The Detroit Red Wings suspended Dylan Larkin without pay on Thursday, Oct. 29, after the 30-year-old forward told the team he would no longer play for the franchise while he waits to be traded, according to NHL.com and The Associated Press. Hours later, without him, the Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1, at Little Caesars Arena.
The suspension is the sharpest turn yet in a standoff that has hung over the team since the off-season. Larkin, a Waterford native, asked for a trade months ago and lost the captaincy before training camp. For Red Wings fans, the question is no longer whether their former captain will leave, but when, and for what.
What the Dylan Larkin suspension means
Larkin will not be paid while he is suspended. The penalty costs him $41,237.11 a day in lost salary, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported, as cited by MLive via Yahoo Sports. None of the reports reviewed for this article gave an end date, and the suspension appears to run until a deal is made.
In a statement reported by MLive and attributed to interim general manager Shawn Horcoff, the team said it would keep exploring trades and noted that any deal needs Larkin’s approval and must also be “in the best interests of the Detroit Red Wings.” Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, told TSN’s Pierre LeBrun that his client had “had enough of the situation,” MLive reported.
The suspension came from the team, not the league. No response from the NHL Players’ Association had been reported as of Friday morning.
How the standoff got here
Larkin requested a trade in the off-season; Bleacher Report put the request in June. The Red Wings then stripped him of the captaincy a few days before training camp, MLive reported, and the team opened the 2026-27 season without a captain, according to the club’s own DetroitRedWings.com.
On the first day of camp in September, Larkin acknowledged the decision, saying that “actions have consequences” and that he understood why it was made, the team’s website reported. An upper-body injury kept him out of the first two games, according to MLive. He then played 10 games, with two goals and four assists, the last of which was a tying goal with 1:17 left in regulation in Monday’s 4-3 shootout win at Edmonton. That, MLive wrote, apparently was his final game for Detroit.
His contract and the 10-team trade list
Larkin’s contract is part of why a trade has been slow to come together. He is signed through the 2030-31 season at an average annual value of $8.7 million, with full trade protection through 2027-28, Bleacher Report reported. MLive noted the deal is front-loaded, so the actual salary over its remaining five years averages less than the cap hit.
Because of that protection, Larkin controls where he goes. According to MLive, his list now includes 10 teams:
- Carolina, Colorado, Dallas and Florida
- Minnesota, New Jersey and Tampa Bay
- Utah, Vegas and Washington
No Canadian clubs are on it. Minnesota has pursued him for months, MLive reported, and ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that the Wild are believed to have made one of the stronger offers. Those are reports, not confirmed talks. The Red Wings have sought NHL-ready players rather than prospects and draft picks, according to MLive.
The Red Wings won without him
On the ice, the day ended well for Detroit. Viktor Arvidsson scored three times, his sixth career hat trick, and added an assist as the Red Wings came back from an early deficit, according to the AP recap on ESPN. Connor Bedard gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 5:59 of the first period. Arvidsson tied it in the second by tipping William Wallinder’s point shot. Lucas Raymond scored on the power play 1:09 into the third, and Arvidsson added a goal with 4:34 left and an empty-netter.
John Gibson made 18 saves, including one on Frank Nazar’s penalty shot in the second period. Alex DeBrincat had two assists. Andrew Copp moved into Larkin’s spot, centering Raymond and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, NHL.com reported. Coach Todd McLellan’s message afterward, as quoted by NHL.com, was brief: “We’re moving on.”
The win, Detroit’s second in a row, improved the Red Wings to 6-4-3. Chicago fell to 4-9-0. Larkin was still in the lineup for Monday’s game; our Red Wings-Oilers recap covers Monday’s shootout in Edmonton.
What’s next for the Red Wings
Detroit plays a Halloween matinee at home, then leaves for Florida. Times below are from the ESPN team schedule; that page did not list TV networks as of Friday morning.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 31 | vs. St. Louis Blues | 1 p.m. |
| Mon., Nov. 2 | at Florida Panthers | 7 p.m. |
| Tue., Nov. 3 | at Tampa Bay Lightning | 7 p.m. |
Saturday’s game is at Little Caesars Arena; our Detroit venues guide covers getting there and parking. For results as they come in, see the latest Detroit sports scores.
Before Saturday’s game:
- Check the puck-drop time; it is a 1 p.m. ET afternoon start, six hours earlier than Thursday’s 7 p.m. game.
- Confirm the TV channel on game day with the team or your provider; our Detroit game-day TV guide lists local channels.
- Plan for Halloween-day traffic downtown and leave extra time to park near the arena.
- Watch the Red Wings’ official channels for any trade news; a deal could change the lineup on short notice.
What remains unknown is the timeline. The team has not said how long it is willing to wait, and the trade has to satisfy both Larkin’s list and Detroit’s demand for players who can help now. Two of the teams on that list, Florida and Tampa Bay, happen to be the Red Wings’ next road opponents.
FAQ
Why was Dylan Larkin suspended?
The Red Wings suspended him without pay on Oct. 29 after he told the team he would no longer play for it while awaiting a trade, according to NHL.com and the AP.
How long is Larkin’s suspension?
No end date has been reported. The reports reviewed indicate it continues until he is traded.
Which teams can Larkin be traded to?
MLive reported a 10-team list: Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Utah, Vegas and Washington. Any trade needs his approval.
When do the Red Wings play next?
Detroit hosts the St. Louis Blues at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Little Caesars Arena.
Last updated Oct. 30, 2026. This story will be updated if the Red Wings trade Larkin or the terms of the suspension change.
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