Neither Larkin nor his agent Pat Brisson have spoken publicly about the situation since Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman first reported the trade request.
Larkin grew up in the Detroit area and played his entire hockey career at Michigan State. The Red Wings selected him in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, and he has 643 points (276 goals, 367 assists) in 808 games, 10th in their 100-year history. He has been their captain since January 13, 2021, and wears the “C” that Yzerman once wore for Detroit as a player.
But he only played five games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, all in his rookie season in 2015-16. The Red Wings missed the playoffs 10 straight seasons, their longest drought in history and the longest active drought in the NHL. Larkin tasted victory when he helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan in February, and he turns 30 on July 30.
Following the 2024-25 season, there appears to be tension between Larkin and Yzerman. In his post-season media release, Larkin said the Red Wings haven’t gained momentum since the NHL trade deadline. Their biggest move was acquiring goaltender Petr Mrazek and center Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for center Joe Veleno on March 7, 2025.
“The guys were upset about it,” Larkin said. “It would be great to add something and bring a little spark to the ice and maybe boost morale.”
In response, Yzerman said the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues did nothing at the deadline and made the playoffs “led by their best players.” Asked about Larkin’s comments, he said: “I’m counting on our best players, our leaders, to give us a little morale boost. That’s what they’re paid to do and that’s what’s expected of them.”
Entering this season, Yzerman said he and Larkin were doing well.
“I like talking to him,” Yzerman told TNT on Oct. 15. “He’s very open with me. We communicate very well. So I think we have a great relationship. The comments at the end of the season weren’t that big of a deal and certainly didn’t create any rift in the relationship.”