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Dreger on Larkin’s trade request, Toronto’s coaching search and Cassidy’s situation
04 Jun 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
On that note, our hockey insider Darren Dreger now joins us here on Overdrive. Dregs, how's it going? Anything going on right now in the hockey world?
No, nothing at all.
No disgruntled stars you want out of their city?
Well, yeah, I mean, you're referring to Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. And, you know, when you think of bombshells, that's as big a bombshell as we're probably going to get leading into the offseason post Stanley Cup. So I think there's need for a little bit of an explanation here. This has been in the works for a while. I think that's pretty obvious.
You know, you don't just wake up one morning as a top player and go, okay. I've been here 11 years, whatever it is. It hasn't worked out. Time for a fresh start.
You mean like years in the making, Darren?
No, years probably is a stretch, O-Dog, but... Again, you think of Dylan Larkin, I mean, you know, it feels like he was born and raised to play with the Detroit Red Wings. You know, obviously, right?
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Chapter 2: What led Dylan Larkin to request a trade from the Red Wings?
Like that's where he's from. So for Dylan to get to the place where he's requested a trade, that tells you that there's been a lot of thought. There's layering to all of this. I mean, the man has a family. And I don't think it's as cut and dried as him wanting an opportunity to win, and he doesn't see that opportunity in Detroit. I think that's maybe where it starts.
But then there are multiple layers that go beyond that. How did he get to this point? You know, did management do enough to insulate him to augment what they have? All of those things. And, you know, those are questions that I suppose Dylan is going to have to face if or when a trade actually happens. But the information is legit.
And I think that he and his representation, which is CAA, it's Pat Brisson and JP Berry in that group, are dismayed that the information got out in the fashion that it did because When you're talking about a top-end guy like this, especially in a market like that, where, let's be honest, there aren't that many starters that play with the Detroit Red Wings.
They're good players, but Dylan Larkin is kind of the one guy that stirred the drink. We saw that when he got hurt this year. So I think they want to do their business beneath the public eye and underneath the surface, and it just hasn't worked out that way. So, man...
talk about a laundry list of teams that are going to be interested in this fella you know he can he can flat out play so we'll see how it all plays out darren can you explain the complexity of a player that wants out and also has a no movement clause like how that works just with you know where he wants to go can go where the team wants it how does it all come together
It is complex. So, you know, your description is accurate. And again, I think that's why maybe the player and his representatives would have preferred and not get out publicly, because that way, oh, you can do your your work. And you can go to management. It's not the first time this has happened. Say, look, it's time for a change. And so we're formally requesting a trade.
Here's the list of teams that we're interested in going to. So have at it. And that can get a little spicy too, right? I mean, the team doesn't have to automatically say, all right, well, we respect your trade request here. So we're going to do everything within our power to move you to, You know, Minnesota seems to be the flavor of the afternoon based on social media speculation.
And we can appreciate that Billy Aaron would have a ton of interest in Dylan Larkin. You know, it's great captain and all of those things. It does get a lot more complicated when it is now as public as it is. Because Steve Eisenman might be next to Lou Amarillo when he was the general manager. The most private GM there is in the National Hockey League.
Nice man, see him in the hallways, the fancy hotels we stay at when there are general managers meetings, but he does not pull the curtain back. He does not. So this whole process is going to anger him and it's going to get complicated.
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Chapter 3: How does management navigate a player's trade request with a no-movement clause?
We know there's a coach association, and I think it's a healthy thing for NHL coaches. But if you don't have a standardized contract that is the same in one market as compared to the next, as compared to the next, and the NHL isn't going to get involved to manage that sort of process, then what are you left with? I mean, if Bruce Cassidy had a way to get out of his contract, he said it.
He said it publicly. If he could resign and forfeit the $4.5 million plus, whatever it is, in the remainder of his contract, he would do that. Well, what else is left for him to do? Nothing. You know, he's contractually bound. So, I mean, it depends on the coach we're talking about here. Do you want to go to a place where you think you can coach a team to the Stanley Cup final?
No.
and you're getting four plus million dollars on a multiple year deal to do that, I think I'd be willing to sign up. And, you know, the consequence is that in the final year of my deal, I get gassed because my team isn't responding, but I'm still getting four and a half.
I may not like that they're blocking my path from coaching the team I want to coach, but I'm still getting paid, and contractually I'm obligated to stand the ground. So I'm not so sure it's going to impact Vegas negatively moving forward.
Greg, you just mentioned Bettman. How long do you think he talked about a succession plan? How long do you think Uncle Jerry's going to stick around for?
I mean, I chuckle not because of the question. No, I chuckle for a couple of reasons. Uncle Jerry makes me giggle every time I hear it. There was an incident, and I use that term appropriately. This is going back a few years ago at a Board of Governors meetings where Pierre Lebrun felt like he had a big scoop and that Jerry, Jerry Bass, That was a slip right there.
He was about to present to his owners that succession plan. Like, here's what we're going to do.
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Chapter 4: What are the complexities involved in a public trade request?
It's going to be my suggestion is Bill Daley, blah, blah, blah, whatever it was. And so Pierre, I mean, he's a pro. He talked to Bettman multiple times over the course of that two, three-day meeting span to a point where Bettman was getting sour with him. He was getting surly. And he was like, do not report this. Do not say this. You will make yourself look foolish. But, I mean, let's be honest.
You know, given everything that Commissioner Bettman has done, the billions of dollars that he's brought to the league and to the owners, the age he's at, you know, he's got – you know, a flock of grandchildren, all of those things, you know, and big business corporations do this all the time. You have to have, you know, a corporate succession plan in place. So I don't know.
What does he have a year, two, three years left? I'm not going to be the guy that pinpoints that because he's going to be in that office for as long as he wants to be.
All right, well, next time we have Pierre on, we'll have to ask him about that story. Yeah. Lots to talk about at this time of the year, Dregs. We appreciate you coming on.
Okay, fellas, have a good night.
There you have it, our hockey insider, Darren Dreger. iHeartRadio is throwing it back. 2010s, the decade. To the days of huge hits and unforgettable moments. A non-stop stream of the biggest and best. Drake, Rihanna, Beyonce, Katie, Gaga, The Weeknd. And more. All your decade-defining favorites all in one place. Hi, it's Katy Perry. Hey, it's Bruno Mars. This is Kesha.
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