Alex DeBrincat is dealing with a major locker-room distraction as Todd McLellan prepares the Detroit Red Wings for another season.
Dylan Larkin's reported trade request has put Detroit's captain at the center of the conversation, and DeBrincat didn't hide his disappointment when discussing the situation Tuesday.
“It sucks,” DeBrincat said, while making clear that Larkin's standing with his teammates hasn't suddenly changed because of his desire to move on.
DeBrincat still views Larkin as a high-end player, close friend and valued teammate. His message was that the locker room can separate the business side from the relationship players have built.
That matters with training camp approaching. Detroit needs its attention on the ice, yet uncertainty around its captain is hanging over a group trying to take another step.
Simon Edvinsson's situation has created another question around the roster, while summer additions Viktor Arvidsson and Keegan Kolesar have changed parts of Detroit's forward mix.
DeBrincat wants Detroit focused on hockey
DeBrincat admitted change can be uncomfortable. His focus now is getting players back together, returning to the rink and giving the locker room something tangible to work toward.
That's where McLellan's job becomes important. A team carrying this much off-ice noise needs clear roles, clean communication and a camp built around competition rather than speculation.
Larkin's future remains the biggest issue. As long as a trade request remains unresolved, every practice, absence and lineup decision involving Detroit's captain will draw attention.
DeBrincat also made his own priorities clear. “Winning is very important to me,” he said while stressing his belief that Detroit is closer to competing than outsiders may think.
He also spoke positively about playing for the Red Wings and the pride attached to wearing Detroit's jersey. That gives the organization something valuable amid the uncertainty surrounding Larkin.
But the captain's situation can't simply disappear once camp opens. Detroit can start skating, installing systems and sorting out its lines, yet Larkin's future will remain attached to every conversation until there's resolution.
For DeBrincat, the message is straightforward: the friendship hasn't changed, the respect hasn't changed, and the Red Wings still have a season to prepare for.
Should the Red Wings trade Dylan Larkin before the season starts?
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