Can Larkin and Detroit Reconcile? - Aug. 16th, 2026

This Detroit Red Wings podcast (without Ryan, forgive the different feel!) asks the question nobody wants to answer: what does this season actually look like if Dylan Larkin stays in Detroit? Hockeytown news & analysis covers the GM search, ownership's autonomy pitch, the Steven Stamkos report, & the barren wasteland of Red Wings free agency options still available.

(00:00) - Intro
Ryan-less episode means Brad and Evan hold down the fort. Forgive any changes in sound quality or editing in the meantime!

(03:40) - The Larkin Reconciliation Scenario
If Dylan Larkin rescinds his trade request, how loud do the boos get on opening night? We walk through the good outcomes, the ugly ones, and why the Steve Yzerman connection makes forgiveness harder for a lot of fans.

(21:35) - How Long Could This Drag On?
If no deal materializes by November, does the trade list finally expand? The pressure of playing every home game in front of a hostile crowd changes things fast.

(27:45) - GM Search & Ownership Autonomy
Why is ownership hammering the "full autonomy" narrative to candidates? We break down what that pitch might be telling us, and why the only open GM job in hockey shouldn't need this much selling.

(35:10) - The Stamkos Report
Did ownership really say no to signing Steven Stamkos in the summer of 2024? If true, it's a bigger red flag than the money.

(42:05) - Remaining Free Agents
Sifting through the ruins of the market. Eeli Tolvanen still being unsigned being a head-scratcher and more.

(49:30) - Overtime
36-team realignment scenarios, whether preseason games are worth attending, which teams finish below Detroit, and a CBA idea for penalizing trade requests.

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