Dylan Larkin absent from Red Wings practice amid imminent trade buzz

The focus on the whole Dylan Larkin trade saga intensified on Wednesday when speculation peaked after Larkin was notably absent from Detroit's practice session.

The Athletic's Max Bultman and team insider Helene St. James, who cover the Red Wings, reported that Larkin was not on the ice as the team skated. The rest of the group, including Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, Andrew Copp, and J.T. Compher, was present and accounted for.

No official explanation was given for Larkin's absence, but chatter immediately pointed to the possibility of a pending trade.

It could very well be a routine maintenance day, common for veteran players during the grind of the regular season. But the timing, coming amid an increasingly heated trade sweepstakes, immediately set the fanbase buzzing.

It was later reported by insider Elliotte Friedman that the word was that this is, indeed, a maintenance day for Larkin.

The backdrop to all of this is a trade market that appears to be narrowing. According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, several teams once considered potential landing spots are reportedly fading from contention. Philadelphia, Boston, and Utah are all said to be losing traction as realistic destinations.

LeBrun noted that the Utah Mammoth, despite being on Larkin's approved list and having the assets to complete a deal, "don't view that as a top priority pathway for them." He added that the club has spoken with Detroit but isn't pushing aggressively, partly because they already have a surplus of centres.

Tampa Bay also appears to be out of the picture. LeBrun told Melnick in the Afternoon that he hasn't heard "any connection between Tampa and Detroit on Dylan Larkin."

The two teams generating the most momentum are reportedly the Minnesota Wild, who have been considered front-runners for some time, and the Montreal Canadiens, who could enter the conversation more seriously if Larkin adds them to his approved trade list.

Some fans have speculated that tax implications or the intensity of certain fanbases might be influencing Larkin's preferences. None of those claims have been confirmed.

We await an official update on why Larkin is missing from practice today, while a possible imminent move remains the central question as this saga moves toward its conclusion.