin trade to the Devils is hard to process because they already have two top-tier centers in their top six: Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, but then just imagine the 1-2-3 punch at center by adding Dylan Larkin.
Dylan Larkin is an excellent two-way center who can score 30 goals in any given season. He hasn't scored fewer than 30 goals in a season since the 2020-21 season, which was impacted by a season-ending neck injury. New Jersey has struggled with finishing, so adding a goal scorer like Larkin would significantly improve the outlook of their offense.
Larkin is currently 30 years old and is signed until he is 35, earning $8.7 million each year, a fair price especially with the salary cap increasing annually.
What would the lines look post-Larkin trade?
Top Line: Arseny Gritsyuk (LW) / Jack Hughes (C) / Jesper Bratt (RW)
Second Line: Timo Meier (LW) / Nico Hischier (C) / Luke Evangelista (RW)
Third Line: Anthony Mantha (LW) / Dylan Larkin (C) / Evan Rodrigues (RW)
Fourth Line: Jesper Boqvist (LW) / Cody Glass (C) / Connor Brown (RW)
Powerplay 1: Jesper Bratt / Nico Hischier / Jack Hughes / Luke Evangelista / Luke Hughes
Powerplay 2: Timo Meier / Dylan Larkin / Anthony Mantha / Arseny Gritsyuk / Dougie Hamilton
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