- Chris Ilitch says Dylan Larkin could be with the Red Wings the entire season despite his trade request
- Detroit stripped Larkin of the captaincy Friday, then named Shawn Horcoff interim GM on Tuesday
- Read below for what Ilitch said about the captaincy, Todd McLellan and the search for a hockey operations boss
Dylan Larkin asked for a trade in June. Chris Ilitch is not promising he gets one.
The Red Wings owner sat for a wide-ranging interview with the Detroit News on Tuesday and was asked whether his former captain could still be around in April:
“Yes, he could be here all year.”
Larkin wanted out after Detroit missed the playoffs for a 10th straight season. The club announced Friday that he would report to camp but would no longer wear the C, and that the Red Wings will open the year without a captain.
Ilitch gave away almost nothing on why the letter came off:
“As it relates to the captaincy, we’ve communicated as a front office directly with Dylan on that topic, and I’m going to leave it at that. As far as future captaincy, I think that’s going to rest with our new president of hockey operations. Let’s see how it plays out.”
That person has not been hired. Detroit named Shawn Horcoff interim general manager on Tuesday, two months after Steve Yzerman moved into a senior adviser role reporting to Ilitch.
Detroit is still running a full-time search, and Horcoff is a contender to keep the job permanently. Whoever wins it also decides the future of head coach Todd McLellan.
Pressed on when the permanent hire lands, Ilitch would not put a date on it:
“It could happen during this season, it could happen after this season. We’re not going to just make arbitrary decisions. The Red Wings deserve this level of diligence and excellence.”
On Larkin himself, Ilitch kept pointing at the paperwork:
“All I can do is say Dylan Larkin is under contract. He’s a Red Wing. He’s coming back to our camp to play for our team this year.”
Five years remain on that contract. Larkin signed an eight-year, $69.6 million deal in March 2023 that carries an $8.7 million cap hit, and he scored 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games last season.
Horcoff also has Simon Edvinsson and Alex DeBrincat contracts waiting on his desk. Camp opens Thursday.
