Sometimes, making a life altering decision comes with a split second of doubt. For Detroit Red Wings fans, that moment happened last night. Disgruntled ex-captain Dylan Larkin returned to the ice last night. Amid a chorus of boos, he potted his first goal of the season, following it up with an assist early in the second period.
Those boos later turned to cheers as Larkin fought his way through the Ottawa Senators lineup, eventually helping the team to dismantle their division rival without breaking much of a sweat.
Yet, despite earning the first star of the night (and finishing off with a Gordie Howe hat trick), nothing has changed. Larkin's trade request still stands. No amount of goodwill earned from goals can fix the fractured relationship between both parties.
Larkin, Red Wings taking it one game at a time
At this point in time, the best possible outcome for both the Red Wings and Larkin is one of positive performance. If Larkin keeps this pace up, teams will be tripping over themselves to trade for him. This, in turn, is good for the Red Wings, who hope to recoup the maximum return they can for their top center.
It's perfectly fine to get excited about Larkin returning. It's fair to cheer when he scores a goal, even. But it's important to keep in mind that this will only last for so long. Eventually, Larkin will no longer wear the Winged Wheel. There will come a time where he's off scoring goals for another team. That's why, while he's here, he should be looked at as a positive asset rather than a detriment to the team.
He's proven thus far that he isn't going to be a locker room cancer. It's abundantly clear that his teammates support him. Sure, it's just one game, but, in that one game, he cleared up a lot of doubt on his play moving forward.
Eventually, he's going to leave. When that happens, though, is anyone's guess.
Hoping for a Larkin trade soon? Don't hold your breath
If there's one thing we've come to learn about this front office, it's that they move slow. So slow, in fact, that they might even lose their second best defenseman over a pointless contract dispute. To hope for any sense of urgency from this front office is wishful thinking at best. If NHL insider Frank Seravalli's reports (or speculation) are believed to be true, interim GM Shawn Horcoff is doing his work "with training wheels on".
That doesn't exactly sound like an organization in any rush to trade their top center -- especially if they're supposedly pushing for the playoffs like CEO and owner Chris Ilitch claims. It is, of course, in the best interest of the Red Wings and Dylan Larkin that Larkin plays well. But that may just encourage Ilitch to hold on to Larkin for as long as possible in order to extract all the value he can get this season.
In the unlikely event that the Red Wings are in playoff position by the trade deadline, will he consider trading Larkin? Or will the Waterford native have to wait until the offseason to have his request fulfilled?
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