Red Wings place Larkin on paid suspension after agent declares he is done with team

The Detroit Red Wings suspended Dylan Larkin without pay on Thursday, removing the center from the roster after his agent informed the organization that the player no longer intends to suit up for the franchise. This move follows months of trade negotiations that have failed to produce a deal, leaving the team with a high-salary player who is no longer actively playing.

Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff stated in a release that the organization is disappointed by the decision, noting Larkin’s obligations to his teammates. The suspension was announced shortly before Detroit hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Coach Todd McLellan confirmed earlier that day that Larkin would not take the ice, indicating that the front office would address the situation directly with the media.

Larkin requested a trade during the summer after the Red Wings failed to reach the playoffs for the tenth consecutive year. He began the current season as a non-captain and has since scored two goals and recorded six assists in 10 games. His contract includes a full no-trade clause and five years remaining at an annual salary cap hit of $8.7 million. While suspended, Larkin will lose approximately $41,000 in daily pay.

Horcoff explained that the team has spoken to clubs on Larkin’s approved list and received calls from other interested teams. The general manager emphasized that he is seeking a solution that benefits both sides, expressing openness to deals involving prospects and draft picks if they provide a fair return. He acknowledged that the limited list of acceptable destinations makes finalizing a trade difficult.

This is the second instance this season where an NHL team has suspended a player without pay following an offseason trade request. The Winnipeg Jets used the same mechanism with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck before moving him to New Jersey last week. Larkin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the United States, had just returned from an upper-body injury to score in a win over Ottawa and another in Edmonton earlier this week.

The Red Wings also face uncertainty regarding defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a 23-year-old restricted free agent who remains unsigned. Horcoff stated that the team wants Edvinsson on the roster and has no intention of signing and trading him. The franchise recently signed forward Alex DeBrincat to a seven-year contract worth $13 million per year in an effort to bolster its lineup.