‘It felt good to be a hockey player’: Red Wings’ Larkin on first game back from injury

A controversial figure in Hockeytown is facing the music after a tumultuous summer, but is happy to be back on the ice.

Following the Detroit Red Wings’ 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, Red Wings center Dylan Larkin was asked by Detroit SportsNet’s Daniella Bruce about the feeling of being back in the lineup after a few months that took him from being the captain of the team to being one of the more discriminated figures in the Motor City.

“There’s a lot of emotions,” but you know, Larkin said. “I think, just happy to be a hockey player today and go out and try and help the team win. We got a good group of guys in there that battle hard. We needed this win today. That was most important.”

Back in June, Larkin reportedly asked for a trade from the only team he’d ever known. The Waterford, Mich. native gave a short list of teams he’d be interested in, putting pressure on then-general manager Steve Yzerman. It led many to believe that Larkin’s time with the Red Wings was finished. However, even after Yzerman stepped down from his position, Shawn Horcoff being named interim GM, and Larkin expanding his list of preferred destinations, the team has yet to finalize a deal.

Prior to the Red Wings’ home opener last week, Larkin was met with a parade of boos from fans at Little Caesars Arena. When he finally made his season debut Tuesday night, after recovering from an upper-body injury, fans made their feelings known about No. 71, jeering at the former Michigan Wolverine as he stepped on the ice. Yet Larkin silenced some critics with an exceptional performance against the Senators, scoring his first goal of the season in the first period and adding another assist later in the victory.

Larkin needed to get on the scoresheet not only to quiet some of the people who have turned against him, but also to help Detroit pick up its first victory of the season. The team had dropped its first two contests, losing to the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.

With having not played in any preseason games, and barely skating due to the injury, Larkin admitted that he was a little winded after the contest.

“I was feeling it, but you know, like I said, it felt good to be a hockey player today and be out there with the guys.”

Larkin has been with Detroit since the 2015-16 season. He was a first-round draft pick and a player many believed would carry the team well into the future. However, 10 years without a Stanley Cup playoff appearance and a soured relationship with Yzerman seemed to have finally pushed him over the edge. It’s been reported that the Red Wings are still looking to move Larkin at some point, but the fact that he’s on the ice, helping the team pick up victories, might be what the Original Six franchise needs to mend the relationship and hopefully have a fruitful 2026-27 campaign

Larkin and the Wings are back in action on Friday night, hosting the Seattle Kraken.