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Dylan Larkin is expected to report to the Detroit Red Wings’ training camp next week, but he will enter the 2026-27 season without the captain’s “C” on his jersey. The team announced the change Friday, shortly after Larkin spoke publicly for the first time about reports that he had asked to be traded.
The 30-year-old center said he has held multiple conversations with Detroit’s leadership in recent weeks and is now preparing to focus on the upcoming season. Larkin added that any further discussions about his long-term future with the Red Wings will be put on hold until the franchise appoints a new general manager.
Dylan Larkin Gives Up Red Wings Captaincy After Trade Request Reports
Dylan Larkin is set to report for the Detroit Red Wings’ training camp next week despite his trade request becoming public earlier this summer. However, the veteran center will no longer serve as the team’s captain when the 2026-27 season gets underway. Larkin had not publicly addressed the situation until Friday, when he confirmed that he will join his teammates for camp while leaving his long-term future open.
“Over the past couple of weeks, Red Wings leadership and I have had several in-depth discussions. I’ve appreciated those candid conversations and I will be at training camp with my teammates. When new leadership is in place, we’ll talk further about the direction of the team. We will keep those conversations private, and I will keep my focus on the season ahead and on the guys in that room.”
Detroit also made it clear that it will start the new season without naming a captain. “Dylan is under contract as a member of the Detroit Red Wings,” the team said in a statement. “Any conversations regarding his future with the club will take place privately when a new hockey operations leader has been named. As such, we will not comment any further on this matter. We look forward to seeing Dylan and the rest of his teammates at Little Caesars Arena for the start of training camp as we prepare for the upcoming season.”
The uncertainty surrounding Larkin comes as the Red Wings undergo changes in their hockey operations department. Steve Yzerman stepped down as general manager on July 15 and moved into a senior adviser role, with Detroit yet to appoint his replacement. Larkin has a full no-trade clause and had previously given the club a short list of teams he would consider joining, meaning the next hockey operations leader could have an important role in determining what happens next.
What’s Next for Dylan Larkin and the Red Wings?
Larkin has spent his entire NHL career in Detroit since being selected 15th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He has recorded 643 points, including 276 goals and 367 assists, in 808 games, placing him 10th in franchise history. The 30-year-old is also coming off a strong 2025-26 campaign, scoring a career-best 34 goals and finishing with 67 points in 74 games before helping Team USA win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
For now, Larkin’s focus is on preparing for another season with the Red Wings, who will open their 2026-27 campaign against the New York Rangers on October 2. He signed an eight-year, $69.9 million contract with Detroit in 2023 and has five years remaining on the deal. The Red Wings, meanwhile, will begin the season without a captain as the franchise waits for new hockey operations leadership to decide its next steps.