Pending final medical clearance, Dylan Larkin will make his season debut for the Detroit Red Wings, in what's likely to be a noisy affair.
Larkin was on a line with Viktor Arvidsson and Lucas Raymond at
the morning skate on Tuesday, Oct, 6, ahead of the evening's game agains the Ottawa Senators. Larkin was also on a power play, so all signs point to him being a go.
"It looks that way right now," coach Todd McLellan said. "He's got one more hurdle to cross. He's still on IR, so the doctor will look at him here, and if he's cleared, he's playing. And if he isn't, then he won't."
While Larkin has been dealing with an upper-body injury for more than a month, he still projects to strengthen a lineup that two games in has only included two forwards that really can be considered top-six level in Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat. Not to mention a lineup that has started 0-2.
Fans reaction is certain to be volatile. Larkin was booed soundly when he took part in the introductions during opening night on Friday, in his first appearance at LCA since requesting a trade. But he may also hear some cheers – at least from his own bench – who have missed what he brings to their lineup.
Larkin arrived at training camp nursing an upper-body injury sustained in mid-August (the Wings put him on IR dating to then), and began practicing with the team Sept. 23. He's been engaged in battle drills, but needed medical clearance in order to play.
Larkin has been embroiled by controversy since news emerged in early June that he had asked the Wings for a trade shortly after the end of last season. When former general manager Steve Yzerman addressed the situation after the draft, in late June, he made a point of saying he'd told Larkin's representative, Pat Brisson, there was no guarantee a trade would happen. Larkin is under contract through 2030-31, at an $8.7 million annual average value, and, as the team's top center, is a huge asset for the Wings.
No trade offer appealed, and that hasn't changed since Shawn Horcoff was named interim on Sept. 15, two days before camp. All along the Wings' preference has been to work through the situation (Larkin would not answer reporters' questions on Sept. 17 as to what triggered the trade request) and keep Larkin in the lineup.
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dylan Larkin expected to play first game for Red Wings since trade request
