Detroit will open camp with Dylan Larkin in the room but without a captain’s letter on any jersey, as owner Chris Ilitch says the Red Wings are prepared for the possibility that their No. 1 center remains with the club for the full season despite requesting a trade.
SEO Title: Dylan Larkin Could Remain With Red Wings All Season
SEO Description: Detroit Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch says Dylan Larkin could stay through the season as the club begins camp without a captain and continues its search for a hockey operations leader.
Dylan Larkin Could Stay in Detroit
Larkin asked for a trade after Detroit’s 10th consecutive season outside the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Still, Ilitch made clear that a deal is not inevitable before the season ends.
“Yes, he could be here all year,” Ilitch said when asked whether Larkin might remain a Red Wing through the campaign.
- Larkin is under contract and is set to report when Detroit’s training camp opens Thursday.
- The Red Wings confirmed Friday that they will begin the season without naming a captain.
- Detroit has discussed the captaincy directly with Larkin, but Ilitch declined to detail those conversations.
- Any future decision on the captain’s role will be left to the club’s next president of hockey operations.
Ilitch called Larkin an important player for the organization and said discussions about the forward’s future will remain between the player and Detroit’s front office. He also emphasized that the franchise must be bigger than any individual, whether that is a player, coach, general manager or owner.
Front Office Search Sets the Timeline
The Wings are in the middle of a reshaped hockey operations structure. On July 15, the club moved Steve Yzerman into a senior advisory position under Ilitch. Shawn Horcoff was then named interim general manager Tuesday and will run the club’s everyday hockey business during the search.
Ilitch said Detroit wants an “innovative difference-maker” capable of building a championship-level organization. There is no fixed deadline for the hire.
- The next president of hockey operations will have authority over the hockey staff.
- That review includes coach Todd McLellan’s position.
- Ilitch said the new executive could arrive during the season or after it.
- The owner said Detroit will not rush into a decision simply to fill the opening.
“We’re not going to just make arbitrary decisions,” Ilitch said, adding that the Red Wings deserve a careful and high-standard process.
Horcoff Takes On Immediate Roster Work
While the executive search continues, Horcoff’s first assignment includes several significant personnel files before the puck drops on the regular season.
- Defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains a restricted free agent and needs a new contract.
- Forward Alex DeBrincat is entering a season after which he can reach unrestricted free agency.
- Larkin’s trade request and his return to camp remain the organization’s most closely watched issue.
Ilitch said he understands fans will have strong opinions on the situation, but said the club cannot control that response. His focus, he said, is on the captain being under contract, arriving at camp and receiving the support needed to play at his best.
For now, Detroit’s camp opens with a familiar face at center, an interim general manager handling the boardroom work, and no timetable for either a trade resolution or the club’s next hockey boss.
