Dylan Larkin poised for season debut as Red Wings face Senators

Dylan Larkin appears close to returning to the Detroit Red Wings lineup. Head coach Todd McLellan said after Tuesday’s morning skate that the forward “looks likely” to make his season debut against the Ottawa Senators, after sitting out the first two games with an upper-body injury.

McLellan noted that Larkin still has one final hurdle to clear before being fully cleared to play, but offered no specific details on that step or on the nature of the injury. Even so, the expectation around the team is that his absence is about to end, giving Detroit a significant offensive option back.

Larkin’s return comes amid strained relationship with fans

The circumstances surrounding Larkin’s return are complex. During the Red Wings’ home opener, he was introduced from the press box and met with loud boos from the crowd. The reaction stemmed from his off-season trade request, which remains in place, and has reshaped how some fans view one of the team’s most prominent players.

The situation also led to internal changes, as Detroit stripped Larkin of the captaincy. If he does dress against the Senators, it will mark not only his first game of the season, but also his first appearance since that leadership role was removed, adding another layer of scrutiny to his performance and interactions with the fan base.

Red Wings seek spark after 0-2 start without Larkin

On the ice, the Red Wings have stumbled out of the gate, dropping their first two games to the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets without Larkin in the lineup. His potential return provides an opportunity to shake off that early slide and stabilize Detroit’s attack.

Last season, the Waterford, Mich., native reached the 30-goal mark for the fifth consecutive year, finishing with 34 goals and 33 assists in 74 games. Despite that production, the Red Wings missed the playoffs for a 10th straight season, underlining how heavily the franchise still leans on its top offensive players.

As Detroit prepares to face Ottawa, the focus will be split between the immediate need for points and the broader storyline around Larkin’s future. A strong performance in his likely season debut could help both the team’s early push in the standings and the effort to calm a turbulent situation between a star player and a restless fan base.