Red Wings Suspend Dylan Larkin Amid Trade Standoff

The Detroit Red Wings have suspended Dylan Larkin without pay after he announced that he would not participate in games until a trade is arranged. The organization expressed disappointment over this unexpected turn of events.

Larkin, previously the team captain, made his trade request known nearly five months ago. Earlier on Thursday, head coach Todd McLellan revealed that Larkin would sit out the upcoming game against the Blackhawks. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff indicated he would discuss the growing situation soon.

“Dylan Larkin has informed us that he will no longer play for the Detroit Red Wings. We are disappointed by this decision, particularly given his obligations to the organization and his teammates. We have therefore suspended Dylan without pay,” Horcoff stated in a Thursday evening announcement.

“We will continue to explore trade opportunities involving Dylan. Any trade must not only have his approval but also align with the long-term goals of the Detroit Red Wings.”

Larkin, who is 30 years old, holds a full no-trade clause but has provided a list of ten teams he would be willing to accept a trade to. That includes the Panthers, Wild, Golden Knights, Stars, Capitals, Hurricanes, Mammoth, Lightning, Devils, and Avalanche, as reported by The Athletic.

This latest conflict arose when Larkin opted not to join the team for Thursday’s matchup against Chicago.

“Dylan’s had enough of the situation. We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process,” remarked Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, before the suspension announcement.

While Larkin hasn’t gone into detail about his reasons for requesting a trade, it is said that he made this choice following the 2025-26 season.

Previously, Larkin lost his captaincy earlier this training camp and had missed the season’s start due to an injury. Additionally, during the home opener, he faced a chorus of boos from the fans upon being introduced.

Despite the upheaval, Larkin has participated in 10 of the Red Wings’ first 12 games, contributing six points overall, including two goals and four assists. Notably, he’s maintained a streak of scoring at least 30 goals in each of the past five seasons.