Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell yesterday, October 29: Dylan Larkin will not play another game for the Detroit Red Wings until a trade occurs. This isn’t just speculation; the longtime NHL insider reported it on social media, making it crystal clear that the situation is locked down until a deal gets done.
The Coach’s Cover-Up and Agent’s Arrival
You know how coaches sometimes give you those “maintenance day” excuses for a star player? Red Wings coach Todd McLellan pulled that move on Wednesday, saying Larkin was just on a maintenance day when he missed practice. But here’s the kicker: the *Free Press* reported that Pat Brisson, Larkin’s agent, was actually in Detroit. That’s not exactly a typical “maintenance day” vibe, is it? Then, McLellan had to come clean, confirming Larkin wouldn’t play in last night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s a pretty stark turnaround from a “maintenance day” to being benched until traded.
Summer of Silence and a Long Trade List
This whole situation isn’t a sudden flare-up. Larkin apparently asked for a trade shortly after *last season ended*. So, why are we only hearing about this now, with him refusing to play? Turns out, the Red Wings front office was in total disarray for a big chunk of the summer. From July 15, when Steve Yzerman was removed as general manager, until September 15, when Shawn Horcoff finally stepped in as interim GM, the team apparently lacked anyone with the authority to pull off a monumental trade like this. That’s two full months of radio silence, preventing any real movement on Larkin’s request. And don’t forget, Larkin has a no-trade clause, which gives him a huge say in where he lands. The *Free Press* was on top of this last week, reporting that Larkin’s list of 10 preferred teams includes the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche. So, the question now isn’t *if* he’s going, but *where* and *when*. The Red Wings are clearly in a tough spot, and the clock is ticking.
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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