Dylan Larkin Holdout Unlikely as Red Wings Face Camp Pressure, Capitals Work on Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif Deals

The latest wave of NHL trade rumors has a clear centrepiece in Detroit, where Dylan Larkin’s future is being watched closely as training camp draws near. With the Red Wings still without a general manager and Simon Edvinsson unsigned, the noise around the lineup is real, but the most likely outcome is also the simplest one: Larkin reports and plays. Across the league, the Washington Capitals are trying to settle two young forwards early, with Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif both in extension talks before the season begins.

Dylan Larkin Holdout Looks Unlikely In Detroit

Larkin remains the most important name in this story, and the prediction is straightforward: he is far more likely to be in the lineup than on the sideline. A holdout would not improve his trade value, and it would cost him salary without creating leverage that meaningfully changes Detroit’s position. That is why the odds still point toward a return, even if the atmosphere around it is awkward.

For the Red Wings, the stakes are obvious. Without a general manager in place, every unresolved contract becomes magnified, and Edvinsson’s unsigned status only adds to the sense that camp is arriving before the front office has finished the paperwork. Larkin’s presence would bring stability to the room, but it would not erase tension. Fans frustrated by the off-ice uncertainty may not greet him warmly, and that could make for a noisy start to the year.

Still, Detroit’s best-case scenario is also its likeliest one. Larkin is too important to the club’s identity, transition game, and leadership core to let this become a prolonged standoff. The prediction here is that the Red Wings eventually get him back in the fold, then turn their attention to cleaning up the rest of a camp roster that still feels unfinished.

Ryan Leonard Extension Talks Signal Washington’s Priority

The Capitals are taking a different approach, and it may be the smarter one. Ryan Leonard is already on the extension track, and Washington wants to get something done before the season rather than wait for the situation to drift into RFA territory. That is a clear sign of a club trying to manage risk instead of react to it. With offer sheets now a legitimate fear league-wide, early action is becoming part of roster management, not just cap housekeeping.

Leonard’s fit in Washington is easy to see. He is part of the next wave, and the Capitals would rather secure a young forward who can grow with the roster than invite uncertainty into a season that still carries playoff expectations. If a deal lands soon, it gives Washington a cleaner path through camp and a stronger sense of continuity. If it drags on, the pressure only increases as the season gets closer.

Justin Sourdif is in a similar bucket. He may not draw the same attention as Leonard, but the principle is the same: Washington wants to keep the conversation moving and avoid a bigger problem later. A resolution for both players would tell the rest of the roster that management is thinking ahead, not waiting for a crisis.

Team Implications And What To Watch Next

For Detroit, the immediate implication is that Larkin likely remains a Red Wing, but the longer-term issue is trust. When a team enters camp without a GM and with contract business still open, every result on the ice gets filtered through the off-ice uncertainty. A strong start could quiet things quickly. A slow one could keep the rumours alive all autumn.

For Washington, the outlook is more constructive. Getting Leonard and Sourdif signed before opening night would remove two distractions and reinforce a roster that wants to keep climbing. The Capitals are acting like a team that understands the market has changed, and that early business is often the cheapest business.

Prediction-wise, the most likely moves are simple: Larkin stays put, Leonard gets closer to a deal, and Sourdif follows the same path. The wildcard is whether Detroit’s front-office vacuum becomes the bigger storyline than any single contract. If it does, the Red Wings may spend the first weeks of the season answering questions that should have been settled in August.

The next few days should tell us whether these are just camp-season whispers, or the opening chapter of a much louder NHL fall.