Well, it’s probably the worst possible news we could get on the Monday before the NHL trade deadline. The Red Wings announced that captain Dylan Larkin will be out for a couple of weeks with an injury:
Larkin left Saturday’s blowout loss to the Florida Panthers late in the game. Larkin has 54 points through 55 games this season.
This means that the Wings, who currently hold a wild card spot, will be without their top center and scorer amid a crucial stretch for their playoff aspirations. This could mean that someone will be called up from Grand Rapids, though it’s not entirely clear who. It also begs the question if Steve Yzerman should look for depth down the middle before the trading deadline on Friday. The team is already rumored to be taking calls on some of their defensemen, and are looking to add a defenseman with some snarl.
Helene St. James noted on Twitter that Detroit won’t call anyone up to start their trip since they have 12 forwards available and could retreat to an 11/7 deployment. All that being said, it looks like Joe Veleno will take Larkin’s spot on the top line.
It’s only a couple of weeks, but Larkin’s absence means Detroit is vulnerable to fall out of the playoff picture. Coming off two tough losses in a row, this news absolutely friggin’ STINKS.
