Red Wings GM responds to Dylan Larkin's unimpressive statement

Finally, the flood gates have opened between the Detroit Red Wings and Dylan Larkin.

After a cryptic message from Wings’ head coach, Todd McLellan, information trickled out at a snail’s pace. Following Larkin’s lackluster play, some fans even wondered if he was asked to sit out or wondered if there might be a trade. 

What came next was a remarkably tone deaf statement:

Larkin "having enough" is an interesting response to the consequences of one's own actions -- none of which he's had to answer for directly. Well, outside a quick, uninformative media availability with interim general manager Shawn Horcoff, that is.

Larkin chose to not give his team time to get ahead of the media storm after already creating the chaos that they have suffered through so. Surely, the two sentences Larkin released impresses no one much.

Fortunately, the Red Wings didn't take forever and a day to respond.

Horcoff's response to Dylan Larkin’s statement is encouraging

In a surprising turn of events, the response from Detroit's side was not just a LinkedIn post but something released on their social media platforms. It seems as if the kid gloves are coming off.

Larkin entered into an eight-year contract, demanded a new coach, help at the deadline and more established players to help him. Whether people agree with how former general manager Steve Yzerman, is one thing, but no one can argue that Yzerman didn't put effort into the Wings when Larkin demanded change.

Instead of being happy for his young teammates, Larkin at times complained about the draft picks not being something that will help him. Although it's a fair statement, as a captain and player signed long-term, it's not something his team or fans want to hear.

From a human perspective, it’s understandable to want to win a Stanley Cup before an injury forces an early retirement, or to play where someone is comfortable -- with friends, even.

However, the way Larkin went about everything and his demands were outrageous. His actions go against the captaincy he agreed to, a legacy that was built long before he arrived and well after he leaves. He won't even be remembered as the captain who quit. He'll likely fade to the background. A footnote in the future.

If there's ever a kryptonite to the laser beams coming out of Larkin's eyes, Horcoff serves as the perfect foil to Larkin’s ridiculousness. Mark Spector summed it up perfectly:

If the Red Wings can’t have Yzerman running things (as much as we would all love to hear from The Captain), it seems like Horcoff is the next best option. Horcoff’s statement is a perfect response to Larkin’s message. 

“We are disappointed by his decision, particularly given his obligations to the organization and his teammates…

…any trade must also be in the best interests of the Detroit Red Wings and support the organization's long-term goals.

I want to thank and commend our coaches and players for their continued focus, and being committed to competing every day."

Hopefully, it's a foreshadow of what's to come with Horcoff leading the charge. Perhaps now he'll get the needed autonomy to make the best decisions for his Red Wings.

For anyone interested in how much Larkin's wallet will hurt, here's the website for you:

Larkin has drawn his line in the sand, the Detroit Red Wings are fortunate that they are on the other side of it. 

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