Larkin addresses trade request on Day 1 of Red Wings’ 2026 Training Camp

DETROIT – On Day 1 of their 2026 Training Camp at BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena, Detroit Red Wings interim General Manager Shawn Horcoff and Dylan Larkin addressed the 30-year-old forward’s trade request following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

“We’ve had good talks with Dylan,” Horcoff said on Thursday afternoon. “We’re understanding of where he’s coming from. We’re going to take this day by day. We’re going to see where this goes. We’re appreciative that he was honest with us, and we were honest back with him. Again, we’re going to keep that private, but we’re going to move forward.”

Larkin said he felt his teammates deserved to hear from him regarding his request and confirmed he’s already discussed it with Detroit’s dressing room.

“I think it was positive,” Larkin said. “I think addressing it in front of them, being honest in front of them is all I can really do. I think the collective feeling was, ‘Let’s move on and focus on the season coming up, and the great storylines that come out of camp.’”

Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said Larkin has “done what he needs to do with his teammates, and he wants to earn their trust.”

“He’s sat with me, and he wants to do the same with the coaching staff,” McLellan said. “And then there’s 19,000 people that’ll sit in the rink every day. He’s got to continue to do that, and he’s determined to do it. Not going to be easy, I’m sure. But he’s here, and he’s a hell of a player, and we’ll help him through it.”

As part of the conversations that have taken place, Detroit announced last Friday that it will begin the 2026-27 season without a captain.

“I understand it,” Larkin said. “I asked for a trade from the Detroit Red Wings as the captain, and actions have consequences. I understand why that decision was made. I’m going to be a professional about it.”

Expressing multiple times that he’s committed to the present and preparing for the upcoming campaign, Larkin aims to return to the ice as soon as possible. The Waterford, Mich., native recently sustained an upper-body injury while training.

“I got hurt in the gym working out,” Larkin said. “I’m pushing to get healthy. I want to be out there. This is very unfortunate timing, and I wish I could show with my actions how to build trust with my teammates again and with the fans.”

The expectations remain the same, J.T. Compher said, for anyone who puts on the Winged Wheel.

"We're going to ask the same of Dylan as we ask of every guy in this room," Compher said. "If you're on our roster, if you're on our team, you need to do whatever it takes to help us win."

And now that Training Camp has officially begun, Ben Chiarot emphasized it’s time for them to focus on what’s ahead rather than what’s behind.

“No question things were unsettled in the summer,” Chiarot said. “I think as soon as we get everyone in here, in the room, get out there together on the ice – that’s all that matters. We have a good hockey team here. We’ve addressed the situations that need to be addressed as a team together. That’s all that matters and all anyone needs to know. We’re a team in here and we’ll be ready to go on Oct. 2.”