Dylan Larkin Says Red Wings Trade Request Is Personal, Won't Reveal Reasons Behind Desired Move

Former Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin declined to explain the reasons behind his trade request when speaking to reporters Thursday for the first time since pursuing an exit from his team.

"There was a lot there, a lot of personal stuff... I'm going to try to be honest with you guys today, and I'm not ready to go there yet," Larkin said when asked why he requested a trade (h/t WXYZ Detroit's Alex Crescenti).

"I understand that there's answers that fans and people that care about this organization around the world want to know, but I'm really not ready to go there, and it's maybe something that I may never be."

The Red Wings announced Sept. 11 Larkin would attend training camp but not serve as captain this season.

The team later said Larkin would miss the beginning of camp with an upper-body injury.

"I understand it," Larkin said about the decision to remove the 'C' from his jersey. "I asked for a trade from the Detroit Red Wings as the captain, and actions have consequences."

Larkin said Thursday he has spoken with his teammates and the trade request was "not because of them."

He declined to confirm if the request still stood with interim general manager Shawn Horcoff.

"I didn't foresee what would happen," Larkin said about still being with his team months after the trade request. "Some of it was out of my control, to be honest with you. I'm here today, and what's in the past this summer is in the past."

"I'm trying to be professional about it, and like I said to you, I'm excited to get back on the ice, and earn my teammates' trust back on the ice, where I believe it matters the most."

When asked if he would play if still on the Red Wings roster for the start of the season, Larkin said, "I'm here right now, and my focus right now is on the upcoming season with the Detroit Red Wings."

Larkin is under contract through the 2030-31 season thanks to the eight-year, $69.6 million extension he signed with the Red Wings in 2023.

The 30-year-old topped 30 goals for a fifth straight campaign last season while putting up 67 points (34 goals, 33 assists) for the Red Wings.

Detroit still fell short of a 10th consecutive postseason after suffering a March slump for the fourth year in a row.

Larkin said he didn't know immediately after the Red Wings ended the 2025-26 season outside of the playoffs he was going to request a trade, but later "got to that point."

He said he intended for his trade request to be private before Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman initially reported the story June 5.

The news was later confirmed by Steve Yzerman shortly before he stepped down as the Red Wings' general manager.

Yzerman also said at the time Larkin, who holds a full no-trade clause through the 2027-28 campaign, had provided a "short list" of teams he was interested in being moved to.

Josh Wawrow of the Associated Press later reported Larkin had submitted a three-team list of the Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild and Florida Panthers.

Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch recently told the Detroit News' Bob Wojnowski that Larkin "could be here all year."

Larkin said Thursday he might enjoy being "just one of the guys" instead of captain if he remains with the Red Wings for next season.

"I just want to play... one day at a time, one game at a time, like the rest of the team," Larkin said. "I'm excited to be a part of this team, and back at the bottom of the totem pole, which may be kind of nice."

Larkin will remain sidelined at training camp due to an injury he says he suffered while working out. The Red Wings are preparing to begin the preseason Sept. 21 before opening the regular season without a captain Oct. 2 game against the visiting New York Rangers.