Red Wings Suspend Dylan Larkin Without Pay Amid Trade Dispute

October 29 — Detroit suspended Dylan Larkin without pay after the 30-year-old center told the team he would no longer play for the Red Wings. The move came after coach Todd McLellan said Larkin would sit out the team’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said Detroit was disappointed and would keep exploring trade options, while weighing the team’s long-term interests.

Larkin requested a trade in the offseason after Detroit missed the playoffs for a 10th consecutive year. He began this season with the team but had been stripped of the captaincy. His agent, Pat Brisson, said Larkin had been professional and cooperative during the process. Larkin’s full no-trade clause means he must approve any deal.

The center has played 10 games this season, recording two goals and four assists. He has 278 goals and 649 points in 818 games with Detroit, the team that drafted him in 2014. His eight-year contract has five years remaining and carries an annual salary-cap hit of $8.7 million; while suspended, he will forfeit about $41,000 per day.

Larkin initially identified Florida, Minnesota and Vegas as acceptable destinations, and his list has since grown to 10 teams: those three, plus Dallas, Washington, Carolina, Utah, Tampa Bay, New Jersey and Colorado. Detroit will continue considering a trade, which requires Larkin’s approval as well as the team’s agreement.