- Dylan Larkin won’t play in either of Detroit’s first two games
- Todd McLellan already has a return target in mind for the center
- Read below for the latest on Larkin’s upper-body injury and trade request
Dylan Larkin is going to miss opening weekend.
Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said Thursday that Larkin is out for Friday’s season opener against the Rangers and Sunday’s home game against the Jets with an upper-body injury. Detroit Free Press reporter Helene St. James had the update from practice:
McLellan was asked when Larkin might be ready. He’s eyeing Tuesday’s game against the Senators at Little Caesars Arena.
“He’s working with the training staff to push through,” McLellan said. “I’m hoping Game 3.”
He went through some drills on Thursday but didn’t take line rushes. The 30-year-old got hurt working out in the gym this summer and sat out the entire preseason, as we covered when he missed the start of camp. Red Wings beat reporter Max Bultman confirmed both games are off the table:
This isn’t how anyone pictured Larkin’s season starting. He asked for a trade after last season, then lost the captaincy before camp opened. He showed up anyway.
Larkin talked about the timing of the injury on the first day of camp back on Sept. 17.
“I got hurt in the gym working out, and I’m pushing to get healthy, and I want to be out there,” Larkin said. “This is very unfortunate timing. I wish I could show with my actions how to build trust with my teammates again.”
A deal doesn’t look close either. His no-movement list started at four teams and has grown since, with reports putting it at eight teams. Owner Chris Ilitch said in September the club is in no rush and Larkin could stay all season.
Detroit has plenty else on its plate. Shawn Horcoff took over as interim GM in mid-September after Steve Yzerman stepped down, and restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson is still unsigned and back in Sweden.
On the ice, Larkin is still the team’s No. 1 center. He scored 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games last season and ranks 10th in franchise history with 643 points. His eight-year, $69.6 million deal carries an $8.7 million cap hit.
The Red Wings, who’ve missed the playoffs 10 straight years, will open without him. If McLellan’s Game 3 target holds, Larkin’s season debut comes Tuesday against Ottawa.
