Dylan Larkin says Detroit Red Wings trade request ‘wasn't easy’ and remains unclear

DETROIT Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin said Thursday that asking the team for a trade “wasn’t easy,” and that he does not regret requesting it, but he left the status of his request and his future with the organization unclear. Larkin addressed the situation publicly for the first time while sitting out the first day of training camp due to an upper-body injury sustained during an off-ice workout. He also said he understands the “actions have consequences” dynamic after no longer serving as the team’s captain following six seasons in the role.

Larkin, 30, has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with Detroit and ranks 10th in franchise history with 643 points in 808 games. He has not appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2015-16, and Detroit has missed postseason qualification for the past 10 seasons. Larkin told reporters he was not prepared to provide details about what led to the trade request, saying he is not “quite ready to talk about it.”

The Red Wings have been operating amid organizational changes connected to leadership. The team announced July 15 that Steve Yzerman would transition from general manager to senior adviser. Amid uncertainty, the Red Wings said they would begin the season without a captain, and on Tuesday assistant GM Shawn Horcoff was named interim GM while the search continues for a new leader of hockey operations. Horcoff said the organization is taking the situation “day by day,” adding that discussions with Larkin have been “good” and that both sides plan to keep the talks private.

Larkin said he has spoken with teammates and will try to earn back their trust, emphasizing that his situation was not due to teammates and that he wants to be on the ice where his actions can follow. Coach Todd McLellan said Larkin has the support of the locker room and that the team will help him through the process. The Red Wings open the season against the New York Rangers at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 2.

Larkin declined to comment on the specifics of whether his trade request still stands or whether reconciliation is possible, and he said he cannot control how fans may react when Detroit begins the season. He added that he wants to play and expects attention to shift toward the broader team effort.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk