Dylan Larkin heard the boos, then he gave Detroit Red Wings fans something to cheer about. That’s right, in his 2026-27 season debut Tuesday night, after being booed whenever he touched the puck early on, Larkin responded in the best way possible: he scored. His first goal of the season against the Ottawa Senators gave Detroit their first lead of this young campaign. Talk about a wild turn!
From Hostile Boos to Instant Impact
Larkin’s return to the ice was always going to be the biggest story of the night, and man, did it deliver. The former Red Wings captain had requested a trade in the offseason, which led to him losing the captaincy. He’d missed Detroit’s first two games with an upper-body injury, making Tuesday his first game action since everything went down between him and the organization. The reception? Immediate. Larkin was booed stepping onto the ice, and that hostile reaction intensified when he first touched the puck. It wasn’t just a Tuesday thing, either; he got the same reception during Opening Night introductions while injured. Red Wings fans were letting him have it, loud and clear.
Then, Larkin just flipped the entire script. Only minutes after his first shift was met with boos, Viktor Arvidsson sent the puck into the middle. Larkin was there, finishing the play by beating Ottawa goaltender Samuel Ersson between the pads. The goal gave Detroit a 2-1 advantage, and get this, it was their first lead of the season, according to The Hockey News. Suddenly, the dominant sound at Little Caesars Arena wasn’t boos anymore. It was cheers. Fans who’d been letting Larkin hear it were now roaring for a goal from that exact same player. This whole dynamic makes Larkin’s goal such a fascinating moment in what is already shaping up to be a complicated season.
Detroit Desperately Needed That Goal
Beyond all the drama, Detroit just desperately needed that goal. The Red Wings came into Tuesday night sitting at 0-2 and had only managed two goals through their first two games. Larkin’s return was huge for an offense searching for any kind of spark. Detroit had activated him from injured reserve earlier that Tuesday, and he immediately jumped back into a prominent offensive role. He centered a line with Lucas Raymond and Arvidsson, and yep, he was back on Detroit’s power-play unit too. Last season, Larkin put up 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games. So, whatever you think about his trade request, Detroit is a way more dangerous offensive team when No. 71 is out there. His first goal of the season didn’t waste any time reinforcing that point.
The relationship between Larkin and Red Wings fans is definitely not healed yet, that’s clear. But fans aren’t going to sit on their hands when he buries the puck. His trade request remains unresolved, which means the Red Wings are trying to win games with their former captain knowing full well he’d prefer to continue his career somewhere else. That creates an unusual dynamic, right? Fans can be absolutely furious that Larkin wants out, while at the exact same time wanting him to score every single time he jumps over the boards wearing that Winged Wheel. Tuesday night was the perfect example: boos when he touched the puck, cheers after putting it into the net. Welcome to the Dylan Larkin experience in 2026-27. It’s going to be a rollercoaster, and we’re all watching to see what happens next with this wild situation.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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