Dylan Larkin walks out on the Red Wings after getting booed by fans
Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Hockeytown made its feelings known on Friday night. Dylan Larkin was met with a thunderous wave of boos at Little Caesars Arena before the Detroit Red Wings opened their home schedule against the New York Rangers, and the former captain responded by simply walking away.
Larkin was not in the lineup because of an upper-body injury, so he was introduced on the video board alongside the scratches.
The jeers rained down immediately. He offered a small wave to the crowd, then left the bench and headed down the tunnel toward the locker room before his teammates were even announced.
The team reportedly cranked up music in an attempt to drown out the noise.
Why Detroit Turned on Its Former Captain
The anger traces back to the offseason, when Larkin asked the organization for a trade.
The 30-year-old center remains under contract through the 2030-31 season at an $8.7 million cap hit, and no deal has materialized. He reportedly told the club he would accept a move to Florida, Minnesota or Vegas.
For a fan base that has watched the team miss the playoffs ten straight years, the request landed like a betrayal.
Larkin produced 34 goals and 67 points last season, which makes his situation even more complicated for a franchise searching for stability.
He has not played since, and the injury adds another layer of uncertainty to any potential trade market.
A Rough Night for Detroit All Around
The evening did not improve for the home side. The Rangers scored first, and frustrated fans began chanting for ownership to sell the team, a sign that the discontent runs well beyond one player.
Larkin's exit from the bench only amplified the sense that the relationship between star and city is badly damaged.
The question now is how long this standoff can continue. Larkin remains a Red Wing on paper, yet the boos suggest the fan base has already moved on emotionally.
Hockeytown has spoken, and the next move belongs to the front office.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Elliotte Friedman reveals how the Wild have changed their tune on Quinn Hughes
Elliotte Friedman reveals how the Wild have changed their tune on Quinn Hughes