The Detroit Red Wings will be without their captain tonight in Minnesota as the team takes on the Wild. Head coach Derek Lalonde confirmed that Dylan Larkin has been ruled out for today’s game after Tuesday night’s 1-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on home ice.
While the Detroit Red Wings did not offer much of an update on his condition or status of the injury, he was ruled out for tonight to undergo more evaluation. It appears to be a hand injury sustained during the first period of Tuesday’s game.
Dylan Larkin is unavailable for tomorrow's game, per Coach Lalonde.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 14, 2022
Larkin was blocking a shot during the first period and wound up injured. He would return and play the second period of the contest before things took a turn for the worse, and Larkin’s night came to an end. He would miss the third period and ultimately get ruled out for Wednesday’s game.
Red Wings C Dylan Larkin not on bench as third period gets underway.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 14, 2022
The Red Wings replaced Larkin with Joe Veleno on the first line. He centered David Perron and Lucas Raymond on the team’s top line. Larkin has been the centerpiece of this team, and the hope has to be that he is healthy enough to make a quick return to the lineup.
Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin ruled out after sustaining an injury.
Throughout the 2021-22 season, Larkin has played in 27 games where he has scored ten goals and added 17 assists for 272 total points. The team’s captain is a plus-six on the season and has helped the team’s top line get the job done.
Any absence of Larkin from the Red Wings lineup is costly. They are currently hanging in on the Wild Card race, so snapping the three-game losing skid will be important. But that’s going to get tougher without Larkin in the lineup.
There was little clarity as to what the extent of the injury was, but it seems to be stemming from the blocked shot. If it was the blocked shot, he must have been good to go, attempting to play through some pain before it became too much. It’s a bit worrisome in the long run, as the Red Wings cannot afford a big injury to Larkin right now.
With Larkin being out, there is going to be a corresponding move. The Red Wings are going to have to call up a forward to join the Red Wings. This seems like a Givani Smith or Taro Hirose call-up to add another forward in the absence of Larkin.
If the Red Wings want to bring up another center, it could be Kyle Criscuolo heading to Minnesota to join the Red Wings. Time will tell, but the hope should be whoever comes up only stays on an emergency loan, indicating that Larkin is healthy.