Detroit Red Wings

Who Looks Worse?: The “Real Reason” Behind Larkin’s Rift With Yzerman

Where did the relationship between Steve Yzerman and Dylan Larkin go off the rails? There are few theories.

by
NHL Trade Talk
July 16, 2026

As narratives surface about what caused the rift between Steve Yzerman and Dylan Larkin, it’s difficult to decipher what’s likely accurate and what’s a loose assumption with little to no merit. One thing that seems to be consistent, however, is that the stories being told don’t make either side look all that great.

Detroit’s version of events seems to hint that Larkin’s decision to go public with his frustration over the Red Wings standing pat at a trade deadline sparked things. Yzerman wasn’t thrilled that his star center criticized the team publicly. But according to team writer Ansar Khan, it wasn’t where the tension started — it’s where it boiled over.

The actual origin traces back further, to 2018, when Henrik Zetterberg retired, and the captaincy sat vacant. Everyone but Yzerman reportedly expected Larkin to inherit the “C” — instead, Detroit went two full years without naming anyone.

Khan told Sports 1440’s Jason Gregor, “I think that bothered Larkin.” Larkin eventually received the letter in 2020, but by then the delay had already angered the forward. He walked away from that decision with a chip on his shoulder. Once the deadline comments came out a few years later, the relationship was unfixable.

Larkin or Yzerman?: Who Looks Worse Here?

If the rift were purely about Larkin venting to reporters, it would be a simple story about a captain overstepping and failing to keep certain conversations behind closed doors. Some argue it’s the kind of thing a real leader would know not to do. But if it traces back to a two-year captaincy snub that Larkin felt slighted by long before he ever said a word publicly, the “villain” framing gets a lot murkier. Yzerman’s silence may have set the tone, but this whole trade situation might have proved he was right to have reservations.

Either way, the lack of communication between the player and the GM is what got things this bad.

Khan isn’t convinced the front-office shakeup fixes anything, either: “I’m not sure if a new GM will change Larkin’s mind on needing a trade.” That’s the uncomfortable part for Detroit. This was never just a Yzerman problem to solve by removing Yzerman. If the root cause really is a wound from 2018, Larkin’s issue may be with how the organization.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Jets, Oilers & Red Wings Yzerman’s Gone