Why the Wild want to land Dylan Larkin

The Minnesota Wild are pushing hard to land Dylan Larkin, a top NHL center who's requested a trade out of Detroit, The Athletic reports.

Why it matters: Larkin could be the missing piece the franchise has been searching for: a marquee scoring talent at center.

The big picture: The Wild have tried running their offense through superstar wingers and game-changing D-man Quinn Hughes — but every recent Stanley Cup champion is deep at center.

• Joel Eriksson Ek is solid, but the pattern of early playoff exits proves he needs help — hence the push for Larkin, considered one of the NHL's 20 best centers.

Catch up quick: The Wild were on Larkin's initial short-list of destinations, per the Detroit Free Press.

• With a no-trade clause, Larkin has veto power over his landing spot.

Friction points: The Red Wings are under no obligation to trade Larkin, so they'll demand a big return.

• The Wild have very few trade chips left, having already exchanged several of their best assets for Hughes.
• One worrying sign for Minnesota: Larkin has since expanded his list of acceptable trade destinations, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reports.

The bottom line: The Wild have other roster-filling options if Larkin goes elsewhere (or nowhere) — but none who would fill a bigger need so completely.