Dylan Larkin eyes a season debut against the Senators following an injury absence, as the Red Wings navigate a fractured locker room and a winless start.
The tension inside the Detroit locker room is about to reach the ice. After missing the team’s opening two losses to the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets with an upper-body injury, Dylan Larkin is trending toward a return for Tuesday’s clash against the Ottawa Senators.
Head coach Todd McLellan confirmed that Larkin “looks likely” to suit up, though he stopped short of a full guarantee, noting one final hurdle remains for the forward to clear. His return to the lineup comes at a precarious moment for a team already struggling to find its footing at 0-2.
The environment Larkin steps into is a far cry from the one he left last season. When he was introduced from the press box during the home opener. the crowd greeted him with a chorus of boos—a direct reaction to his standing trade request. That request has already cost him his leadership role; the organization stripped him of his captaincy during the offseason.
His performance on the ice will be under intense scrutiny. particularly given the expectations attached to a player who posted his fifth consecutive 30-goal campaign last year. During his 74-game stint last season. he recorded 34 goals and 33 assists. yet the team still fell short. extending their postseason drought to 10 straight years.
McLellan’s roster is currently held together by thin margins as a wave of injuries ripples through the team. Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton are both sidelined week-to-week with upper-body injuries, while J.T. Compher is listed as day-to-day. The specific nature of these health setbacks remains undisclosed.
For Larkin, Tuesday isn’t just about shaking off the rust of a two-game absence. It is an attempt to navigate a season where his teammates and his fan base are at odds with his future in Detroit.
Dylan Larkin Detroit Red Wings NHL Ottawa Senators Todd McLellan hockey sports news