Red Wings suspend Larkin after trade standoff

The Detroit Red Wings suspended center Dylan Larkin without pay on Thursday. The team removed him from its roster after his agent informed management that Larkin would no longer play for the franchise. This action follows months of frustration over the team's inability to trade the player after he requested a move.

Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff expressed disappointment in a statement released shortly before Detroit faced the Chicago Blackhawks. He noted that Larkin still had obligations to the organization and his teammates. Coach Todd McLellan told reporters earlier that day that Larkin would sit out the game and that Horcoff would address the decision.

Larkin asked for a trade during the offseason after Detroit extended its postseason drought to a decade. He started the season on the team but lost the captaincy. Horcoff said the front office spoke with teams on Larkin's preferred list and received calls from other clubs. The goal remained to find a solution that worked for both sides. Messages seeking comment were left with Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson.

Larkin is the second NHL player suspended without pay this fall after requesting a trade. Winnipeg took similar action with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck before sending him to New Jersey last week. Larkin will forfeit approximately $4,000 a day while suspended. He is 30 years old and has recorded 278 goals and 649 points in 818 career games since his 2015-16 debut. He was drafted No. 15 overall in 2014 and won Olympic gold with the United States in February.

Larkin holds a full no-trade clause in his eight-year contract, which has five years remaining. The annual salary cap hit is $8.7 million. He initially accepted trades to Florida, Minnesota, and Vegas but reportedly added more teams to his list recently. Horcoff stated he was unsuccessful in keeping Larkin in a Red Wings jersey. He said it is difficult to complete a trade with the specific teams on Larkin's list.

Teammates said the situation has been a distraction. Defenseman Moritz Seider said the players are glad the awkwardness is behind them. He noted that answering the same questions repeatedly became tiresome. Forward Alex DeBrincat said the team is confident in the current group and ready to move forward. McLellan admitted the trade request dominated media attention for too long. He said the team is moving on.

The Red Wings defeated Chicago 4-1 on Thursday. The team also has an unsigned restricted free agent in defenseman Simon Edvinsson. The 23-year-old Swede recorded nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last season. Horcoff said nothing has changed regarding Edvinsson's status and that Detroit wants to keep him on the team.