Dylan Larkin may yet make an appearance for the Detroit Red Wings before they run out of preseason games.
Todd McLellan said there "is a chance" Larkin could be available Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Wings host the Columbus Blue Jackets in the exhibition finale. Larkin took part in practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury while training
and has been ruled out for Thursday's game at Little Caesars Arena against the Buffalo Sabres."There's progress," McLellan said. "He's been able to progress enough off the ice and in the workout room, weight room. The trainers feel good to let him go. He stayed out for the whole practice. I thought it was just going to be a portion of it. So, progress. Good progress."
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The Wings open the 2026-27 season at home on Oct. 2 against the New York Rangers. To get Larkin − and for that matter, defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who still needs a new contract− into even one preseason game would be a boon.
"We've got to be smart with it, but there's a chance," McLellan said of Larkin. "I don't know what the odds are, but there is a chance."
Edvinsson has been practicing since camp began Sept. 17 and is ready to go into the lineup the minute he's signed.
Larkin wasn't on a line during practice, but he took part in battle drills. He was not made available to reporters, which is common for injured players.
When Larkin talked to reporters last week, he didn't say much about the offseason news that rocked the organization. Larkin requested a trade shortly after the 2025-26 season ended after 11 years with the hometown NHL team that drafted him at No. 15 in 2014. The request was all the more notable because Larkin, 30, has five years left on a contract carrying a very reasonable $8.7 million annual average value.
Larkin is a high-value asset for the Wings, as he centers their top line, is a regular 30-goal scorer, and has considerable term left on his contract. For that reason, the team wants value-now assets in return, not futures like draft picks or prospects, because that would be going backward in the attempt to end what last season grew to 10 straight years of missing the playoffs.
That Larkin is at least part of practices is an encouraging sign for the Wings.
"Larkin is effective when his legs are going and he's able to use them at full pace, so he's going to have to get up to his standard pretty quick," McLellan said. "But you can only do that when you're healthy."
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Will Dylan Larkin play for Red Wings in preseason? Here's what we know
