The Daily: Hellebuyck Suspended; Larkin Has Doctor’s Note for Training Camp

It’s been a whirlwind past 48 hours for Red Wings fans as the ice has thawed around the franchise’s silence. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff spoke to the media in his first public press conference since being named to the position, Dylan Larkin has been announced to have an injury that will keep him out of camp, and it seems like progress is finally being made for Simon Edvinsson’s next contract.

Certainly when much of the fanbase anticipates movement on the Larkin front sooner rather than later.

Said Horcoff, ‘We’re a better team with Dylan Larkin in our lineup, and we’re just going to take it day by day and see how this goes.’

With the team back in town, the Red Wings roster should be starting the process of figuring out roster spots for the upcoming season through their training camp battles. Rookies like Carter Bear, Sutter Muzzatti, and Dylan James had solid showings in the prospect tournament, but whether that play will hold up against older, more developed players is what training camp is for.

‘We’ve got some prospects that are pushing. So I expect camp to be super competitive, you know, and that’s kind of what we’re looking for,’ Said Horcoff, ‘We want guys to challenge for jobs.

We want guys to challenge for bigger roles.’

In the meantime, the team will have to operate without Larkin as he recovers from injury before the season begins, and without a captain on ice until the situation resolves itself.

Meanwhile, across the Canadian border, another star player is missing from training camp. Connor Hellebuyck has been suspended from the Jets after not reporting to training camp.

The disgruntled goalie requested a trade earlier this offseason, but similarly to Larkin, has yet to find a new home

Time flies when you’re having fun, and it certainly seems that way for the Red Wings and Alex DeBrincat. The feisty winger has been in the league for a decade now, and is one of the faces of the franchise as a ‘hometown kid.’

Horcoff did mention DeBrincat by name as one of the Red Wings leadersas the season begins, though his contract is up at the end of the season. Horcoff does have the authority to negotiate a contract to keep the Cat in Detroit long term.