DETROIT -- Hours before the season opener on home ice, the Detroit Red Wings moved former captain Dylan Larkin to a non-roster injured reserve spot, while the club continues to deal with his trade request.
Larkin, 30, who reported to training camp last month but missed some practice time with an upper-body injury, is seeking a deal from the only club he's played for, a franchise that has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs 10 consecutive years.
The Red Wings will open the season against the New York Rangers Friday night at Little Caesars Arena without a captain.
"The Red Wings will begin the 2026-27 season without a captain being named," the team said in a statement last month. "Any further discussions or decisions will be made once new hockey operations leadership is in place."
Larkin, a native of Waterford, Michigan, and a 2014 first-round pick of the Red Wings, played for Team USA earlier this year at the Winter Olympics in Milan. He finished with two goals and three points en route to the gold medal.
When he arrived at camp last month, he spoke to reporters about the trade request and his participation with his teammates, saying "I'm trying to be professional about it." When asked about the club's captaincy, he explained that "I asked for a trade from the Detroit Red Wings as a captain and that has consequences. I understand why that decision was made."
Larkin has five seasons left on the eight-year, $69.6 million contract he signed in 2023. That deal includes a no-trade clause and he initially told the Red Wings he would only accept a move to the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild or Vegas Golden Knights.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.