The Detroit Red Wings may just be getting healthy at the right time. On Monday morning, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was a full participant, skating atop the team’s first line prior to hosting the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. Following the skate, Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan told the media that Larkin would be a game time decision for tomorrow’s divisional contest.
Dylan Larkin is moving pretty well. #LGRW #RedWings pic.twitter.com/ysLpgMFzxp
March 23, 2026“I’m confident that he’s improving," McLellan said. "He’s confident that he’s improving.”
Larkin suffered a lower-body injury on March 6 during a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers after taking an awkward fall that appeared to buckle his knee. Larkin has missed the past seven Red Wings games, a stretch which has seen the club go 3-3-1. In that span, they went from a playoff spot to just outside of the Wild Card, a single point removed from the playoff picture. The Red Wings find themselves two points back of the Montreal Canadiens for third in the Atlantic Division and one back of the New York Islanders for the final Wild Card spot.
They'll need all the help they can get to push for the playoffs. The return of Larkin couldn't come at a better time.
Larkin could prove difference-maker for Red Wings
Through 63 games this season, Larkin has recorded 28 goals and 27 assists, totalling the third most points on the Red Wings with 55. He's trailing only Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond in both goals and points this season. During the practice, Larkin was skating alongside Emmitt Finnie and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård who was filling in for Raymond. Raymond, per McLellan, underwent a maintenance day.
The major boost Larkin could bring could bolster the Red Wings’ struggling power play unit. In Larkin’s absence, the Red Wings have gone 3-for-21, falling to 14th in overall power play rankings. Getting this power play hot could be the factor in a playoff appearance or not with goals coming at such a premium down the stretch.
The Red Wings have just 12 games left on the season. Their next opponents - the Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers - are all within striking distance, with Buffalo leading the division by a wider margin. It's been nine years since the Red Wings sniffed the playoffs. Larkin's return may just be the catalyst the team needs to get going again.