“It’s good for [Larkin] to get it over with, it’s good for us to get it over with,” McLellan stated during a press conference. “I said this the other day, like, enough of this alrady. Let’s just go play hockey. Moral victories only take you so far. So to finally get a chance at getting the carrot was important for us.“

McLellan, who had also revealed the Red Wings’ players’ stance on Larkin’s return, was glad the day finally came at Little Caesars Arena. Fans got to get some frustration out of their system, while Larkin, who was given a clean slate by McLellan and the Wings, scored and played a big role in his team’s first win of the 2026-27 NHL campaign.

Larkin accepts fans’ reaction

It feels like ages ago, but it really wasn’t that long ago when Larkin urged Red Wings fans to reconsider before booing him. After his brief stint on Injured Reserve (IR), Larkin finally made his season debut in Motor City, and the jeering was as expected. Even Larkin knew it was coming—especially Larkin. Far from hiding, he’s made his stance clear, turning the other cheek and acknowledging the fans’ reasons to be upset.

“I mean, I was ready for [the booing] on the home opener and you know it’s a part of it. I’m trying to be a man and face it, and I understand why that’s happening,” Larkin admitted during his press conference after his season debut. “But, again, like I said at the start of the season, I was going to try and show up with my play. It was nice to be out there with the guys and get a win.”

More to come for Larkin

Larkin has passed his first test on home ice in the 2026-27 NHL season. If he thinks it was the only one, though, he’s in for a surprise. Larkin will face the wrath of the fanbase, as well as a bit of warmth if things go well, every game at Little Caesars Arena. His next battle will be on Oct. 10, when the Seattle Kraken come into town.

Key takeaways

• Todd McLellan welcomed Dylan Larkin’s season debut to get their campaign back on track.
• Dylan Larkin scored in the Detroit Red Wings’ first win of the 2026-27 season.
• Detroit faces the Seattle Kraken at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 10.

“I can tell you on the bench his teammates were rallying around him. They believe we’re a better team with him than without him, and the rest of the group was happy for him, so it was a team win, and Dylan did what Dylan needed to do,” McLellan said once the game concluded.

The hostility toward Larkin clearly came from only part of the crowd, while the team has supported his return despite what happened weeks ago. There is no doubt that his return makes the Red Wings stronger as they look to become contenders.

The Larkin-Red Wings saga

What started as a storybook hometown hero narrative spiraled into absolute chaos when Dylan Larkin dropped a bombshell trade request over the summer, citing frustration with the franchise’s endless rebuilding phase. Things got even messier when he reportedly weaponized his no-trade clause to try to force a move to a tiny list of contenders, leading the front office to strip him of his captain’s ‘C’ while fans showered their former darling with heavy boos at LCA.

Though he suited up for his 2026 debut and dropped a 2-point performance to beat Ottawa, the underlying tension between the player, the fanbase, and the organization remains an unresolved soap opera hanging over Detroit’s entire season.

McLellan bets on Larkin

Despite all the noise surrounding the off-ice drama, Todd McLellan seems more than willing to keep Larkin front and center as the driving engine of Detroit’s attack this season. McLellan knows you don’t bench elite talent when wins are on the line, and after seeing how Larkin “played with his heart on his sleeve” in his debut against Ottawa, it’s clear the bench boss respects his pure competitive drive and eagerness to be out there making things happen.

If Larkin keeps putting up multi-point performances and grinding through every shift, McLellan will have no hesitation leaning heavily on him as his go-to top-line center, regardless of any underlying front-office friction.

Key takeaways

• Todd McLellan stated Detroit Red Wings players fully supported Dylan Larkin’s return.
• Dylan Larkin requested a trade over the summer due to frustration with the rebuild.
• The Red Wings stripped Dylan Larkin of his captaincy following his offseason request.

“I’m trying to be a man and face it, and I understand why that’s happening,” Larkin said to the press once the game concluded. “But again, like I said to you guys at the start of the season, I was going to try to show up with my play, and it was nice to be out there with the guys and get a win.”

The boos that came whenever he touched the puck were occasionally replaced by a round of applause from the home fans, in what Larkin described as an “interesting night.” The player himself admitted that he did not want to overreact to the situation and said he was pleased with the win.

“I don’t want to offend anyone with over-celebrating, with knowing the situation that’s going on,” Larkin added. “But again, with all that, scoring a goal in the NHL, scoring a goal for this team when we needed it, it felt pretty good.”

Larkin’s highly anticipated return

Dylan Larkin made an immediate impact in his 2026 season debut, putting up a solid 2-point performance (1 goal, 1 assist) to help lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Taking the ice for the first time this campaign, Larkin stayed super active in the offensive zone, firing 4 shots on goal and winning 11 of 17 faceoffs (64.7%) to set the pace for Detroit’s attack.

He capped off his strong return by being named the game’s first star, proving he hadn’t missed a beat. Now it will be up to him to earn back the trust of his fans after requesting a trade before the start of the season.

What’s next for the Red Wings?

Fresh off that strong start, the Detroit Red Wings are keeping the momentum rolling with a solid mix of home and road tests ahead. First, they host the Seattle Kraken at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, October 9, before turning right around for a quick road matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, October 10. After a few days off, they return home to Detroit to take on the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, October 13.

Key takeaways

• Dylan Larkin received a mix of boos and cheers in his return to Detroit.
• Dylan Larkin recorded 1 goal and 1 assist in Detroit’s 5-3 win over Ottawa.
• The Detroit Red Wings next host the Seattle Kraken on Friday, October 9.

Red Wings fans booed Larkin when he was introduced in the 2026-27 NHL season home opener, one can only imagine the hostility inside Little Caesars Arena in his first shift back on home ice. McLellan is leaving Larkin’s status up in the air, but there’s a very real possibility he is on Detroit’s lineup against Ottawa.

“[Larkin has] got one more hurdle to cross. He’s still on IR, so the doctor will look at him here, and if he’s cleared, he’s playing. And if he isn’t, then he won’t,” Todd McLellan said after the Red Wings’ morning skate on Tuesday, via Helene St. James of Detroit Free Press.

Red Wings need Larkin

With Larkin’s trade likely stalling as the Florida Panthers may avoid a worst-case scenario with Aleksander Barkov, the Red Wings know better than to simply keep Larkin away from the ice out of pettiness. If he can play, they will dress him.

Larkin may have burned his bridges in Detroit, but he’s still a valuable weapon for the team. The Red Wings are winless through their first two games and have yet to hold a lead, so it’s not as if things could go much worse. Or at least that’s what Detroit wants to believe.

Larkin could join the power play

As much stuff as there will be on Larkin’s plate, McLellan isn’t taking anything off of it. In his first game back, Larkin could pick up right where he left off, playing big minutes for a Red Wings side that desperately needs a spark. According to reports, Larkin got some looks on the team’s power play during his latest practice session.

In the midst of the trade request drama and with Larkin injured, McLellan and his staff had left Larkin off the power play during practice, though they did use him on the penalty kill. As Larkin gears up for his return to NHL action, it looks like the team is holding no grudge against him, or at least isn’t showing it with his special teams assignments. Larkin’s absence has cost the Red Wings, and it was made evident as McLellan bashed the special teams’ groups.

Red Wings struggle on special teams

The best players have to play, even those who are actively pushing to leave the organization. And that’s why Larkin could be back in full capacity, playing minutes both on the man advantage and penalty kill. For as long as Larkin is under contract in Detroit, it might stay that way.

Even the angriest fans in Motor City will agree the special teams need help. So far, the Red Wings have some of the worst PP and PK percentages in the NHL, operating at 14.3% and 50%, respectively.

Key takeaways

• Head coach Todd McLellan said Dylan Larkin could play after missing two games.
• Detroit fans booed their captain during player introductions at the home opener.
• The Red Wings are winless through their first two games of the season.

Even though Brad Marchand recently backed Dylan Larkin and went against NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, which many saw as the Panthers’ veteran building a bridge with the Red Wings‘ former captain, it seems a trade between Florida and Detroit won’t materialize anytime soon.

“Just been told that Aleksander Barkov’s injury will sideline him in the range of 10-12 weeks. That timeline would have him returning around Christmas/New Year,” as reported by Armando Velez of Locked On Panthers.

Barkov on LTIR

While the Panthers have yet to officially announce a timeline for their injured captain, the report of a 10-12-week absence could make sense. As it is, the Cats have placed Barkov on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). Being on LTIR means Barkov will miss at least 10 games in the 2026-27 NHL season.

Since he went down in Game 2/84, he’s been out for one more game as the Panthers fell in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks. However, it looks like Barkov will miss more than 10 games.

The silver lining remains, though, that Barkov appears to have dodged a season-ending lower-body injury. If there’s one roster that can survive without the best two-way player in the NHL, it might as well be the Panthers, but they saw last year how quickly a season can go off the rails, and they must nip the injury bug in the bud before it wreaks havoc inside the locker room.

What it means for Larkin

As for the Larkin rumors, if Barkov indeed avoided a season-ending injury and could be back before the end of December, Florida could be out of the running for the Red Wings’ disgruntled forward. In the event Barkov’s injury turns out to be worse than currently expected, though, things might change. However, it’s all still uncertain.

Moreover, Larkin is currently on IR and dealing with an upper-body injury, so even if the Cats found themselves in desperate need of a center, Larkin may not be able to play right away. However, many have their doubts about the severity of Larkin’s setback, with speculation that his injury designation is merely a figurehead and that it’s Detroit’s excuse to keep him—and the distracting buzz around him—away from the team.

Lastly, the Panthers may not have or be willing to part with the kind of package the Red Wings are after in return for Larkin. Detroit may have lost leverage due to Larkin’s public trade request, but it still has him signed for the next five seasons, and until an NHL club meets the asking price, the Wings can hold on to Larkin. The relationship appears to be well past the point of no return, so any more bad blood between the two sides would make little difference.

Key takeaways

• Florida Panthers might stall trading for Dylan Larkin as Aleksander Barkov avoids season-ending injury.
• Aleksander Barkov is on long-term injured reserve and expected out 10–12 weeks.
• Detroit Red Wings maintain leverage with their former captain signed for five seasons.

The Red Wings couldn’t get the better of the Jets in a game where both sides were missing their trade-requesting American Olympic gold medalists, as neither Hellebuyck nor Larkin played. After the loss, in which all of Winnipeg’s goals were scored on the power play, McLellan pulled no punches about the team’s PK amid a head-scratching start to the NHL campaign.

“Well, the penalty kill failed us,” McLellan said after the 3-2 Jets loss, via Detroit Free Press. “And the penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct, right after we get scored on, bang, they’re up two-nothing. We can’t allow that, pretty simple. But the penalty kill let us down. First one was a lucky one, second one was a penalty that we didn’t need to take, third one was off a rebound. We’ll keep working on that, try and fix it.“

Larkin could’ve helped PK

Although McLellan admitted he felt bad for Larkin after the home opener at Little Caesars Arena, in which fans gave the former captain a taste of the season-long hostility, he had previously lashed out at Larkin with a blunt statement.

Despite the current love-hate relationship between head coach and disgruntled forward, McLellan is well aware of the impact Larkin could have on special teams, especially on the penalty kill. With Larkin—conveniently—sidelined and on IR with an upper-body injury, the Red Wings are missing his two-way impact to start the 2026-27 NHL season.

It’s unclear if they will ever have Larkin on the ice this season, as his trade out of Detroit could finally occur, meaning Larkin might be shipped away before he even makes his season debut. What’s clear is that if Larkin is back at some point, the current roster will welcome him back to the penalty kill, on which Detroit is off to a terrible start. It’s very early, but the Red Wings have the second-worst PK in the NHL, operating at a 50% success rate.

Red Wings fans won’t admit they need Larkin

Though Larkin was punished and taken off the power play during the team practices he actually participated in coming into the season, he was still used in short-handed situations, and it’s now clear the Red Wings are missing him on the ice when a player is off and in the penalty box.

No fan in Motor City will admit that, though, and many may actually be on board with the team struggling to kill off penalties as long as it means one-upping Larkin in the pettiness department.

Key takeaways

• Dylan Larkin placed on IR as Red Wings lose first two games of season.
• Detroit lost 3-2 to Winnipeg Jets after all opponents’ goals occurred on power play.
• Penalty kill operates at 50% success rate, ranking second-worst in the NHL.

Even though Brad Marchand backed Dylan Larkin after Gary Bettman’s comments, that’s as much support as Larkin has received in the past few weeks. Indeed, Larkin’s trade out of Detroit could finally occur, but it may not be the only one. Simon Edvinsson, who remains unsigned and a restricted free agent, apparently wants out during the 2026-27 NHL season, too.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Edvinsson prefers to be traded by the Red Wings rather than sign a contract extension with the NHL franchise in Motor City. While some may point to Larkin’s trade request as influential in the Swedish youngster’s decision, this is actually the Detroit front office’s own doing. This could’ve been easily avoided.

Edvinsson drama

Coming off a 25-point (nine goals and 16 assists) production in the 2025-26 NHL campaign, Edvinsson’s three-year, entry-level contract expired, meaning he became an RFA at the age of 23. However, because Steve Yzerman stepped down from his GM role and the position was left vacant for the entire summer, Edvinsson’s extension was left unattended.

That’s not the kind of treatment a former first-round pick ever expects from his organization, but Edvinsson did give the Wings more than one chance to make things right. Through the turmoil in the dog days of summer, Edvinsson and his camp remained calm and committed to figuring things out with the depleted front office in Detroit.

However, when Edvinsson reported to training camp, he may have been taken aback to learn that the Red Wings were considering a bridge deal. Whatever the main reason was, Edvinsson has yet to be re-signed and, in fact, has returned to Sweden, where he is practicing while his agent remains in contact with interim GM Shawn Horcoff.

Red Wings remain confident, but may be delusional

Things are looking far from good, though, and the Winged Wheel now has another player who is looking fonder of the exit door than the banners and history inside Little Caesars Arena.

“I didn’t expect [Edvinsson to return to Sweden]. We were excited when he came over,” Horcoff told Helene St. James of Detroit Free Press. “It was encouraging. Of course it’s disappointing when he went back, but, he’s a priority for us. We’re doing everything we can, working closely with the agents. He’s a big part of the club and we’d like to get him signed.”

The 2026-27 NHL season is off to a brutal start for the Red Wings on every front. Considering the deflating offseason they are coming off and the 10 straight playoff-less seasons, the new drama around Edvinsson is only par for the course in Detroit, though.

Key takeaways

• Dylan Larkin trade request remains unresolved as Detroit faces an 0-2-0 season start.
• Restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded rather than sign an extension.
• Sweden-born defenseman recorded 25 points during the 2025-26 NHL campaign.

For the goaltender, his absence is strictly related to his contractual situation with the Jets. The franchise decided to suspend its star without pay after he requested a trade and failed to report to training camp.

For Larkin, the reason he is unable to be with his teammates is related to his physical condition. The Red Wings placed their captain on injured reserve, meaning he will miss the first two games of the season with an upper-body injury.

What is Hellebuyck’s current situation?

Things between Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets have completely hit rock bottom. After making his trade request public over the summer, the three-time Vezina winner held out and refused to report to training camp, leading the Jets to officially suspend him.

Hellebuyck is reportedly pushing hard for a move back to a U.S. market, but despite five years remaining on his contract, both sides are stuck in a total standoff with no deal imminent. With the 2026-27 season kicking off, Winnipeg is rolling into their opener with Stuart Skinner in net while their superstar netminder waits at home for a trade package that satisfies the front office.

Larkin has yet to make his season debut

Dylan Larkin is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury that he suffered during an off-ice workout right before training camp started. It kept him out for all of preseason, and the Red Wings officially placed him on injured reserve, ruling him out for the first two games of the regular season against the Rangers and Jets.

Head coach Todd McLellan mentioned that he’s hoping Larkin can finally make his season debut in Game 3 on Tuesday, October 6, when Detroit hosts the Ottawa Senators—though his status will ultimately depend on how his recovery holds up over the next few days.

Key takeaways

• Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin will miss the game at Little Caesars Arena.
• Winnipeg suspended its star goalkeeper without pay after he requested a trade.
• Detroit placed its captain on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.

“Dylan, today, being a part of the team, he wanted to be out there for the ceremony… Dylan’s explanation was, ‘I don’t want the rest of my teammates, the ones that aren’t dressed, to not be out there,'” McLellan said after his team’s loss. “So, we went out as a team.”

The ongoing saga between the team’s biggest star and the Red Wings did not sit well with the fans at all. As a result, the boos were clearly heard: “Obviously, he’s got to live with the ramifications of asking for a trade. It’s not comfortable for anybody. I feel bad for him, I do,” McLellan also added.

What sparked the fans’ reaction in Detroit?

Dylan Larkin created a massive storm in Detroit after making a public trade request over the offseason, frustrating a fan base that once revered him as their hometown hero and team captain. Red Wings fans felt betrayed that the Michigan native wanted out after signing a long-term eight-year extension, leading the front office to strip him of his captaincy prior to the season.

The tension boiled over during the 2026-27 home opener against the Rangers at Little Caesars Arena, where Larkin—who was sidelined with an upper-body injury—was loudly booed by the crowd during pregame player introductions, prompting him to walk straight back to the locker room.

A false start for the Red Wings

Detroit’s opening night turned into a frustrating night at home, getting shut out 2-0 by the New York. Despite matching the Rangers in physical energy and slightly outshooting them 22-21, the Red Wings couldn’t get anything past Rangers netminder Dylan Garand, who stopped all 22 shots for his first NHL career shutout.

Detroit’s defense held up decently—John Gibson made 19 saves on 20 shots faced—but a first-period goal by Sean Durzi and a late empty-netter from Eeli Tolvanen sealed the loss. Between Dylan Larkin being out, plus going 0-for-2 on power plays, it was just a completely flat, forgettable start for the Wings.

Key takeaways

• Todd McLellan expressed regret after fans booed his player during opening night.
• Detroit fans reacted angrily following a public offseason trade request.
• The team suffered a 2-0 shut out loss against New York.

Not only did head coach Todd McLellan lash out at Larkin amid the drama, but the former captain was also showered with boos by Red Wings fans, and interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has addressed the situation as well.

Indeed, Larkin’s trade out of Detroit could finally occur as the Florida Panthers face injury concerns around top center Aleksander Barkov, but that isn’t where the Red Wings and Horcoff’s minds are at. At least, that’s not what they are openly saying. Instead, all they care about right now is helping Larkin recover from his upper-body injury, the reason Larkin isn’t playing against the New York Rangers.

“The focus with Dylan now is getting him healthy. He’s making great progress skating with the team,” Horcoff said about Larkin’s injury status, via Detroit Free Press. “We think he’s close, and once he is healthy, our priority is getting him back on the ice. He’s skating with the guys. He’s in a good mood. I think he’s starting to feel better. I talk to him daily. He’s in a good place.”

No comments on trade rumors

While learning when Larkin could be back in action for the Red Wings is indeed important, that’s not exactly what fans are desperate to find out. Instead, those who have already moved on from the former captain want to know what’s real and what’s not when it comes to the rumor mill surrounding Larkin.

On that note, however, listening to Horcoff or any front-office member will only bring disappointment to the fanbase. Which is fitting, considering how the past decade has been in Motor City.

“We’re going to, out of respect for the process, and Dylan, and us as well, we’ve agreed to kind of keep that in house, and that’ll be commented on in due time,” Horcoff commented on whether Larkin’s trade request is still standing or if the player walked it back.

Larkin’s mystery prevails

For the time being, fans will remain in the dark, and Larkin will still be treated with hostility during home games at Little Caesars Arena. That last part will likely remain the same even if he changes his mind and decides to stay in his home state.

Key takeaways

• The Red Wings are focused on getting Dylan Larkin healthy.
• Head coach Todd McLellan lashed out at Larkin while fans showered him with boos.
• Interim GM Shawn Horcoff stated trade discussions will be kept in house.

This was only the latest in a recent turn of events for the former team captain. In the past 24 hours, Larkin has seen his trade window open as the Florida Panthers may have a serious injury on their hands, but he has also faced his coach’s wrath as Todd McLellan finally lashed out at Larkin.

Lastly, and adding insult to injury, literally, Larkin was booed by the same Red Wings fans who cheered for him just months ago as he was introduced as one of the injured scratches of the night. Weeks ago, Larkin urged fans to reconsider before booing him, but it was clear then, and it’s clear now, that was a lost cause.

Fans spare no one in Detroit

Obviously, Larkin was always going to be public enemy No. 1 entering the 2026-27 NHL season. At the end of the day, he was the homegrown captain who gave up on his team and wanted to jump ship rather than sink with it. However, Larkin’s request to be traded didn’t come out of the blue; it had been brewing for years, and in that time, the franchise did little to improve things.

The Red Wings haven’t gone 10 straight seasons without a playoff berth because of Larkin. It all starts up in the suites and with the team’s ownership. That wasn’t lost on the devoted fans who turned up to Little Caesars Arena to watch the team’s season opener after what was anything but an encouraging summer.

After the Red Wings conceded an early goal to the visiting Rangers and the team headed to a TV timeout, the fans aimed at another guilty party. “Sell the team,” was the chant coming down from the bleachers onto the ice. It was quite the statement to make less than 10 minutes into a new season, yet a very reasonable one considering the status quo in Motor City.

Fans bring signs against Larkin

The tension could be felt way before Larkin was introduced to the fans. Around Little Caesars Arena, fans crafted or brought signs from home aimed at Larkin and the brass. “You can’t be injured forever, Dylan,” one sign read.

“Ilitch to-do list: Hire general manager. Sign Simon Edvinsson. Sign Alex DeBrincat. Trade Dylan Larkin. Add jersey sponsor,” another one read. You can already guess which item was the only one checked off with a tick.

That wasn’t the end of it. Many fans wore their Larkin jerseys with tape over the last name on the back, instead reading things like “traitor” or “loser.” Until Larkin is traded, it will be a long year. And not just for the former captain, the ownership will hear it, too.

Red Wings in crisis mode

The Red Wings are without a true general manager, as nobody knows whether Shawn Horcoff’s interim GM title is for real or if he’s merely a figurehead. What they do know is who is running the franchise: the Ilitch family, and fans are not happy with the way they’ve handled business.

Buckle up. As if they didn’t have enough on their plate, the NHL has extended the regular season to 84 games, and they could become way too many for the Red Wings to take.

Key takeaways

• Dylan Larkin received boos from fans after being introduced as an injured scratch.
• Fans chanted “Sell the team” targeting Detroit’s ownership during an early TV timeout.
• The Red Wings currently lack a permanent general manager under Shawn Horcoff.