Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidström speaks on Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson

Although the Detroit Red Wings lost two captains this summer, with Steve Yzerman removed as the general manager and Dylan Larkin stripped of his captaincy, another former captain remains fully committed to Detroit.

Contrary to Larkin’s decisions, Nicklas Lidström continues to see the rebuild through as promised. 

When Lidström's role increased with Team Sweden, Red Wings fans wondered if his commitment to Detroit would change. Lidström is now in an expanded advisory role with the Swedish national hockey team since June as a senior advisor to the team. While the tasks might be growing on his plate, Lidström is still committed to the Wings' rebuild. It brings a bit of much-needed comfort with the seemingly unstable nature of the Red Wings' front office.

Disappointingly, Detroit fans have not heard from Yzerman in any capacity. It's likely out of respect, or it might be a contractual obligation. However, we would all love to know what he’s thinking about the events that have unfolded since his departure. If fans cannot hear from The Captain, hearing from The Perfect Human is a nice alternative.

Recently, Lidström shared his thoughts surrounding Larkin and Red Wings' un-signed defenseman, Simon Edvinsson.

Nicklas Lidström speaks out on the tumultuous Dylan Larkin saga

According to Hockeytown Hangout on Twitter, Lidström joined a Swedish NHL podcast where he discussed both the Larkin and Edvinsson situations. His feedback on both situations is unique and interesting to read through.

Let’s take a look at the Larkin comments first:

Some highlights from the segment:

"[Larkin] reported to training camp. Although injured, but he was there and began the season, but felt he had enough. Via his agent, he told us a few days ago, he will stay home and await a trade.

Very disappointing, he's a player who signed an eight-year contract--who we've paid handsomely. When you give someone an eight-year contract, you plan your organization around that and assume he will stick around for it.

Yes [he was our] captain. He received a no-trade, which is a protection for the player to not get traded. We've had him in our plans for future goals all along. It's a big mess.

A first line C and all of [a] sudden he's not there, and he has to be replaced. It's not very easy to do when he got a no-trade clause. He can control where he wants to go. He got a list of teams he wants to go, but we also have to find the right deal with those teams and we don't want to give him away for free just because he wants to leave. We have to get things back to continue to build our team"

The host expands further on the no-trade clause being used as a weapon:

"Host #2: 'It gets a little absurd when he got a no-trade clause and asks for a trade and severely hinders which teams Detroit can trade him to. They're tied to a few teams. The team gets almost handcuffed by Larkin.'

LIdström: 'Absolutely. This situation we're seeing in the case of Larkin, we're a little bound to what he wants, where he wants to go. Hence why this situation is perhaps not going as quickly as we all hoped.'"

Takeaways from Lidström's statement

The final line is the most intriguing.

Lidström indicated that things aren't "going as quickly as we all hoped." It seems the plan wasn't to have Larkin on the team this long (as national media and some fans make it out to be), but with his list and lack of compromise, Detroit's hands are tied.

As someone who once wore the “C” in Detroit, Lidström knows all about the pressures that go into being a captain in Hockeytown. The man had to follow up Yzerman and all the success he brought to Detroit. Despite this, he rose to the occasion (and then some), helping the team win a Stanley Cup in 2008.

As such Lidström further emphasizes why he's disappointed with Larkin's decisions, “We’ve had him in our plans for future goals all along. It’s a big miss. A first line C and all of [a] sudden he’s not there, and he has to be replaced…”

It’s a bit different of from Shawn Horcoff’s impressive response to Larkin’s refusal to play. Horcoff didn't mention Larkin’s impact to the future specifically. Instead, the statement mostly centered on the current state of affairs. 

The repercussions Larkin has could put the Red Wings into another rebuild easily. Teams in the modern NHL cannot succeed without a number center. Not to mention that center was already a position of weakness for Detroit, before any trade demands or injuries.

Luckily for the Wings, they have Emmitt Finnie who has held the fort down marvelously -- better than any one could have hoped for to start the season. Honestly, Finnie isn't just holding the fort down, he's a convincing top-six center.

Larkin's selfish choices impact both Detroit's immediate and future plans that national media either choses to ignore or hasn’t realized. These outsiders are chosing to paint Larkin as the victim of his self-sabotaging story.

As the Red Wings quickly pivot to new plans, it’s great to have Lidström as part of the management team. Especially, when it comes to a certain young, Swedish, un-signed defenseman, Lidström is a fantastic resource.

Lidström shares his perspective on Edvinsson's contract situation

Hockeytown Hangout posted another fascinating tweet stemming from the same Reddit thread:

Some of the highlights from this segment:

"Simon is a guy we drafted with an early pick. He's very tall, extremely good on his skates, can play against anyone. Simon is a player we want to sign. Shawn Horcoff, our GM, is doing everything he can to get Simon signed."

When the host of the show asked how things were going, Lidström responded with the following:

"Well, discussions are taking place with his representatives is all I can say (Lidström laughs). Good talks between both parties."

There are endless rumors swirling about Edvinsson. Primarily, that Detroit insulted Edvinsson with the contract offers and he’s no longer interested in playing for the Red Wings. It’s another telenovela that none of us fans signed up for, but things may not be as bleak as supposed insiders make it out to be.

The laugh, especially, might give Red Wings fans hope that things will work out between Edvinsson and Detroit.

It’s great to hear that the host of the show agrees with Red Wings fans who think that Edvinsson is worth whatever contract amount that he might request. It’s also reassuring to hear the parties are having "good talks."

With Lidström laughing throughout the line of questions, perhaps it’s not as delicate or dramatic of a situation as things were previously made out to be.

For anyone wanting to read the full Reddit post, here’s a link.

While the Detroit Red Wings might find themselves in anything but a perfect situation, it’s good to know that Lidström is still as reliable and consistent as ever. If there is any true animosity between Edvinsson and Detroit, hopefully, Lidström can help smooth things out. As for Larkin, it’s great to know that Lidström shares the same feelings as Wings' fans -- even if national media does not.

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