Dylan Larkin Stripped of Red Wings Captaincy After Requesting Trade During NHL Free Agency

With no movement on his trade request, Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will report to training camp. Except he won't be a captain anymore.

Larkin and the Red Wings announced Friday he intends to be with the team when camp opens next week, but the club's statement also noted they intend to open the 2026-27 season without a captain.

Larkin reportedly requested a trade in June, weeks before the start of free agency. There was no indication at that point a deal was anywhere close.

Earlier this week, The Athletic's Michael Russo said on KFAN in Minnesota that Larkin wasn't in attendance for Detroit's captain's practice and he still hoped to be traded. The Minnesota Wild were specifically cited as one of his preferred landing spots.

It's no secret the Wild have been shopping for a top-line center. Russo reported in June they made a "huge" offer to the Ottawa Senators for Brady Tkachuk, but he was ultimately traded to the Florida Panthers.

According to Russo, Minnesota's offer for Tkachuk was the equivalent of four first-round draft picks.

Larkin's trade value is interesting to parse out right now. He is four years older than Tkachuk, but he is under team control for five seasons with salaries of $8.7 million through 2030-31. Tkachuk only has two years remaining on his current deal.

The Red Wings officially named Larkin team captain in January 2021, making him the 37th player in franchise history to hold the title. He had been an alternate captain since the 2018-19 season.

A first-round pick in the 2014 draft, Larkin has spent his entire career in Detroit. He ranks 10th in franchise history in goals scored (276) and has recorded at least 30 goals in five consecutive seasons.

Red Wings players are scheduled to report to camp on Sept. 17. They will open the regular season on Oct. 2 against the New York Rangers.