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Early in the 2026 offseason, one of the most surprising developments has been the number of legitimate potential trade targets the Philadelphia Flyers have at the center position.

On Thursday, that list got one big name longer, and it's perhaps the one the Flyers will covet the most.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade, which immediately makes him the top name on the market for the other 31 NHL teams, and especially the Flyers.

The Flyers, like many aspiring contenders, need a No. 1 center. A team like Minnesota or Montreal need Larkin as a No. 2 center or 1A option, but the Flyers need his talents more than they do. They're starting from the bottom of this ladder.

Larkin will turn 30 this summer, but he's only made the Stanley Cup playoffs once in his career despite his six career 30-goal seasons.

The 2014 first-round pick isn't quite the superstar capable of dragging a team to the postseason by his lonesome, but in the right environment, Larkin can thrive and reach new heights, even at his current age.

And while he may not be a righty like someone such as Mat Barzal, Larkin checks literally every other box.

Larkin is a career 52.7% on faceoffs, plays both special teams (including bumper on the power play!), scores at will, and is capable of leading a team.

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And for any concerns about his lack of playoff experience, Larkin gregariously taps the front of his Gold Medal from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The 29-year-old has consistently ranked in the top half of the NHL's fastest skaters over the years, peaking with a 95th percentile placement in max skating speed (23.32 MPH) in the 2021-22 season, according to NHL EDGE.

Financials at this point aren't a concern for the Flyers, with their cap space situation looking almost spotless compared to previous years.

Larkin has five more years remaining on his current contract at a modest $8.7 million cap hit, though his full no-trade clause gives him full control over where the Red Wings send him next.

Even after the Flyers re-sign the likes of Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale, bringing in Larkin, with term on his deal, should be no issue at all.

The Flyers, under GM Danny Briere, have been opportunistic traders, rather than ambitious chasers or go-getters, so the trade cost could prove prohibitive past a certain point.

But, given Larkin is nearly 30, and with Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider the standard bearers for the future of Red Wings hockey, Detroit is likely to pursue draft picks, prospects, and other assets who are 25 or younger.

The Flyers can offer the Red Wings a whole handful of wingers, excluding Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone, as well as any prospect or draft pick they might want.

You have to give in order to get in the NHL, and players of Larkin's caliber, even if not a traditional No. 1 center these days, don't grow on trees.

If the Flyers are truly committed to taking the next step and pushing their playoff runs even further, getting Larkin in a trade with virtually no downside is the first domino.

Seth Jarvis scores in overtime, Carolina beats Vegas in Game 2 to tie Stanley Cup Final originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Seth Jarvis scored on the power play in overtime after Carolina erased a deficit in regulation only to gave up a late tying goal, and the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night to the series.

Jarvis’ OT heroics came after a thrilling third period that included four goals being scored and another getting called off because of goaltender interference.

The Hurricanes had almost nothing going for the first 45 minutes, falling behind by two goals as the Golden Knights took advantage of a couple of scoring chances and locked down defensively. A couple of strong shifts in the offensive zone just before the midway point of the third brought the crowd back to life because the Hurricanes were buzzing.

Logan Stankoven made a terrific individual effort to get them on the board, taking the puck away from Rasmus Andersson, going to the net and banking a shot off Jeremy Lauzon and in with 9:40 remaining in regulation. Less than three minutes later, Mark Jankowski fired a shot past Carter Hart to tie it, flipping the script from Game 1, when Vegas erased a multigoal deficit and won.

The Hurricanes took the lead with 4:35 left when their captain, Jordan Staal, redirected Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot in on the power play. It was just their eighth power play goal of the playoffs.

That was 25 seconds after the Golden Knights thought they scored at the other end.

Frederik Andersen initially went full extension to deny Ivan Barbashev with the paddle of his stick, and a scrum ensued in the crease that ended with the puck eventually in the net. Referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, saying Andersen was pushed into the net and ruling it was goaltender interference.

Tortorella after some deliberation opted to challenge, and the on-ice officials in consultation with the NHL’s situation room confirmed the call on the ice stood. That put the Hurricanes on the power play, and Staal — the captain who has been around longer than anyone else on his team — cashed in.

After Mark Stone tied it for Vegas with 1:21 left in regulation to send the game to OT, Tomas Hertl tripped Staal to put Carolina back on the power play. That allowed Jarvis to score just Carolina’s eighth power play goal of the playoffs.

Seth Jarvis scores in overtime, Carolina beats Vegas in Game 2 to tie Stanley Cup Final originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Seth Jarvis scored on the power play in overtime after Carolina erased a deficit in regulation only to gave up a late tying goal, and the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night to the series.

Jarvis’ OT heroics came after a thrilling third period that included four goals being scored and another getting called off because of goaltender interference.

The Hurricanes had almost nothing going for the first 45 minutes, falling behind by two goals as the Golden Knights took advantage of a couple of scoring chances and locked down defensively. A couple of strong shifts in the offensive zone just before the midway point of the third brought the crowd back to life because the Hurricanes were buzzing.

Logan Stankoven made a terrific individual effort to get them on the board, taking the puck away from Rasmus Andersson, going to the net and banking a shot off Jeremy Lauzon and in with 9:40 remaining in regulation. Less than three minutes later, Mark Jankowski fired a shot past Carter Hart to tie it, flipping the script from Game 1, when Vegas erased a multigoal deficit and won.

The Hurricanes took the lead with 4:35 left when their captain, Jordan Staal, redirected Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot in on the power play. It was just their eighth power play goal of the playoffs.

That was 25 seconds after the Golden Knights thought they scored at the other end.

Frederik Andersen initially went full extension to deny Ivan Barbashev with the paddle of his stick, and a scrum ensued in the crease that ended with the puck eventually in the net. Referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, saying Andersen was pushed into the net and ruling it was goaltender interference.

Tortorella after some deliberation opted to challenge, and the on-ice officials in consultation with the NHL’s situation room confirmed the call on the ice stood. That put the Hurricanes on the power play, and Staal — the captain who has been around longer than anyone else on his team — cashed in.

After Mark Stone tied it for Vegas with 1:21 left in regulation to send the game to OT, Tomas Hertl tripped Staal to put Carolina back on the power play. That allowed Jarvis to score just Carolina’s eighth power play goal of the playoffs.

If you thought Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final was wild, just look at Game 2 on Thursday, June 4.

The Carolina Hurricanes had a massive rally to take a lead in the third period, which featured a controversial no-goal and challenge. They then gave up a late tying goal, but Seth Jarvis beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in overtime as Carolina's struggling power play came to life.

The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 on Saturday, June 6, in Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET, ABC).

The Golden Knights led 2-0 after two periods on back-to-back goals by Brett Howden, his NHL-leading 12th and 13th of the playoffs.

The Hurricanes seemed headed to a 2-0 series deficit before Logan Stankoven stole a puck and scored to make it 2-1. Mark Jankowski tied the game. Then the controversy happened.

The Golden Knights appeared to put the puck in the net after Frederik Andersen made back-to-back saves, but the whistle blew first and it was ruled no goal because of that and goaltender interference.

Vegas coach John Tortorella challenged and lost, giving the Hurricanes a power play. Carolina got a rare man-advantage goal - from Jordan Staal - for a 3-2 lead. But Mark Stone tied the score on a play on which Jaccob Slavin appeared to put the puck in his own net.

And the winning goal came from Jarvis, who had been moved off the Hurricanes' struggling top line during the game.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates from Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights. Here are highlights: