DETROIT — Dylan Larkin was off the ice on the opening day of Red Wings camp with an upper-body injury, but his first public comments since requesting a trade carried far beyond the medical report. Detroit’s longtime center said he does not regret the request, accepts the loss of his captaincy and remains uncertain about what comes next.
- Larkin missed the first day of training camp after suffering an upper-body injury during an off-ice workout.
- The 30-year-old center said he asked Detroit for a trade while serving as captain. He would not say whether the request remains active, whether a resolution is possible, or what prompted it.
- Detroit has removed the captaincy from Larkin and will begin the season without a captain.
- Larkin said the decision to seek a move took time and was not made impulsively. He said he understands that his actions led to consequences and will handle the situation professionally.
- He said the request was never intended to become public and that parts of the fallout were outside his control.
- Larkin has spoken with teammates and said the trade request was not about the players. He said he wants to regain their trust through his work once he returns to the ice.
- J.T. Compher said the room will keep internal discussions private, adding that every player on the roster is expected to do what is needed to help Detroit win.
- Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said the club has had productive, candid conversations with Larkin and will address the situation day by day.
- Coach Todd McLellan said there is no simple formula for preventing the matter from becoming a distraction, but said Larkin has support in the room and is committed to earning trust with teammates, coaches and fans.
- Patrick Kane departed for the Chicago Blackhawks on July 23 on a two-year, $16 million contract, carrying an $8 million annual cap hit.
- Shawn Horcoff is serving as interim GM while Detroit searches for a new hockey operations leader. Steve Yzerman moved from general manager to senior adviser on July 15.
- Larkin, a Detroit-area native, has spent all 11 NHL seasons with the Red Wings. He stands 10th in franchise scoring with 643 points, including 276 goals and 367 assists, in 808 games.
- Detroit has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past 10 seasons, the longest postseason drought in team history and the NHL’s longest active skid. Larkin has not played in the playoffs since his rookie year.
Larkin did not offer details on the divide that led to his request. He said he knows fans want answers, but he is not prepared to discuss the reasons and may never publicly do so. He also spoke respectfully of Yzerman, calling him highly competitive and crediting him for leadership lessons.
For Larkin, the immediate priority is returning to the group. He said he wants to play hockey, values the players and staff around him, and still considers Detroit home. Without the captain’s letter, he said he is ready to take things one day and one game at a time.
What it means for the Rangers opener
The Red Wings open the regular season Oct. 2 against the New York Rangers at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, with TNT, truTV and HBO MAX carrying the game.
Larkin’s status for that night remains unclear because of the upper-body injury and the unresolved trade situation. If he is available, he could face a charged building after a difficult offseason. Larkin said he cannot dictate the reaction from the stands, acknowledging both the passion and frustration of Detroit fans.
McLellan’s message was straightforward: Larkin is in camp, remains an elite player, and the club will help him navigate the scrutiny. The center’s next shifts — whenever they come — will matter more than any further explanation.
