Moritz Seider sounded thrilled about the Detroit Red Wings this week. Dylan Larkin might not feel the same way.
The Red Wings rolled out a full team stats graphic for NHL 27 this week. Larkin's name was nowhere on it.
That's not a small oversight for a guy who's worn a letter in Detroit. Larkin asked for a trade months ago, and this didn't exactly patch things up.
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Funny thing is, the numbers still make him hard to ignore. He put up 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points in 74 games last season.
He was even better down the stretch, with 9 points in his final 5 games. That's not a player fading into the background quietly.
So while the roster graphic snub was making the rounds, Seider was doing press at the NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour. And he wasn't holding back on how he feels about Detroit.
"There's so much about this club that makes it so special," Seider said. "You get reminded every time you walk into that precious building playing in front of great fans that are dying for that sport."
Larkin's trade request still hangs over Detroit's offseason
Seider added that playing in front of the fans is what he's most excited about heading into next season. Fair enough. He earned the right to feel good, coming off a 60-point season in 82 games with a plus-15 rating.
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But you can't talk about Red Wings excitement right now without the Larkin cloud hanging over it. Leaving him off a stats graphic while he's actively pushing for a trade is like forgetting the guest of honor's name at his own going-away party.
Detroit finished last season 41-31-10 for 92 points, ranked 16th overall. Their form cratered late, going 2-6-2 in their last 10 and closing with a 1-8 loss at Florida.
Steve Yzerman and Todd McLellan haven't said much publicly about where Larkin stands. The silence from the front office is starting to feel like its own kind of answer.
Does a video game graphic actually mean anything? Probably not on its own. But timing matters, and this timing was brutal.
Larkin's name is still on Detroit's cap sheet at 8,700,000 for now. Whether it stays there through training camp is a different question entirely.
Should the Red Wings trade Dylan Larkin this offseason?
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