Nick Cousins, the Ottawa Senators pest, didn’t hold back in their latest tilt against the Detroit Red Wings, straight up chirping Dylan Larkin about losing the “C” from his jersey. It was a brutal moment, but honestly, it just scratches the surface of the absolute mess going on with Larkin and the Wings right now. The guy’s already requested a trade, he got booed by his own home crowd on opening night even after scoring his first goal of the season. Talk about a rough start.
Larkin’s Loyalty, Even When It Hurts
It all blew up after Ridley Greig delivered a shot on Alex DeBrincat at the end of the second period. Larkin didn’t hesitate, going right after Greig and sparking a full-blown brawl between the two squads. Even without that captain’s patch, Larkin proved what we already know about players like him: he’s still going to step up and defend his teammates, no matter what. But that didn’t stop Cousins from seizing the moment, mocking the 30-year-old right there on the ice. Seriously, you hate to see that kind of disrespect, but it’s the NHL, and pests gonna pest.
The Trade Request Nightmare
Look, as long as Larkin’s trade request is hanging out there, every single agitator in the league is going to be in his ear. Every game is probably going to feel like this for him until the Red Wings finally deal him. Remember, he was booed by his *own fans* the very first time he touched the puck this season. It’s an unbelievably awkward stage in their relationship. The Olympic Gold Medalist needs to play at a high level, for real, if he wants to prove to other teams he’s worth trading for. And Detroit desperately needs him to do that so they can get the best possible value out of their former captain. It’s a high-stakes tightrope walk, and you just know the whole league is watching.
The Red Wings actually managed to get the last laugh on the scoreboard, pulling out a 5-3 win over the Senators. But don’t let that score fool you: the underlying drama with Larkin is still the biggest story, and it’s not going anywhere soon. This situation is going to be a huge storyline to follow, and you gotta wonder how long Detroit can keep it together before something gives.
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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