Dylan Larkin’s status is now the biggest variable hanging over the Red Wings as training camp opens, and interim general manager Shawn Horcoff made it clear the former captain won’t be taking part in on-ice work anytime soon.
Horcoff said today in his introductory press conference that Larkin is dealing with an upper-body injury and will be out for the foreseeable future. He added that Larkin will be at training camp rehabbing, but he won’t be able to go through camp exercises.
The situation has already forced the Red Wings into a different kind of camp than they expected. With Larkin unavailable, the team will need to improvise through camp and the preseason, and that opens the door for a few players to grab more prominent looks.
One obvious beneficiary is the center group. Nate Danielson is in a make-or-break season where he needs to reach the NHL, and Larkin’s absence should push him into a higher spot in the lineup to show what he can do. Marco Kasper also gets a clearer runway after a difficult sophomore slump, though his underlying numbers suggest he has a real chance to bounce back.
Then there’s the wildcard: newly acquired Theo Rochette. He drew attention at the prospect tournament by taking a dominant role in the top six over three games, and he also finished last season among the top 10 scorers in the Swiss League.
Rochette looks like a strong candidate for Grand Rapids’ top line, but there’s also a real possibility he forces his way into the NHL picture. At 24, he still hasn’t reached his prime, and he’s already built a résumé across multiple leagues that makes him a name worth tracking.
Horcoff also said he would trade Larkin “when the time was right,” though it remains unclear exactly when that would be. Some of his comments suggested he may not even have final control over that decision.
For now, the injury is the biggest complication. Horcoff said it happened during training, and it is expected to keep Larkin out for most of camp. He couldn’t say whether Larkin would be ready for Opening Night, leaving his timeline uncertain.
At minimum, Larkin is expected to be at camp tomorrow. Whether he shows up as a rehabbing player or as a locker-room presence is still to be seen.
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