Red Wings Hold Out Larkin Amid Trade Push
Detroit sources say the center’s absence from Thursday's lineup is tied to negotiations, as the Wild lead a list of ten potential suitors.
By Samuel Hayes ·
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will not play against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday in Detroit. The absence is due to trade-related reasons, according to league sources.
Coach Todd McLellan informed reporters that Larkin would sit for the matchup. The 30-year-old did not practice on Thursday morning after taking a maintenance day on Wednesday. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff is scheduled to address the situation later.
The move follows a demand Larkin made in June to be traded. His representatives have pushed the Red Wings to finalize a deal, sources said. Multiple teams remain in the mix, with the Minnesota Wild identified as the most aggressive pursuer.
Larkin holds a no-trade clause and is in the fourth year of an eight-year contract. The deal is worth $69.6 million, with an average annual value of $8.7 million.
ESPN confirmed last week that Larkin expanded his list of acceptable destinations to ten teams. He initially named the Wild, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights as the only clubs where he would waive his trade protection. He has since added seven more teams to that list.
The new additions include the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth, and Washington Capitals. A source noted that Larkin is not seeking a move to a Canadian team, despite fan chants in Montreal.
Larkin returned to the ice on Oct. 6 after being stripped of his captaincy during training camp. In ten games this season, he has recorded two goals and four assists while averaging 21 minutes and 41 seconds of ice time per game. The Red Wings currently hold a 5-4-3 record.
Source: ESPN
