With NHL training camps set to open next week the Detroit Red Wings are looking like one of the league’s biggest messes.
Restricted free-agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned and without a new contract.
Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings’ longest-tenured player and one of their most important players, remains with Detroit despite an offseason trade request that was submitted while former general manager Steve Yzerman was still running the team.
He hasn’t been running the team since mid-July when he stepped down as general manager and took on a different role in the organization, leaving the Red Wings without a general manager to fix the two aforementioned problems.
They at least have some temporary information on one of those issues.
The Red Wings announced on Friday that Larkin will, in fact, be reporting to training camp, and that his future with the organization will be re-evaluated when a new general manager and new leadership are finally introduced.
In the meantime, Larkin has also lost his captaincy, a role he has held since the 2020-21 season, with the team prepared to enter the season without a captain.
Dylan Larkin loses captaincy after putting Red Wings in tough position
The Red Wings’ announcement includes a comment from Larkin and quotes from the organization itself, with Larkin referencing “candid” discussions with the team.