Overview
- Head coach Todd McLellan confirmed on Thursday that Larkin will miss the Red Wings' first two regular-season games and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
- The team placed Larkin on injured reserve with the date made retroactive to Aug. 15, which allows Detroit to activate him immediately without the usual waiting period.
- Fans loudly booed Larkin during Friday's Opening Night introductions at Little Caesars Arena, underscoring the strained relationship after his offseason trade request and loss of the captaincy.
- Beat reporters and insiders continue to view Larkin as a top trade candidate, with some predicting a deal could come within weeks to months depending on health, reception, and front-office decisions.
- Larkin's long, high-value contract and full no-trade protections complicate potential trades and mean Detroit's interim general manager faces a narrow set of realistic trading partners and returns.