Red Wings’ Larkin Misses Practice; GM to Address Absence

WHO:

NHL.com - Dylan Larkin is a 30-year-old Detroit Red Wings forward from Waterford, Michigan, selected by Detroit with the 15th pick in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft.

NHL.com - Todd McLellan is the Red Wings’ coach; Shawn Horcoff is the team’s interim general manager.

NHL.com - Larkin had been Detroit’s captain since Jan. 13, 2021, until the team announced he would no longer hold the role. Detroit began the season without a captain.

NHL.com - Larkin has 649 points (278 goals, 371 assists) in 818 regular-season games and one goal in his only Stanley Cup Playoff appearance.

Sportskeeda - Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman was cited as reporting that Larkin was not expected to play for Detroit again until he was traded.

NY Post - The New York Post described Larkin as having been stripped of the captaincy ahead of training camp.

WHAT:

NHL.com - Shawn Horcoff said a trade involving Dylan Larkin was difficult because the teams on Larkin’s trade list limited the market and it was challenging to fit his salary into another team’s roster while securing suitable return pieces.

NHL.com - Horcoff said Detroit sought players who could help immediately but was open to different kinds of trades, and described Larkin as “a heck of a player on a good contract.”

NHL.com - Larkin’s reported trade list included 10 teams; Horcoff said adding certain teams could make reaching a deal easier, but Detroit and Larkin were “not there yet.”

NHL.com - The Blackhawks game was scheduled to air on Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and SN+.

Sportskeeda - Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff is prepared to wait as long as necessary to secure the right return for Dylan Larkin.

NHL.com - Larkin missed Red Wings practice Wednesday and was held out of the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks. McLellan said Horcoff would address the situation later.

Sportskeeda - McLellan described Larkin’s missed practice as a “maintenance day” and said he was expected to play against Chicago on Thursday.

NHL.com - Larkin has six points (two goals, four assists) in 10 games this season. He set a career high with 34 goals last season and has scored at least 30 goals six times, including each of the past five seasons.

NHL.com - From 2021-26, Larkin scored 160 goals, 37 more than any other Detroit player. He ranks 10th in Red Wings history in goals and points, and 11th in assists.

NHL.com - Larkin has five seasons remaining on an eight-year, $69.6 million contract, with an $8.7 million average annual value.

NHL.com - Detroit’s record was 5-4-3, placing the team last in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings had not qualified for the playoffs since 2016, then the NHL’s longest active drought at 10 seasons.

Sportskeeda - One headline reported fan reactions to Larkin’s absence, including the question, “They fixing his no trade list?”

NY Post - The New York Post reported that Larkin was suspended by the Red Wings amid trade-related drama.

WHERE:

NHL.com - The Red Wings were scheduled to face the Chicago Blackhawks. Detroit’s home arena is Little Caesars Arena.

NHL.com - Larkin’s sole playoff goal came in a five-game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 Eastern Conference First Round.

WHEN:

NHL.com - Larkin missed the preseason and Detroit’s first two regular-season games because of an upper-body injury. He returned to play against Ottawa, recording a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win.

NHL.com - The team announced the captaincy change Sept. 11. Larkin signed his contract with Detroit on March 1, 2023.

NHL.com - The Blackhawks game was listed for 7:30 p.m. ET; the article says Larkin missed practice Wednesday and was held out Thursday.

Sportskeeda - The maintenance-day report said Larkin was expected to play Thursday against Chicago.

WHY:

NHL.com - Larkin missed the preseason and the first two regular-season games because of an upper-body injury.

NHL.com - Larkin had requested a trade during the summer, and the request became public.

HOW:

NHL.com - Shawn Horcoff said Dylan Larkin’s situation “hasn't been easy for him,” and praised how Larkin had handled it and returned to play.

NHL.com - McLellan said Horcoff would address Larkin’s absence at a later time.

NHL.com - Larkin was booed during introductions at Detroit’s season-opening 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers. On his return against Ottawa, he scored and assisted, was named first star, and received a mix of boos and cheers.

NHL.com - Horcoff said Larkin had management’s, teammates’ and coaching staff’s “full support,” and said Larkin was working to regain his game and legs.

Detroit has removed Dylan Larkin as captain, and the forward has requested a trade. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff says limited trade options make finding a suitable return difficult. Larkin missed Detroit’s Chicago game, while coach Todd McLellan offered no further explanation.