There's no way around it: the Detroit Red Wings have a culture problem.
This isn't exactly a secret, either. Issues with culture and adversity have plagued the organization for years. It's hard to imagine a team with a 40 goal-scorer, a Norris-caliber defenseman and a high-end goaltender could be in the situation the Red Wings are in.
Now, another wrench has been thrown into the mix: captain Dylan Larkin wants out.
It's hard to tell where the culture issues began and who is ultimately responsible. Is it one party, or a few? What will this team look like without Larkin in the mix?
It's hard to reckon with a Larkin-less Detroit. After all, he's been the core piece of this identity since the start of the rebuild. He was the captain, the guy who gave it his all every time he set foot on the ice. Is losing Larkin an indictment on the front office, or will it be seen as a turning point for the organization?
Mutual breakup a good thing for Red Wings, Larkin
No matter who is at fault here, it's clear that the current Detroit Red Wings are untenable. They've failed to make the playoffs every year that Larkin has been captain. For four years in a row, the team has fallen apart in March. Of course, it's unfair to put this blame entirely on Larkin.
But, as captain of the Red Wings, surely he could've stood to manage a single 5v5 goal since the Olympic break.
It's clear that a fresh start will be good for both parties. Larkin needs to move on and get the pressure of Detroit off his back, while the Red Wings need to find a way forward with a player that wants to be in Hockeytown.
How this will affect the culture remains to be seen, though.
Was Larkin part of the solution, or did he fail to meet the moment when the pressure was the greatest? For those uf us that aren't in the locker room, it's hard to say without pure, baseless speculation.
But that doesn't mean the Red Wings can't make lemonade out of this proverbial lemon.
How the Red Wings can move on from this
It's understandable to mourn the loss of one of your top players -- even moreso when that top player is your captain. Having said that, the Red Wings need to accept that this current iteration will never be the same as it was before.
Perhaps that's a good thing.
After all, it's been a decade since the Red Wings were in the playoffs. Change has been long overdue for this organization. While it certainly isn't the change everyone envisioned, it offers a new opportunity for success.
The direction the franchise takes in the future will entirely depend on the return they get for Larkin. If the Red Wings earn starting players and something similar to, say, Adam Fantilli or Matty Beniers, there's a chance they can recoup without any long-term ramifications. If they aim for futures, however, it might suggest that a longer rebuild is in the works.
Until the trade happens, it'll be a game of wait and see from here on out.
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