Detroit Red Wings fans shower Dylan Larkin in boos during his season debut
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The boo birds were out in full force at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night. Dylan Larkin made his 2026-27 season debut for the Detroit Red Wings against the Ottawa Senators, and Hockeytown made its feelings crystal clear.
Larkin, 30, centered the top line between Lucas Raymond and Viktor Arvidsson and also took a spot on the first power-play unit.
It was his first game action this year after an upper-body injury kept him out of the preseason and Detroit's first two regular-season games, both regulation losses.
Why Hockeytown Turned on Its Former Captain
The anger goes back to June, when Larkin asked to be traded. Detroit stripped him of the captaincy in September and removed his photo from the captains' bench inside the arena.
Fans already gave him a preview on Friday, when he was introduced alongside the scratches before the home opener against the Rangers and the building rained down boos. Larkin waved to the crowd that night.
Tuesday carried a different weight because he was finally in uniform. Larkin is signed through 2030-31 at an $8.7 million cap hit, and no deal has materialized, so this uncomfortable marriage is not ending anytime soon.
What Larkin Still Brings to a Struggling Team
On the ice, Detroit badly needs him. The Red Wings entered the night 0-2-0 and have had a tough time putting the puck in the net.
Larkin set a career high with 34 goals last season, finished with 67 points in 74 games, and has scored 30 or more in each of the past five seasons.
That production is what makes this saga so tricky. Fans can boo as loudly as they like, but the Red Wings need his offense while they search for answers, and his short list of acceptable trade destinations has made a move hard to pull off.
Whether the noise fades or grows louder will likely depend on how Larkin plays. A hot start could soften some hearts, while a quiet night will only fuel the frustration.
Either way, the Larkin drama has moved from the headlines to the ice, and every shift at Little Caesars Arena will now be watched closely.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Red Wings star gives Dylan Larkin a piece of his mind before return to lineup
Red Wings star gives Dylan Larkin a piece of his mind before return to lineup