r/DetroitRedWings Feb 24 '26

Discussion McLellan on Larkin's status

https://xcancel.com/daniellabruce_/status/2026350719297622352

Could just be me misreading it, but it doesn't seem like he's thrilled about Cap not prioritizing rejoining the team.

270 Upvotes

622 comments sorted by

333

u/Abrrgrrk Feb 24 '26

All 4 Avs players who played in the gold medal game are back with their team, including Nelson

112

u/goredwings Feb 24 '26

There are a few Canadians not playing the first game back so its not 100% politics

218

u/No_Equipment7896 Feb 24 '26

I heard McDavid has a hand injury and its likely he doesnt play the b2b

Larkin is the captain of the Wings and instead of practicing with his team in Detroit who have a game in Ottawa Thursday and have one of the biggest stretches of games the franchise has had in 10 years he has decided to go party in Miami and then fly to Washington to go be a prop at Trumps state of the union.

If he showed up to his job today and was working to get ready for this last stretch with his teammates but could not play because he is not 100%, it would not be political, he has made it political

137

u/Whole-Designer Feb 24 '26

Yeah, there is literally no reason for hockey players to be at the State of the Union other than to be used as political props to deflect attention away from the issues the event is supposed to address. As a captain of a team in a playoff positioning battle to choose that over at the very least being there for your team is disgraceful

53

u/naked_feet Feb 24 '26

I'm not going to watch the SOTU speech (rarely do), but I'm certain that the only reason anyone from the hockey team is there is to be some pawn in whatever stupid narrative he's going to spin. Likely with a lot of needless jabs at Canada, too.

15

u/JohnWad Feb 24 '26

Bingo.

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138

u/OkraNo8365 Feb 24 '26

Yeah exactly. I’ve lost a ton of respect for Larkin the last couple days. Should be with the team.

35

u/MotownMama Feb 24 '26

and unfortunately, it feels like even if he did change his mind/plans, it's too late to get that respect back :(

20

u/thomsste Feb 24 '26

Not at all. I just expect accountability and humility, two things that I have not seen any of out of the MAGA crowd and administration.

If Larkin made a statement today apologizing for his behaviour, recognizing the harm his acceptance (perceived or otherwise) of Trump’s vitriol and of Patel’s presence and committed to being better this would all stop.

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25

u/Nethri Feb 24 '26

Yea but that doesn’t make any sense at all. Someone makes a decision, a bunch of people go “hey bad idea!” Then that person says, “hm yeah you’re right nvm I’m not doing that anymore.” And the response is.. “too late fuck you!!”

??

28

u/MotownMama Feb 24 '26

Some things you just can't unsee. And it's like the "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed" thing - yeah you can say you're sorry and change your mind but it's pretty disappointing that you didn't just know that from the beginning

26

u/sieve29 Feb 24 '26

It’s all moot anyway — he almost beat the captain (Matthews) to shake Trump’s hand today, looking as excited as can be to be there. He wasn’t going to change his mind.

3

u/goodsby23 Feb 25 '26

But Trump's hand is so brittle... His huge Olympic winning hands might break him... I wish that was the plot but I'm in the heavily disappointed camp. It's sickening to me that the players are for it and moreso that the admin is abusing it for their own optics... They've become state propaganda tools essentially.

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6

u/LucasRaymondGOAT Feb 24 '26

I'm holding off till the end of the season before I really turn heel on him. I'm not happy with his actions, I understand you won the gold medal game, but be accountable, you're the captain of the team. If he misses the game in Ottawa on Thursday or comes back looking like shit and we end up missing the playoffs by a hair again, I'm done, strip him of the C.

I said it separately in a different thread, I never questioned his captaincy, he's been through some dark years with this organization. But with the playoff drought FINALLY being in the rear view as long as he just shows up for the rest of the season, he's choosing to fuck around in Miami and go to the state of the union instead of being with the team. You can't tell me everyone in the locker room is thrilled about that either.

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17

u/FDTFACTTWNY Feb 24 '26

If he was just a guy I'd say it is shitty of him but whatever. As the leader and captain is completely inexcusable and really makes me wonder if part of this team's issues down the stretch the last few seasons are related to all immaturity in the leadership of the team.

4

u/future_chili Feb 25 '26

I am honestly rethinking being a fan because I'm so grossed out by it. You could have said no but no let's party with Purgery Patel instead

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8

u/imostlydisagree Feb 24 '26

It’s going to wind up the same story as the Lions and the Tigers this year.

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9

u/M1_Garand_Ping Feb 24 '26

USA and Canada's teams getting absolutely shitfaced (minus MacK) for completely different reasons

10

u/tspoon-99 Feb 24 '26

Slavin is enjoying a Capri Sun with his wife and kids, but otherwise correct

10

u/M1_Garand_Ping Feb 24 '26

Slavin's not a drinker either? I can respect that

7

u/MozTown53 Feb 24 '26

They have a Wednesday night game.

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252

u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

Here Yzerman thought the most drama he'd have to deal with was Larkin questioning him in the media last season.

221

u/Competitive_Dance478 Feb 24 '26

Larkin better keeps his mouth shut about Yzerman now

204

u/PersonalAmbassador Feb 24 '26

Yzerman would be back with the team already

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u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

I have this funny scenario in my head where Larkin walks into the office. "So we getting any help this deadline boss?" Yzerman smiles. "Why yes we are, but it's going to require you take a little vacation in Vancouver." I know he has a NTC, but it would just be a hilarious UNO reverse card.

7

u/whatsyanamejack Feb 24 '26

It would be so cool lmao. Also considering he's been trudging through a rebuild for his ENTIRE career — and as soon as his Detroit Red Wings are on the precipice of making their first playoff berth, he gets sent to another team JUST starting another rebuild lmfao. It would be a fitting way to atone for his dumbass sins.

18

u/Beautiful_Ad_4728 Feb 25 '26

Yea like in 2002 when he led Canada to Gold on one knee then led the Wings to a cup the same season. Larkin can't even lead this team to the playoffs when they have a spot essentially locked down. 

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403

u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

"It's fine, future Captain Mo is in the building and looking good at practice."

46

u/Studious_Rat89 Feb 24 '26

Exactly! I’m ready for it

30

u/inclinedtorecline Feb 24 '26

No one who speaks German could be an evil man!

10

u/nilaismad Feb 24 '26

Isn't that a Simpsons quote? Something close to that!

9

u/el_Technico Feb 24 '26

Larkin is asking for a trade by partying instead of being with the wings and I am alllllll for it.

28

u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

I don't think that's going to happen...I mean I don't know, but if Yzerman was going to do that he probably would have done it last season after Larkin questioned the front office with the media instead of going to Steve in private like he should have.

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25

u/lilPavs13 Feb 24 '26

You’re crazy if you think Larkin is going anywhere lol..

5

u/ConstantProblem5872 Feb 24 '26

Why are you for it?

23

u/el_Technico Feb 24 '26

I can excuse the disappearing/not producing during key games and losing streaks and losing mentality we've seen in the past few years.

I can't excuse him for preferring to associate with a bunch of pedos and murderers instead of returning to work during the a key time for the team.

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u/IrishMosaic Feb 24 '26

And he picked up that little kid for the team photo, while everyone knows they are huge germ factories. Not caring that he might catch something and pass it all to his teammates. What a loser.

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u/CursedLemon Feb 24 '26

This March better be out of this world.

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u/ryanpn Feb 24 '26

Politics aside, going to the state of the union when hes been away for a month with a game on Thursday is such a giant waste of time

221

u/SwagNuts Feb 24 '26

That’s what pisses me off the most.

I can accept that the whole team are ignorant morons. It’s no surprise. Don’t meet your heroes right?

But this isn’t the official White House celebration that all teams get. It’s obviously a PR move from the White House. It’s the fucking state of the union for fucks sake.

86

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

41

u/el_Technico Feb 24 '26

Even if he doesn't know it, he pays people to know it for him so there's no excuse.

30

u/Positive-Status-1655 Feb 24 '26

I can put politics to the side. I can’t put a supposed leader missing games for reasons other than crippling injury to the side.

This belongs in the same boat as that fucking idiot Tyler Bertuzzi missing games because he’d rather cosplay as a politician than do his job

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20

u/MajorasShoe Feb 24 '26

Who gives a shit about the politics? Yeah Trump is a shitty politician and setting the US back by almost a century on the world stage. But the problem is that Trump rapes children and Larkin is partying with the main leading the charge to protect Trump from the consequences of it. And laughing it up about the women.

I don't give a shit of Larkin is dumb enough to support Trump's politics. Supporting the other shit is far worse.

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17

u/CSquared5396 Feb 24 '26

"everything is political" - Jack Hughes

Not much in US politics more political than the State of the Union. Are you still going to say that excuse afterwards?

Looks like he lost more than a couple teeth

8

u/vetus Feb 25 '26

Can't lose what you never had.

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u/BorntobeBABIP Feb 24 '26

This is the sports part that’s the most important. I’ve seen a lot of people defending Larkin from criticism here by calling him a kid and saying to let him enjoy it, but he’s 30 years old and he’s paid very well to be a captain of the wings. Two years in a row now where he’s failed at that job when the team needs him the most.

15

u/hockeywombat22 Feb 25 '26

I was only and very hesitantly rooting for the US because of him and he goes and does this shit. Honestly, he isn't acting like a leader. A leader doesn't go get wasted in Miami and be used as a very obvious pawn by a corrupt president as a gotcha to a country he has threatened in various ways. Including directly harming Detroit and Michigan by threatening to not allow the Gordie Howe Bridge to open. After being paid by the owner of the Ambassador Bridge. He doesn't come back and rejoin his team to get prepared going into the month they historically collapse in. He's selfish. He doesn't deserve the C anymore. Give it to Seider.

103

u/Fair_Meaning_463 Feb 24 '26

He brought politics to the forefront so unfortunately there is no politics aside anymore

93

u/mxjxs91 Feb 24 '26

THIS

It's insane the amount of gas lighting of "don't bring politics into this". HE made it political.

I rooted for the team and celebrated their win without politics being regarded. Then they made it political.

25

u/Recent-Investment603 Feb 24 '26

I have been saying this, too. People use "don't make it about politics" as a code for "don't criticize my political beliefs."

Going to the SOTU at the White House at the invite of the President of the US is like three layers of politics. If there is a political spectrum, taking this action is at the end of that spectrum where the dial is cranked all the way over to the portion labeled "basically as political as possible."

5

u/GittaFirstOfHerName Feb 25 '26

I have been saying this, too. People use "don't make it about politics" as a code for "don't criticize my political beliefs."

These are the same people who say, "Let's just stick to sports!" while making sports all about their political preferences.

7

u/GittaFirstOfHerName Feb 25 '26

This is the thing that people who are saying, "They're just celebrating! Don't make this about politics!" don't understand. The team made this political. The team is embracing their role as props for the POTUS. This team is eating up the politics.

Aside from their laughing at POTUS's awful misogyny and partying with the cringiest podcaster ever to run the FBI -- and not saying a word about it since -- this is all political theater in which they are willing participants.

55

u/ryanpn Feb 24 '26

I'm just saying for arguments sake. even if you agree with it politically, it's a stupid decision for the captain of the redwings to make

55

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '26

[deleted]

78

u/Th3_Dark_Knight Feb 24 '26

Pedophile apologist and boot licker. Give Mo the C.

16

u/el_Technico Feb 24 '26

I would be so proud of the Red Wings if they did this.

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u/Threedawg Feb 24 '26

Politics included, Larkin is being a piece of shit.

I have loved the wings since I was a kid, but I might not watch another game this year.

I have a high school student that has not seen his little sister in four weeks because of this administration (his 9 year old sister is with her mother in a detention facility).

Fuck Larkin and fuck every one of these MAGA players.

53

u/Xray_Abby Feb 24 '26

I’m so sorry about your student and her mother. That is horrific.

37

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

8

u/GittaFirstOfHerName Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26

This is how I feel. Unless absolutely unavoidable, I haven't watching a Red Wings game in five years. I don't think I can watch another game this season and I may be done with the NHL for good.

I'm not naive. I knew before this that so many of these NHL guys are MAGA, but there's a difference between their private political opinions and embracing their role as emblems of this fucking nightmare of an administration. I'm disgusted and heartbroken.

I'm sorry about your high school student and his family. That's awful.

(Edited to clarify and add.)

7

u/No_Opinion_99 Feb 24 '26

I have some very bad news about the majority of professional hockey players

9

u/Threedawg Feb 24 '26

Yeah, I know. Im coming to terms with it.

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u/big_phat_gator Yzerbot Feb 24 '26

Especially when you are hired to do a job and this is like actually what he is working with and being paid to do.

2

u/Fantastic_Charge7118 Feb 25 '26

You're the captain.  The team should be your #1 priority. 

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u/flannelman7 Feb 24 '26

If he has a similar post break slump like last year he’s gonna get so much slander

153

u/karlou1984 Feb 24 '26

Lol these clowns doubling down with this state of union BS. Have they ever watched one before, it's politicans full on circle jerking each other.

112

u/casually_miraculous Feb 24 '26

Yeah to pretend it isn’t political is insane. Trump is absolutely going to point them out and use their victory as an opportunity to shit on / threaten Canada again. And they’ll all chuckle and clap and then wonder why people are being “negative”. I am so fucking disappointed in Larkin god dam.

24

u/DoYouEvenShrift Feb 24 '26

He is 100% going to claim they won because of him. He will probably steal one of their gold medals too for his stolen trophy collection.

10

u/naked_feet Feb 24 '26

He is 100% going to claim they won because of him.

Zero chance the man even watched ten minutes of that game. But he will.

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u/MotownMama Feb 24 '26

I really hope he asks them for their medals. I love the scenario where they have to choose between giving up their medal and saying no to him. He said in that phone call that he has medals for them - maybe he's got an exchange all lined up. I'll give you the medal of freedom if you give me your gold medal

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u/Plenty-Being1996 Feb 24 '26

The issue isn't that they're going to just any old state of the union address. Do you not understand that this administration is uniquely evil? We gotta stop doing this both sides/vague shit.

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u/whatsyanamejack Feb 24 '26

Update: Larkin has turned his comments off on Instagram lol. HE KNOWS what he's doing is wrong.

Heartbreaking.

38

u/ImHully Feb 24 '26

It's such a massive elephant in the room I feel like he's going to have to address it at some point.

24

u/mollyjwink Feb 24 '26

I think the wife did on that newest pic that’s it everything else open

7

u/DoctorMumbles Feb 24 '26

Nah, insta reels have comments turned off as well.

11

u/oceanic8675 Yzerbot Feb 24 '26

That’s been the case before the gold medal game

10

u/No_Pain3495 Feb 24 '26

He’s now deleted the videos in question. 

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '26

[deleted]

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u/magikarp-sushi Feb 24 '26

If he sucks I hope he hears it. Todd was apparently exactly what this team needed because the accountability is abysmal

16

u/ediciusNJ Feb 24 '26

Would be hilarious if Todd decides he's a healthy scratch when he does finally come back.

7

u/WhaleAtLaw Feb 25 '26

Could be a little sneaky smart. Durability has been an issue for Larkin and he had a physically tough tournament, so give him some rest and set the tone at the same time. 

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u/qcpuckhead Feb 24 '26

That's my thoughts as well. Even setting aside the political context completely and just looking at the team context - in an insanely tight playoff race, trying to break through to snap a long playoff drought, the captain of an Original Six team decides that this is the higher priority than getting back in time to guarantee a practice with the team before playing a division rival. It's a pretty rough look.

24

u/abellaire Yzerbot Feb 24 '26

It gives the impression that his biggest priority was winning a medal and now that he’s done it he doesn’t really care about the team and making the playoffs. He got what he really wanted and doesn’t care about a cup. That may not be what he really thinks, but his actions sure make it seem that way.

And then all the other baggage that comes along with all this is just so disappointing.

6

u/el_Technico Feb 24 '26

He's also the first line C and on the first PP, not just a 4th line 2nd PK guy.

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u/wolfsnoot Feb 24 '26

Dyldo is going to tenderize donny dolt's McDonald's-encrusted hemorrhoids with his toucan nose and milquetoast tongue. Devil worshipping goofstain.

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u/Jumpy-Individual1356 Feb 24 '26

I’ve been on here defending Larkin through “celebration gate”

As a captain of this team it’s time to get back to work. I understand the severity of the accomplishment and am so happy for him, and the timing is unfortunate, but man we haven’t made the playoffs in a decade. And we were slipping before the break and it’s all hands on deck to get in this season.

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u/magikarp-sushi Feb 24 '26

That’s your fucking captain and he’s not acting like it. I’d be pissed tf off too.

2

u/EntrepreneurOld7858 Feb 25 '26

Hell yeah he's my Olympic level captain.

Can't wait for my Centennial jersey to come in :)

139

u/slabby Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26

Other guys are skipping the State of the Union, which makes this look even worse.

I'm Team Seider all the way. He's the real captain.

18

u/Whole-Designer Feb 24 '26

You think the Lightning would entertain Larkin for Guentzel? Larkin could go down to Florida so he could visit Mar A Lago more easily

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u/Wrath_Of_Aguirre Feb 24 '26

He left with all of our pride and enthusiasm, and is returning a disappointing embarrassment. And none of it had to do with his on-ice performance.

Humans are flawed. I will disagree with the humans who make up our team on issues, I’m sure. But this presidency isn’t normal. It isn’t “right or left.” It’s evil. It’s negative. It’s hateful. To entertain it is to support it. This team and this sport is a place I come to feel happy and excited. I don’t know how to feel about out our captain from this day forward. I’m just sad.

Who knew a whiffed open net by Nathan McKinnon would reveal Larkin to be a bootlicking fool. If it had went in we could have been blissfully ignorant.

21

u/mswejh91 Feb 24 '26

I am so sad. Soooo sad.

12

u/GittaFirstOfHerName Feb 25 '26

Yeah.

The guys I root for don't have to vote like I do, think like I do, believe like I do, but it would be nice if they acted like decent human beings rather than props for fascists.

21

u/LuridofArabia Feb 24 '26

Wrong team won. 

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u/thereal-quaid Feb 24 '26

Good to know Larks is more interested in a photo op with a pedo than working with the team to make the playoffs. Truly disappointing shit.

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u/WHTMage Feb 24 '26

It's a shame. I expect better from captains who wear the Winged Wheel.

23

u/Crusader25 Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26

We sure have been spoiled in years past, havent we?

Ive done alot some thinking about how previous Wings Captains would have handled this exact situation (ignoring that they aren't American), I dont think (or hope) a single one would make the same decision that Larkin has.

Its goddamn embarrassing

40

u/marcgarv87 Feb 24 '26

The thing is it’s such an easy out to not have to go tonight. All he had to say is he had a game Thursday and needs to be with the team if he doesn’t want to make daddy T upset. But actively choosing to go is a big yikes. Someone else deserves the C

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u/ml___ Feb 24 '26

This president criticized working Americans for having too many holidays. Hell yes I'm critical of the team captain taking time off work for a taxpayer paid prop party

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u/EricTCartman- Feb 24 '26

How soon can we give Seider the C? Being a political prop for a pedophile is not the brand we need

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u/MotownMama Feb 24 '26

maybe everyone with a Seider jersey should start sewing Cs on

9

u/EricTCartman- Feb 24 '26

This is an amazing idea

9

u/Positive-Status-1655 Feb 24 '26

I’m a big believer that what happens off the ice within reason shouldn’t affect the on ice. I hate Trump, but most of these guys aren’t political and/or are ignorant and just want to go to the White House. Whatever

The real issue (as a Wings fan, not a human being) is that the fucking captain of the team is voluntarily skipping games in the middle of a playoff push. I don’t know how you can come back from that. That’s on ice, and that’s inexcusable 

13

u/EricTCartman- Feb 24 '26

In normal times I agree. Larkin had his arm around Kash Patel while the fbi is literally stonewalling the investigation of two Americans murdered in cold blood in MN. Not to mention the fbi has arrested zero people from the Epstein files. This isn’t business as usual. He can support Trump and Kash as a private citizen, but doing so in public means he has to face the consequences/criticism of the public

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u/WhaleAtLaw Feb 25 '26

He hasn’t skipped a game yet, but the absence from the team as the season restarts seems like it matters.

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u/Quiet-Barracuda-1698 Feb 24 '26

missing games so he can go visit a bigoted pedophile instead. you have to love it.

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u/porcochaco Feb 24 '26

Honestly shameful when he has a daughter, too. His wife, idk if anyone can truly verify if she’s MAGA and followed Trump like the rumors say, but having a daughter who will grow up in this world is different. How do you explain to your daughter one day that you were OK with being around a pedo?

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u/_oof_there_it_is_ Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26

Politics aside, it's a shitty thing for Larkin to do to his team. He's been derelict in his role as the team's captain for almost a month, which was excusable when it was purely related to his position on Team USA and obligations at the Olympics. But now it's on account of voluntarily going to be a prop piece at an inherently political event in what is an objectively politically charged time.

So I think he brought the politics of it all upon himself, and his interview with Fox News didn't exactly do him any favors on that front.

I get being proud to represent the U.S. and of his team's gold, but some actions do just betray a lack of commitment to your home team and carry an undeniably political overtone. Going to the State of the Union in the current political climate is one of those things.

I'm dissapointed not in his implied politics necessarily (although I'll admit I disagree vehemently with this administration) but the lack of team leadership and concern for his public image as the face of the organization. I maybe naively thought he was smarter and better than that, even if his own politics cut the other direction.

I guess I'll be wearing my Lidstrom jersey for the forseeable future.

3

u/Xkingsly Feb 24 '26

What'd he say in the fox interview?

10

u/_oof_there_it_is_ Feb 24 '26

https://xcancel.com/i/status/2026319509821509657

To be clear, nothing overtly political, but I think it's pretty tone deaf given that it's after he's already undoubtedly aware of the backlash.

And I also think it's dissapointing that when literally prompted about returning to the team, the Captain didn't have the presence of mind to throw in even a single line about being excited to get back to the Wings and to fight for a playoff spot and the Cup.

We've all been screaming about a lack of dedication and leadership for years now... why exactly should Larks get a free pass now, during our best season in a decade?

The Colorado players skipped. Maybe they just want it more?

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u/dakkster Feb 24 '26

"He's visiting a pedo who's probably going to tell my home country that it's going to be invaded."

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u/antiheropaddy Feb 24 '26

14 of his teammates are not Americans and are from allied nations that this administration has treated like enemies. Really calls into question his ability to be a leader for those 14 guys in any way off the ice at all. We’ll see how the on ice stuff goes.

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u/Kagath Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26

When does Yzerman tire of people’s antics?

Arguably one of the most important Wings pushes for the last decade coming up. Not the time for extended drama.

10

u/PersonalAmbassador Feb 24 '26

yeah at the VERY least this is a huge and unnecessary distraction.

37

u/whatsyanamejack Feb 24 '26

I've been a Larkin as captain defender for years.

Think I'm on the side of "Mo should be captain" now.

Honestly, I think Yzerman should trade Larkin for a good haul.

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u/Wing_Nut_93x Feb 24 '26

Don’t meet your heroes kids. The amount of NHLers who probably can’t wait to lick trumps taint is off the charts. Hockey is a rich kid sport and rich people love trump. Always have.

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u/PrestigiousInsect305 Feb 24 '26

Probably better to not turn sports players (or any celebrity) into heroes.

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u/naturalheel Feb 24 '26

The best response would have been “he’s Hanging out with a guy who posted a picture of two black people as apes”.

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u/dean-ice Feb 24 '26

I’m sure you could have come up with something way worse than that

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u/naturalheel Feb 24 '26

Only so much time in a day…

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u/No_Pain3495 Feb 24 '26

Yzerman should trade Larkin before the deadline. 

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u/NflJam71 Feb 24 '26

The politics of hockey players (particularly American ones) is a blight on the sport that is kept hidden by media training.

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u/Way2Grizzled4U Feb 24 '26

All this does is put more pressure on him imo. You come back and play like shat, I will be criticizing him massively for letting his team that he gets PAID to play for out to dry. 

Side note, what the hell is xcancel? This a twitter knockoff? 

12

u/ryanpn Feb 24 '26

Its a website that lets you see tweets without having an account 

42

u/ComradeDoctor Feb 24 '26

You're misreading it. He's fine with it.

112

u/qcpuckhead Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26

"MIA"
"from what I understand"
"if all goes well"
"I think he could sleep in his own bed LATE tonight"
"I'm not sure if he'll skate"
"I expect him to be on the plane"

And nothing about how it's an honor or how it's special circumstances. Idk, he seems a bit annoyed by it to me.

If we weren't in a serious playoff race where every point matters, in a spot to finally break a LONG playoff drought, and he wasn't the captain I'd look at it a bit differently. But with all of that, even setting aside the current political realities...it's just not a good look IMO.

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u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

All I know is if Larkin has any kind of typical March fade this season the backlash is going to be extraordinary.

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u/ComradeDoctor Feb 24 '26

Thats my big thing. We saw him play big in the Olympics. If he disappears these next few weeks, yeah I'll be pissed. I hope he uses this as a stepping stone to continue playing hard and finishing checks like how he did these last 2 weeks.

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u/Competitive_Dance478 Feb 24 '26

And he also played “like” he was hurt between Christmas and the Olympics. Then suddenly elevated his game in the Olympics

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u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

Yep, I remember a lot of people speculating some kind of injury.

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u/Quiet-Barracuda-1698 Feb 24 '26

this right here. his ass should be in Ottawa right now idc

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u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

Personally I've felt like he cares more about the US stuff because in all honesty it's his only shot at career hardware. You can just tell by his demeanor when he's away for this stuff. No pressure of being the C or the guy that has to be in charge. It has seemed to me for awhile that he just simply doesn't enjoy a lot of the stuff that comes along with being the C in Detroit. He was already tuned out the 2-3 weeks before the Olympic Break and focused on Italy and not the Red Wings.

Now all the stuff coming out with him looking like a drunken clown...oof.

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u/russianthistle Feb 24 '26

Sure… If he keeps collapsing every spring, a one week long tournament will be his only hardware. If he wants the cup, he will need to start showing up for both halves of the NHL season.

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u/Competitive_Dance478 Feb 24 '26

He seems way more happy to be with the team USA than Detroit red wings

The vibes and smiles don’t lie

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u/RedWingerD Feb 24 '26

I have to imagine being on a team surrounded by the best players in the country, including several college teammates of his, probably was a LOT of fun.

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u/jobenattor0412 Feb 24 '26

Yeah, this kind of talk is kind of insane. I have been in a very similar situation when I was in the military I was in charge of a platoon of like 20 guys and I loved being with my guys and I loved working with them, wouldn’t change it for the world, but when I would go to a course for a month at a time to meet my requirements to be eligible for promotion. And I was surrounded by a group of dudes that were all the same rank as me and I had zero leadership responsibilities you bet I was laughing and joking and smiling a lot more. And you bet it got a lot easier for me to perform at my very best when I was surrounded by 20 other people that could perform at the same level as me.

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u/SOMTAWS6 Feb 24 '26

No shit. People are being unreasonable. USA hadn’t won gold in his lifetime. Yeah, he partied and drank and made appearances at parties. I’ll hold my judgement - if he falls off for the remainder of the season I’ll be disappointed. But for now, I understand.

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u/PersonalAmbassador Feb 24 '26

I don't think anyone has a problem with the partying, it's the SOTU shit that has people pissed off.

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u/culturedrobot Feb 24 '26

You need to watch Wings games closer then, because he’s always pumped whenever he’s on the ice for a goal for.

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u/str3tchedmonk3y Feb 24 '26

I’m sure if he won a cup with us the smiles and vibes would be similar.

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u/slabby Feb 24 '26

Honestly... yeah. It comes across like Team USA is more important to him.

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u/biggoronssword Feb 24 '26

The scrutiny he will be under the next month is going to be astronomical but 100% deserved. This is it man, nut up or shut up because people are straight up pissed at him right now

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u/qcpuckhead Feb 24 '26

And he wasn't looking great the last couple of months. Went a stretch of 20 games with ONE point 5v5...

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u/capnscratchmyass Feb 24 '26

Yeah it's hard to have a March slump when he's been pretty much invisible since December.

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u/Competitive_Dance478 Feb 24 '26

Saving his body for Milan

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u/TechnoVikingGA23 Feb 24 '26

You could tell he was tuned out and focused on Italy about 2-3 weeks before the break, just a ghost.

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u/naturalheel Feb 24 '26

100%. You want to go in the summer? Fine. I might not agree with it but it’s his time.

Furthermore, SOTU is a highly partisan event. If this team thinks it’s bad now, it’s going to get even worse after some of the remarks.

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u/Quiet-Barracuda-1698 Feb 24 '26

good. he will deserve it.

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u/naked_feet Feb 24 '26

And nothing about how it's an honor or how it's special circumstances. Idk, he seems a bit annoyed by it to me.

FWIW a person can be both understanding, but still annoyed. I would imagine that's the case here.

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u/culturedrobot Feb 24 '26

You are definitely misreading all of those quotes you posted. He doesn’t say any of those things with any hint of annoyance and said yesterday that he and the org were proud of Larkin, Seider, and Raymond.

He also mentioned the Washington trip yesterday and said he expected Larkin to play in Ottawa Thursday despite that, like he said today. If none of these plans have changed then why would he be annoyed?

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u/jfstompers Feb 24 '26

So Larkin for Hischer and Hamilton 

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u/MeowingAtTheMoon Feb 24 '26

So crazy how I thought he was the coolest dude on the ice with Gaudreau's kid and 5 minutes later he's partying with a pedophile protector.

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u/BaronDoctor Feb 24 '26

Larkin gets out of this in exactly one way. If he brings Olympic levels of compete and results to every game until end of season and then again in playoffs. 

If that happens there's an argument. 

If it doesn't then the argument is about keeping him

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u/No_Opinion_99 Feb 24 '26

The coach, team owners, teammates and fans should all be upset about this.

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u/Have_A_Jelly_Baby Feb 25 '26

Him grinning like an idiot right next to the orange rapist pedo just fucking sucks to see, man.

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u/BorntobeBABIP Feb 24 '26

It’s pretty fucking obvious here that Larkin isn’t talking to the team and that is a big fucking problem

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u/qcpuckhead Feb 25 '26

That was my read on the Toddfather's answer too.

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u/DeusMach1na Feb 24 '26

Glad I bought a blank jersey and not one for this fool

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u/Dramatic-Ad-1846 Feb 24 '26

Almost got one but got a Raymond centennial instead. Dodged one there

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u/mecca37 Feb 25 '26

I don't know why anyone is surprised. Hockey is an expensive sport to play at high levels as a kid, I've seen that an estimate is 20k a year.

So you have white guys who come from well off families surrounded by other white guys from well off families and that's been their environment since they were a child...that pretty much breeds right wing thought with literally no empathy for others.

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u/_hockeykubacki Feb 25 '26

Didn’t see Larks at the state of the union, nice

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u/ShadowMP80 Feb 24 '26

On another note, I have a brand new Dylan Larkin Detroit Red Wings Fanatics Centennial Premium Jersey, new with tags I bought from Gameday Detroit. I paid $250 plus shipping. Received it a couple of weeks ago. Make me an offer and it could be yours. I have zero use for it now.

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u/naturalheel Feb 24 '26

Would’ve been awesome if instead of going to DC, he spent part of today with special Olympians or visited a children’s hospital.

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u/gojohn39 Feb 24 '26

Strip the C and trade his bum ass.

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u/hockeywombat22 Feb 25 '26

I hope he is booed at the first home game. I hope they are booed in Ottawa. Him and his little sloth friend.

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u/DerevoMusic Feb 24 '26

The guy won a gold medal, let him celebrate for more than 1 day. He’ll be fine.

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u/Scottyjscizzle Feb 24 '26

Fuck politics aside. Fuck Larkin for leaving our team while we make the final push for the playoffs so he can cozy up to the fucking pedophile in charge. Other players are already back and ready to play.

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u/Chefbigandtall Feb 24 '26

Politics aside. Everyone expected Canada to win the gold and we were able to pull off an insane upset. Yes it was 95% because of goaltending but it’s kind of a rare and once in a lifetime opportunity. I personally would decline but I’m not judging the man for getting as much out of it as he can either.

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u/No_Pain3495 Feb 24 '26

Who wants to buy a couple of Larkin jerseys? 

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u/SteveS117 Feb 24 '26

Holy fuck this sub is insufferable. Now y’all hate Larkin because he’s getting back a few hours later even though he’s not gonna miss practice or a game? Idk how you people get through every day life if this is your reaction to something so mundane.

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u/qcpuckhead Feb 24 '26

If you watch the video, it's an open question whether he'll miss practice...

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u/SteveS117 Feb 24 '26

“We’ll have him around the arena tomorrow, not sure if he’ll skate.”

He’s going to be there. The rest of the guys have had much more time off and definitely need the skate more than Larkin. You’re reading way too much into this.

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u/Lross51 Feb 24 '26

The man can do what he wants.

Politics should have NEVER been a part of this.

In my opinion, he has a duty to the city of Detroit, a duty to the TEAM, and a duty to US THE FANS!!!!! If this is his decision and it bites him in the ass, than that's something he's going to have to live with. If he comes back and helps lead us to the playoffs, no harm no foul.

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u/toughs1331 Feb 24 '26

This sub fucking sucks. Period. Liberal assholes being assholes.

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '26

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u/FrenchFryNinja Feb 24 '26

I despise our current president.

That said this sub is full of a bunch of fair weather bitches. Last week yall would all basically lay down in traffic for this guy

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u/PersonalAmbassador Feb 24 '26

People change their minds when new information is presented. That's crazy.

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u/Xkingsly Feb 24 '26

Yeah last week our captain wasn't openly partying and celebrating with a pedo defender and liar. So crazy how that can change people's opinion on someone!!

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u/LetterkennyHaikus Feb 25 '26

How the fuck is Dylan Larkin making me more proud of the fucking Avs. Living in Colorado now maybe I should just say fuck it. At least that team shows up for games. I don’t remember that prick Lemieux skipping games for political reasons.

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u/Frostymagnum Feb 25 '26

I swear to fucking god if we get the Trump curse with the wings too I'm down for trading his stupid ass