“He’s working with the training staff to push through,” McLellan said. “I’m hoping Game 3.”
Larkin, Detroit’s No. 1 center, requested a trade after last season and lost the captaincy entering this season, but he reported to training camp. He could not participate at first due to an upper-body injury sustained in offseason training.
“I got hurt in the gym working out, and I’m pushing to get healthy, and I want to be out there,” Larkin said Sept. 17, the first day of camp. “This is very unfortunate timing. I wish I could show with my actions how to build trust with my teammates again.”
Larkin went through some drills but did not take line rushes in practice Thursday.
The 30-year-old ranks 10th in Detroit history with 643 points (276 goals, 367 assists) in 808 games, including 67 points (34 goals, 33 assists) in 74 games last season.
He signed an eight-year, $69.6 million ($8.7 million annual average value) with the Red Wings on March 2, 2023.
“Who wouldn’t want Dylan Larkin on their team?” McLellan said Sept. 17. “He made a commitment to the team signing a contract, we made a commitment to him to provide an opportunity to play, and that’s where we’re at right now.
“I know Dylan, he’s anxious to get back on the ice, and he wants to earn everybody’s trust back, and that’s where we move forward. We just need the best Dylan Larkin we can possibly get, and we’ll be fine.”
