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Red Wings Fans Boo Larkin as Team Opens Season Without Captain
Confirmed
In Short: Former captain Dylan Larkin was booed loudly by the home crowd at Little Caesars Arena during pregame festivities, as he was introduced alongside his scratched teammates.
Former captain Dylan Larkin was booed loudly by the home crowd at Little Caesars Arena during pregame festivities, as he was introduced alongside his scratched teammates.
Larkin, who requested a trade this offseason, was placed on injured reserve ahead of the game, despite reports that he has participated in practice with no limitations.
The Red Wings lost 2-0 to the New York Rangers, with Larkin not playing due to his placement on IR.
Coach Todd McClellan expressed sympathy for Larkin, saying, 'Dylan's explanation was, 'I don't want the rest of my teammates, the ones that aren't dressed, to not be out there.
Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider acknowledged the fans' reaction, stating, 'Everyone has a right to express their feelings, and we've just got to deal with it.
Larkin, who has a no-trade clause through the 2027-28 season, has reportedly expanded his list of preferred trade destinations to around eight teams.
Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has been tasked with resolving the standoff with Larkin or finding a palatable deal to replace the top-line center.
Larkin's trade request has put the Red Wings in a difficult position, as the team has missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for 10 consecutive years.
Coach Todd McLellan's comments about the team's unity and pride suggest that the Red Wings are moving forward without Larkin.
The Red Wings' fans' reaction to Larkin indicates the depth of their disappointment with the team's current situation.
Reports suggest that the Florida Panthers, facing injury concerns, might be a potential trade partner for the Red Wings.
What this adds
Larkin's trade request and subsequent booing by fans highlight the tension between player and team.
The Red Wings' decision to place Larkin on IR before the season opener adds to the drama surrounding the team.
The team's performance in the season opener underscores the impact of losing a key player like Larkin.
The Red Wings' search for a permanent GM and the ongoing trade negotiations with Larkin add to the uncertainty surrounding the team's future.
What's confirmed
- "We're the Detroit Red Wings, and that means something. We are an Original Six team. We have a lot of stuff going on around us, but we're still the Detroit Red Wings," he said.
What's still developing
- McLellan pushed back after the game against TNT studio analyst's Paul Bissonnette concluding on the broadcast the Wings were trying to embarrass Larkin with the announcement.
- Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Friday Larkin has since expanded his list to "around eight" teams including the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning.
- "So, we went out as a team." Larkin's trade request wasn't the only point of contention from Red Wings fans, which were already leading chants against the team's ownership while down by one goal early in Friday's loss.
- The Red Wings have yet to name a permanent replacement for former general manager Steve Yzerman, who was fired in the wake of Larkin's trade request and whose departure has been followed by notable roster issues in Detroit.
- Larkin, 30, who reported to training camp last month but missed some practice time because of an upper-body injury, was booed loudly by the opening night crowd during pregame festivities in which each player was introduced.
- When "No. 71, Dylan Larkin" was announced, a chorus of jeers followed as he was shown, wearing street clothes, on the video board while arena officials quickly turned to music to drown it out.
- Larkin has five seasons left on the eight-year, $69.6 million contract he signed in 2023.
- That deal includes a no-trade clause, and he initially told the Red Wings that he would accept a move only to the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild or Vegas Golden Knights.
- Before the loss, McLellan spoke with pride as his club prepares to venture on without its former leader.
- Although Todd McLellan is known for speaking his heart out, he may have been holding back some of his honest thoughts around Dylan Larkin and the drama he rose after requesting a trade out of the Detroit Red Wings.
- Perhaps McLellan not-so-subtly calling out Larkin signals that the end of the trade request saga is near.
- The fact that McLellan finally called out Larkin for giving up on the team that drafted him and named him captain with hours to go before the season starts appears to be a sign.