Red Wings make massive Dylan Larkin decision amid turbulent trade saga

Detroit made the call as offseason tension between Larkin and the organization kept dragging on.

He requested a trade back in June, and things only got messier from there.

Steve Yzerman stepped away from his GM role in July, sliding into a senior advisor position while Detroit searches for someone new to run hockey operations.

That search still hasn't produced a hire, and it left the captaincy question hanging over the entire offseason.

Former NHL forward Mike Rupp had been pushing publicly for Detroit to make this exact call before training camp, arguing the team needed to separate its leadership identity from Larkin's trade situation.

Not everyone agreed. The Athletic's Shayna Goldman warned that taking the letter away could end up making Larkin look worse in the public eye rather than easing the tension.

Larkin made history as the first Michigan born captain in franchise history, and he's remained one of Detroit's most productive players even as the losing continued.

He posted 34 goals and 67 points last season despite the playoff drought stretching to a decade.

Moritz Seider has emerged as the name most connected to a future captaincy, with insiders around the team suggesting he's earned the trust of the locker room through his physical play and steady presence on the back end.

Nothing is official there yet.

Larkin remains on the roster for now, and his camp hasn't budged on wanting out of Detroit.

Whether he'll start the season in red and white is still very much unresolved.

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