Dylan Larkin is a slam-dunk No. 1 center. The Detroit Red Wings captain is coming off his fifth straight 30-goal season. The left-shot Larkin does not turn 30 until July 30, putting him well within his career sweet spot. He is signed at $8.7 million annually through 2031. He is friends with David Pastrnak, a fellow 1996-born forward. Larkin struck gold at the Olympics with Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman.Larkin checks all kinds of boxes for the Boston Bruins. As president Cam Neely noted after the season, the organization does not have a true No. 1 center, which is no slight to Pavel Zacha, Fraser Minten or Elias Lindholm.The Bruins, therefore, have their hands raised high when it comes to being interested in Larkin, who has requested a trade, according to reports on Thursday.That does not mean they are likely to add No. 71 to their roster.Let’s assess the issues.1. Larkin wants to winLarkin, the No. 15 pick in 2014, was 19 years old when he last appeared in the playoffs. That is forever.Over the past 10 seasons, he’s been a good company man. But a decade of postseason no-shows would grind anybody down — perhaps even more so after experiencing Olympic euphoria.As a Michigander, Larkin understands the significance of being his generation’s version of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. He would not want out unless he can join a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. The Bruins are not that yet — not when compared to teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens. Larkin might even like his odds with the Florida Panthers, who missed the playoffs primarily because of a ravaged roster.2. Larkin has full no-trade protectionEven if general manager Don Sweeney presents counterpart Steve Yzerman with the best trade package, Larkin could say no if he wants to go elsewhere.This goes back to Issue No. 1: If a Cup is Larkin’s priority, he may have top destinations in mind. He can use his NTC to eliminate suitors that are not viable.3. He is under contract through 2031This would be a five-alarm fire for the Wings if Larkin were on an expiring deal.For example, Nikita Kucherov is eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. It would be panic stations for the Tampa Bay Lightning if they knew Kucherov was not interested in re-upping. They would be desperate to receive assets for the No. 1 right wing instead of letting him walk for nothing.But unless Larkin is willing to do something as drastic as withhold services, Yzerman is under no obligation to fulfill his captain’s request. Larkin owes his employer first-line performance for five more seasons. There is no imminent threat of him leaving for nothing.Management is in control over labor because of the eight-year commitment.4. What the Bruins could offerIt’s debatable whether the Bruins can offer a suitable trade return.Considering Yzerman’s bargaining power, he would be in a position to ask for the moon: one-for-one swaps, for example, for Pastrnak, McAvoy or Swayman. None of those deals would necessarily improve the Bruins to the point that they’d risk the organizational disruption of dumping one of their three drafted-and-developed cornerstones.Talks would then seemingly proceed to the next tier of a multi-asset package: legitimate NHL player, young player, prospect, first-round pick. The Bruins could present Zacha, Mason Lohrei, Dean Letourneau and the No. 23 selection in 2026. The Wings would not even consider that deal without the chance of speaking with Zacha about an extension. Zacha has one year left on his contract.Even if the sides solve this sticking point, it’s debatable whether Yzerman would consider his club improved for 2026-27. The reason Larkin wants out is because of the problem Yzerman wants to fix: a 10-year playoff drought. Yzerman would be first out the door if this streak stretches to 11. He is practically under mandate to make the playoffs in 2026-27.5. The Bruins and Wings are division rivalsThe last thing Yzerman wants to do is make his team’s playoff pursuit harder. Detroit’s safer play would be to move Larkin to the Western Conference.6. Improving the defense is a bigger priorityZacha, Minten and Lindholm have their strengths up the middle. Maybe Matt Poitras can crack the varsity next year. James Hagens may get an opportunity after breaking in at wing. But there is nobody behind McAvoy on the right side of the defense. Andrew Peeke will be unrestricted on July 1. Lohrei is better suited to play his strong side. Henri Jokiharju was a regular healthy scratch.TakeawayThe Bruins won’t complain about Larkin’s request. If he becomes available, it deepens the pool of potentially available centers, with Vincent Trocheck, Mason McTavish, Elias Pettersson, Shane Wright and Robert Thomas the current top five at the position on The Athletic’s offseason trade board.More supply benefits buyers. But acquiring Larkin remains a long shot.