Dylan Larkin is not expected to play for the Detroit Red Wings again until he is traded, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The report followed Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan telling reporters Thursday morning that Larkin would not play in the evening’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks, and that interim general manager Shawn Horcoff would address the situation.
Larkin requested a trade after last season and was stripped of the captaincy on Sept. 11. He holds a full no-trade clause and has reportedly expanded his list of teams he would accept a trade to 10. He is in the fourth season of an eight-year, $69.6 million contract with an $8.7 million cap hit that runs through 2030-31, and has two goals and four assists in 10 games.
Sportsnet shared Friedman’s report on X, and fans replied with criticism of the reported stance. One fan argued the contract gives Detroit the upper hand:
“Then he can sit out and not get paid. If this is how he wants to play it he can’t sit out the rest of his five year contract for all I care.”
Another described the escalation as a misstep by his representatives:
“Another brilliant move by the Larkin camp. Burning it to the ground.”
One fan dismissed the approach outright:
“Bro’s not a good enough player to behave this way, lol”
Another questioned whether the decision came from Larkin at all:
“Well that’s not the best decision unless it was Dylan Larkin’s idea”
Pat Brisson says Dylan Larkin has had enough, and Detroit has not commented
Dylan Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, addressed the decision directly in a statement to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun:
“Dylan’s had enough of the situation. We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process.”
LeBrun reported that trade talks escalated Thursday, though a deal was not imminent. Friedman’s report described a plan for Larkin to sit until a trade is completed; McLellan’s announcement covered only that night’s game, and the Red Wings had not released a statement as of Thursday afternoon.
The Detroit Free Press reported that it was Dylan Larkin’s choice not to report, and that the team’s hockey operations had not responded to requests for comment. No suspension has been announced, and no trade has been finalized. Detroit (5-4-3) hosts Chicago at Little Caesars Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET, with Horcoff expected to speak later Thursday.
Edited by Sonali Verma
