Detroit Red Wings
Dylan Larkin’s Return to Detroit Took an Embarrassing Turn
Red Wings fans booed the former captain as he was introduced with the lineup’s healthy scratches before Friday’s season opener.
Dylan Larkin‘s introduction before the opener was loud, but probably not in the way he’d hoped, and not entirely unexpected. “Dylan being part of the team, he wanted to be out there for the ceremony. Obviously he’s got to live with the ramifications of asking for a trade. It’s not comfortable for anybody; I feel bad for him. I do,” head coach Todd McLellan said.
Red Wings fans booed the former captain as he was introduced with the lineup’s healthy scratches before Friday’s season opener against the New York Rangers. The reaction was instant and it was obvious, so much so that Larkin immediately turned around and headed toward the locker room.
The fan reaction traces back to Larkin’s trade request earlier this summer, the first domino in a tumultuous offseason for the franchise.
The moment quickly became a talking point. The NHL on TNT crew took aim at the Red Wings for putting Larkin in that position. It’s not uncommon for players to be announced on opening night even when they aren’t in the lineup. But, when you have someone out there who has asked for a trade and clearly wants to leave, the response is going to be predictable.
Paul Bissonnette called the decision “Bush League” and said the team appeared to be trying to embarrass him. According to Bissonnette, Larkin tried to walk down the hallway afterward but was stopped and sent back out. The crew also suggested the booing could hurt Detroit’s appeal to free agents down the road.
Online Reaction To the Red Wings Booing Larkin
Fans on social media were far from united. Some argued Larkin earned the reception. One supporter said he “publicly screwed the organization” by demanding a trade to only a small number of teams, calling the boos “tit for tat.”
Others directed their frustration at ownership. One fan called the introduction a “classless move” by the team and suggested it was meant to deflect criticism of how the franchise has been run. The club has no permanent general manager, and one of their better defensemen are out of the country skating and staying warm while the team slowly negotiates an extension.
A third camp dismissed the free-agent concern entirely, arguing that players will sign in Detroit once the team is good again, just as they do anywhere else.
Jim Biringer, Voice of Full Press Hockey, wrote, “I would be shocked if Dylan Larkin plays again for the Detroit Red Wings after this.” He added, “Players talk. You don’t think guys around the NHL saw this.”
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