Larkin to Join Red Wings Camp Following Offseason Trade Request

Former captain Dylan Larkin will report to Little Caesars Arena on Sept. 17 despite a summer trade request and the departure of GM Steve Yzerman.

Dylan Larkin will report to Detroit Red Wings training camp on Sept. 17 at Little Caesars Arena, despite a trade request he made earlier this summer. The team announced it will begin the upcoming season without a captain, a role Larkin had held since 2021. This decision follows the July departure of general manager Steve Yzerman, who had led the front office since 2019. Detroit has now missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons.

ESPN reports that the Minnesota Wild, led by GM Bill Guerin, have attempted to acquire the 30-year-old center. However, trade talks remain at a stalemate while a search firm interviews candidates for Detroit’s vacant general manager position. Larkin, a 2014 first-round pick, currently ranks 10th in franchise history with 276 goals and 643 points. He recently served on the penalty-killing unit for the 2026 U.S. Olympic team, which went 18-for-18 on the kill en route to a gold medal.

The Red Wings' roster has seen significant turnover this offseason, including the free-agent departure of Patrick Kane to the Chicago Blackhawks. Additionally, the team has yet to finalize a contract extension for defenseman Simon Edvinsson. Team leadership stated that further decisions regarding the captaincy and Larkin's status will be deferred until a new head of hockey operations is hired.