Dylan Larkin was absent from the Detroit Red Wings' lineup Thursday evening against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the 30-year-old center is not expected to play again anytime soon. The Red Wings have suspended their former captain without pay after he chose to sit out while he waits for a trade that may or may not come.
According to NHL.com, Larkin will not play for Detroit on Thursday, and the site summarizes reports of a trade-related holdout. As Sportsnet put it, Dylan Larkin made the decision to sit out until he is traded. The TSN report states plainly that the team is suspending Larkin without pay, and that he will not play for the foreseeable future hoping a trade materializes.
Larkin also missed practice Wednesday, which head coach Todd McLellan described as a maintenance day, the same report notes. He was absent from practice again Thursday. Per FOX 2 Detroit, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on social media that the two sides had talks the day prior and determined Larkin would sit out that night and indefinitely.
Agent Says Larkin Has Stayed Professional
Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson, told the Detroit News that his client is frustrated with the pace of prospective trade talks. Brisson's statement, shared on X by TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, said: “We believe he's been very professional and cooperative through this process.” Larkin requested a trade away from Detroit in May, a request that became public.
The Red Wings stripped Larkin of the captaincy on Sept. 11 following his trade request, ending a tenure he had held since Jan. 13, 2021, according to the same NHL.com report. Shawn Horcoff, who is the team's interim general manager, is expected to address the situation, likely with a statement, the outlet adds. Horcoff was announced as interim GM on Sept. 15 and would manage day-to-day decisions, while Steve Yzerman would transition to senior adviser, per Freep.com.
No-Trade Clause Limits Destinations
Larkin holds a full no-trade clause, according to the New York Times' Athletic, meaning Detroit cannot send him anywhere without his sign-off. He initially identified Florida, Minnesota and Vegas as acceptable destinations, per CBS News, before reportedly expanding that list. The Detroit Free Press reports the fuller list now includes Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Utah, Vegas and Washington — 10 teams in all.
Montreal has aggressively pursued Larkin despite not appearing on that list, and Detroit has scouted the Canadiens in return, the Detroit News reports. The Minnesota Wild have also been pushing hard to acquire him, according to TSN, citing reporting from LeBrun.
Injury and a Rocky Start to the Season
Larkin missed Detroit's first two games this season and the entire preseason with an upper-body injury, the Detroit News reports. He has six points — two goals and four assists — in 10 games this season, per NHL.com. He has five years remaining on an eight-year contract carrying an annual average value of $8.7 million, according to the Detroit News, though Daily Faceoff described the deal as running through the 2030-31 season with four years left after the current campaign.
Detroit sits last in the Atlantic Division at 5-4-3 and hasn't made the playoffs since 2016, per NHL.com. Trade talks around Larkin have escalated in recent days, the Detroit News notes, as the club tries to resolve a standoff that has only intensified since the captaincy was taken away.
A Familiar Playbook From Another Holdout
TSN drew an explicit comparison between Larkin's situation and that of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was suspended by the Winnipeg Jets for not reporting to training camp. That suspension ultimately ended when Hellebuyck was traded to the New Jersey Devils, according to Freep.com's live coverage of the Larkin situation. Whether Detroit's standoff with its former captain follows a similar path remains to be seen.
