Horcoff Resolute on Getting Best Return for Red Wings, Not Larkin

Some were shocked this morning when former Red Wings captain and top line center Dylan Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, told Hockeytown that his client was no longer planning to play for the team after participating in team activities through the first month of the season.

As a result the Red Wings, in a statement released before their matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks, revealed that Larkin was suspended without pay from this point forward.

Red Wings lines tonight: projected lineup and starting goalie →

Progress on the trade front has been glacially slow as Larkin has muddled his way through the team’s opening month, scoring just his second goal of the season before meeting with his representation and deciding he would no longer be fulfilling the obligations of his contract in order to hopefully help speed things along.

“I think when that phone call came today, I think the last couple days, and maybe on the road trip, you know, you can sense that things were a little bit off with him.” Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said.

Larkin’s now nearly five month long trade saga has despite some mitigation by both the team and no. 71 himself, created quite the storm of circumstances in Detroit as the former hometown hero looks to get out of town.

The problem so far has been finding an acceptable trade partner amongst his shortlist willing to give Detroit a suitable return, not that Horcoff hasn’t been fielding plenty of offers.

“You know, I’m open to all different kinds of deals, and really, we’re just trying to find something that is fair for a return for someone of Dylan’s caliber,” Horcoff said, “He’s a heck of a player on a good contract, and it’s important for us.”

Larkin’s 8.7 million dollar cap hit certainly does look impressive right now, with the market rate for top line centers

The Red Wings, sitting on the cusp of a playoff spot for the last three years and on the wrong end of a ten year playoff drought, know from an organizational standpoint that they need results now.

The team isn’t in a position to bet their future on unproven players or picks. However, in the interim, the Red Wings have placed their future in the hands of Horcoff to find the path forward.

Said Horcoff, “You know, I think the goal is to is to get players that can help us right away, but at the same time, the division and the ultimate goal is the long-term success of the organization.”