Detroit Red Wings GM Draws Firm Line As Dylan Larkin Trade Standoff Takes Another Turn

Larkin suspended as Red Wings trade standoff enters new phase© Instagram/@dylanlarkin71

Dylan Larkin will not suit up for the Detroit Red Wings until a trade gets done. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff made that official Thursday, suspending the three-time All-Star centre without pay after Larkin's agent called to say his client was done reporting to the rink. Hours before Detroit hosted Chicago, Horcoff stood in front of reporters for 11 minutes and delivered one clear position: he will not be pressured into a bad deal, no matter how long this standoff runs.

Horcoff Holds His Ground on Larkin's Terms

What made Thursday unusual was not just the suspension itself, but how the news broke. Most Red Wings players found out through their phones. “Unfortunately with social media nowadays, I think probably the majority of them found out on their phones,” Horcoff said. He planned to meet with the leadership group that evening and address the full team Friday.

The call from Larkin's agent came that morning, and Horcoff admitted it was not entirely expected. He knew frustration had been growing during the recent road trip. But after Larkin had shown up for training camp and played on opening night while dealing with an injury, Horcoff had believed the worst was behind them. “My initial plan was to try to fix it,” Horcoff said. “I wanted to try to do what I could to keep Dylan here in a Red Wing jersey, and clearly that was unsuccessful.”

Agent Pat Brisson confirmed the decision was deliberate, saying Larkin had “had enough of the situation” and was sitting out to push a trade forward. Detroit's official response was blunt: “We are disappointed by his decision, particularly given his obligations to the organisation and his teammates.”

The organisation also stripped Larkin of the captaincy back in mid-September, a title he had held since January 2021. Despite all of that, Horcoff gave Larkin his due. “Dylan's been here for 12 years. He's put a lot of great years into a Red Wing jersey and created a lot of friendships in there,” he said, while declining to speak on behalf of the locker room, calling the mood “pretty raw.”

A Trade That Refuses to Come Together

The hold-up is not a lack of effort. Horcoff said he has worked “extensively, exhaustively” with Larkin's representation since taking over as interim GM on September 15. Detroit has spoken with all teams on Larkin's approved no-trade list and fielded calls from others who reached out on their own. That list has since grown to 10 teams.

The core problem is math. Fitting an $8.7 million cap hit into another roster while receiving assets that actually reflect Larkin's calibre is a complicated equation. “I am prepared to wait as long as necessary to make sure that the return that we get is something that is good for the Red Wings overall,” Horcoff said. He acknowledged that expanding the approved team list would help but added plainly: “We're not there yet.”

Every day the suspension holds, Larkin forfeits over $41,000. He is in year four of an eight-year, $69.6 million contract. Neither side is blinking. Detroit took the ice against Chicago without their former captain, and as of Thursday night, no deal is close.