Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin will report to camp but will no longer be team captain
Dylan Larkin will report to Detroit Red Wings training camp when it opens next week, but he will no longer be the team’s captain, the organization announced Friday.
“The Red Wings will begin the 2026-27 season without a captain being named,” the team said in a release. “Any further discussions or decisions regarding this topic will be made once new hockey operations leadership is in place.”
The news follows Larkin’s request to be traded, which became public earlier this summer.
Statements from Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings. pic.twitter.com/P2sZjqp9Iz
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 11, 2026
Larkin, who grew up in nearby Waterford, Mich., and attended the University of Michigan, has been the Red Wings captain since 2021. He has spent his entire professional career in Detroit, ranking 10th in franchise history in both goals (276) and points (643).
Before making a statement with the Red Wings on Friday, the 30-year-old center had not spoken publicly since the request became public.
“Over the past couple of weeks, Red Wings leadership and I have had several in-depth discussions. I’ve appreciated those candid conversations, and I will be at training camp with my teammates,” Larkin said in his statement. “When new leadership is in place, we’ll talk further about the direction of the team. We will keep those conversations private, and I will keep my focus on the season ahead and on the guys in that room.”
Larkin’s trade request was the first piece of major news in what has become a summer of upheaval in Detroit.
Star winger Patrick Kane departed the franchise for a return to Chicago as a free agent in July. Earlier in July, the team announced that franchise icon Steve Yzerman would transition from general manager to a senior adviser to Red Wings CEO and governor Chris Ilitch.
The team has not yet announced a new general manager, leaving Larkin’s trade request unresolved.
In late June, Yzerman said he “did not make any guarantees” that he would meet Larkin’s request. Larkin, who has a full no-trade clause, provided a “short list of teams” for which he would waive the clause.
“Dylan is under contract as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Any conversations regarding his future with the Club will take place privately when a new hockey operations leader has been named. As such, we will not comment any further on this matter,” the Red Wings said in Friday’s statement.
Red Wings training camp is set to begin on Sept. 17.