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Report: Kris Draper spotted at Sabres game as Friedman calls Dylan Larkin standoff a ‘staring contest’

Reports say Red Wings assistant GM Kris Draper watched the Sabres last week, and Elliotte Friedman says St. Louis is among the teams that want in on Dylan Larkin.

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Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper was at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday, Nov. 6, to watch the Sabres beat Columbus 5-2, The Hockey News’ Michael Augello reported, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman described the Red Wings’ standoff with Dylan Larkin as a stalemate with no end in sight. Neither report signals a deal, and the Red Wings have not announced any trade involving their suspended captain.

Another look at Buffalo

Buffalo’s interest in Larkin is not new. Chris Johnston reported earlier that the Sabres made a substantial offer in recent weeks, but it went nowhere because Buffalo is not on Larkin’s approved trade list, and TSN’s Darren Dreger has said the Sabres are not an acceptable destination for him. Detroit Sports Nation, which followed up on the Draper sighting Sunday, cautioned that a scout in the building does not prove he was evaluating a specific player or that Buffalo has made a new offer.

‘A staring contest’

Speaking on NHL Network, Friedman summed up the situation bluntly: “As it stands right now, it’s a staring contest.” He said Florida, Colorado, and Vegas, all on Larkin’s list, are unrealistic destinations, while Buffalo, Montreal, St. Louis, and Los Angeles want in. He added that Boston has been asking why it isn’t on the list, and that Larkin’s camp had been expected to expand his 10-team list. Octopus Thrower relayed the comments Sunday, without giving the date they aired.

St. Louis’s reported interest adds an extra layer to Tuesday’s game. The Red Wings (7-8-3) visit the Blues at 8 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 10 at Enterprise Center, the second stop on a four-game road trip that began with a 4-0 loss in Colorado on Saturday.

Where things stand

Larkin has requested a trade and is suspended without pay while he sits out. Detroit has told his camp it has explored every option among the 10 teams on his list, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported last week, and wants permission to talk with six to eight more. His agent, Pat Brisson, has maintained the current list is enough to get a deal done. Until Larkin adds a team, or Detroit accepts an offer from one already on the list, the standoff continues.

Earlier on Mitten Hockey: Report: Bruins still interested in Dylan Larkin, and Kris Draper scouted a recent Boston game and Report: Sabres made a ‘pretty big offer’ for Dylan Larkin, but Buffalo isn’t on his trade list.

Sources

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