What Happened
Dylan Larkin has informed the Detroit Red Wings that he will no longer play for the team, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The club responded by suspending the former captain without pay and taking his nameplate off the dressing-room stall. Friedman reports that Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson, met with his client less than a week after Connor Hellebuyck was traded east, after which the player had had enough. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff has said he will act only when a move benefits Detroit.
Key Details
- Larkin told the Red Wings on Thursday he would not play for them again.
- Detroit suspended him without pay and removed his nameplate from the dressing room.
- Agent Pat Brisson met face-to-face with Larkin before the decision, per Sportsnet.
- Friedman reports Larkin struggled most with the blowback among players who sought moves last summer.
- Horcoff said he will only make a trade he judges to be in Detroit's best interests.
- According to Friedman, no trade was close as the situation escalated.
What It Means
Detroit loses its former captain while his contract and trade status remain unresolved, leaving the club to manage a public standoff. Horcoff's stated position suggests the Red Wings will wait for an offer they consider adequate rather than move quickly. For Larkin, the suspension without pay marks an escalation beyond a trade request. Friedman's report also notes uncertainty over whether an acceptable offer exists outside the GM's view.
What's Next
A trade remains the expected resolution, but according to Friedman nothing was close as of his report. Horcoff has indicated he will act only when a deal suits Detroit, so the timeline is unclear. The report also raises the question of how the situation affects Simon Edvinsson.