Red Wings Say They'll Wait 'As Long as Necessary' to Trade Suspended Dylan Larkin, Then Beat Blackhawks 4-1

A day after suspending Dylan Larkin without pay, the Detroit Red Wings made one thing clear: they are not going to give their No. 1 center away just to end the standoff.

“How long it takes, I’m not sure. But I’m prepared to wait as long as necessary to make sure that the return that we get is something that is good for the Red Wings overall,” interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said Thursday night, according to NHL.com.

Hours later, Detroit went out and beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 without him.

What happened with Dylan Larkin on Thursday?

Horcoff said the news came by phone. “To put it simply, we received a call from Dylan’s agent today saying that he wasn’t going to be coming to the rink, and no longer wanted to be part of the Red Wings,” he said, per The Hockey News.

Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, told The Athletic that “Dylan’s had enough of the situation,” NHL.com reported, adding: “We believe he’s been very professional and cooperative through this process.”

The Red Wings suspended Larkin without pay and removed him from the roster. The Hockey News reported he will forfeit more than $41,000 per day while suspended.

Why is a Larkin trade so hard to make?

Horcoff pointed to two problems: the short list of teams Larkin will accept and the size of his contract.

“With the teams that Dylan has on his list, it’s difficult to get something done,” Horcoff said. “A trade like this, there are significant challenges when you’re trying to put a salary like Dylan’s into a team, trying to find the right pieces to give in return.”

NHL.com reported that Larkin’s list is now reportedly 10 teams. Horcoff said a deal might be easier if certain other teams were on it, “but unfortunately, at this point, we’re not there yet.” He said his goal is to bring back players who can help right away, though he is open to all kinds of trades.

Dylan Larkin contract details

Can the relationship be fixed?

Not according to Detroit. “My initial plan was to try to fix it,” Horcoff said, per NHL.com. “I wanted to try to do what I could to keep Dylan here in a Red Wing jersey, and clearly I was unsuccessful doing that.”

Asked if it had become unfixable, he said: “Dylan no longer wants to be a Red Wing, and he’s not with us. That pretty much is a strong statement.”

Horcoff also gave Larkin some credit, according to The Hockey News, noting he reported to camp, faced fans on opening night and “still went out and played hard for us.”

How did the Detroit Red Wings respond on the ice?

Viktor Arvidsson scored a hat trick in the 4-1 win at Little Caesars Arena, The Hockey News reported. Chicago captain Connor Bedard opened the scoring in the first period before Arvidsson tied it in the second. Lucas Raymond scored the go-ahead goal on a power play early in the third, and Arvidsson added two more, the last into an empty net. John Gibson made 18 saves. The night also marked Patrick Kane’s first game back in Detroit since rejoining the Blackhawks.

NHL.com said the Red Wings are 5-1-3 in their past nine games.

What are Larkin’s teammates saying?

Defenseman Moritz Seider said the win “meant a little more” because “this is our squad,” per NHL.com. “You just get sick and tired of answering the same question over and over again,” he said. “I think now it’s good to just put it in the past, turn the page.”

Coach Todd McLellan said the team is “moving on” and that “sometimes all this nonsense brings a group together.” NHL.com also reported that a group of fans chanted a profane taunt at Larkin late in the game.

What’s next?

Detroit hosts the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon. There is no reported timeline for a Larkin trade, and Horcoff declined to put one on it.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Red Wings Suspend Dylan Larkin Without Pay After He Says He Won't Play for Detroit Again (Oct 29)