Updated repeatedly at 1:32 PM: The Detroit Red Wings held a short practice on Friday afternoon absent one Dylan Larkin, who MLive’s Ansar Khan reported “took a little twirl” before the main group practiced.
As the Wings are hosting Vancouver on Saturday night (in a back-to-back for the Canucks), they’re coming off a 7-6 OT loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning…
And, as Larkin has that little hearing with the Department of Player Safety today, Robby Fabbri slid into the #1 center’s slot without Larkin in the lineup today, and that’s probably going to hold until tomorrow, assuming that Larkin is fined and/or suspended and/or hurt.
After a short practice (which Blashill promised it would be last night), the Red Wings held their media availabilities, and here’s what the coach had to say:
Jeff Blashill says Dylan Larkin could not practice today. Will “see some people today.” Was shaken up on hit from TBL Joseph Thursday. Faces hearing with DoPS for punching Joseph.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 15, 2021
Jeff Blashill said Dylan Larkin couldn’t practice today. He will “see some people” after being hit in last night’s game vs. Tampa. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 15, 2021
Jeff Blashill says he feels “pissed off” for Dylan Larkin that he feels he has to defend himself for hit. No penalty on Joseph for hitting Larkin right “in the numbers” into the boards. Larkin couldn’t practice today. Coming off neck injury in April.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 15, 2021
Jeff Blashill on Larkin situation: “I’ll be disappointed depending on how this comes out, but I know where Larks is coming from.” #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 15, 2021
Coach Blashill on the Dylan Larkin situation— if this continues to go on, I guess we need to bring some people in here to protect them #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 15, 2021
Coach Blash says he has no idea if we’ll see Larkin in the game this weekend. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 15, 2021
My take (maybe unpopular): You can’t just rely on Givani Smith to be the “heavy” for Larkin.
Guys like Rasmussen and Erne can also play with an edge. You want to hone that edge to the point that you go out there playing hard–and smart–instead of just looking for fights.— George Malik (@georgemalik) October 15, 2021
Per Blash, Larkin will also be seeing specialists today for his “ailment” #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 15, 2021
Blashill said no health update on Larkin other than he wasn’t able to practice today and will see specialist on unspecified injury. Said his hearing with NHL for punching Joseph taking place right now. #RedWings— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 15, 2021
Update: Also…
Blashill said they rate their players on a 1 to 5 scale after every game and rarely does a player get a 5 but the coaching staff gave Bertuzzi a 5 across the board for his all-around play last night. #RedWings— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 15, 2021
Jeff Blashill said Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin “spent eight weeks in a cervical hard collar” after being crosschecked in neck by Dallas’ Jamie Benn April 20.
That was why Larkin retaliated after TBL Mathieu Joseph drove Larkin into the boards from behind, causing injury.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 15, 2021
Blashill says Dylan Larkin could not practice today, will see a specialist today. Hearing with the NHL was taking place as we were in press conference— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 15, 2021
Blashill on Larkin reaction to hit from behind: “He gets up, there’s no penalty called, again I think at that point he’s thinking that we have to police ourselves out here. … I think Larks would tell you that he’d like to take that back, that really what he was trying… (1/2)— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 15, 2021
…to do was get his attention to fight him. But personally we’d like to be in a position where it’s just a penalty on the original hit and then I don’t know if anything happens.”
Cited Larkin’s season ending & spending 8 weeks in cervical collar on Benn cross check w/no penalty— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 15, 2021
#RedWings Blashill on opponents trying to rough up young players: “Certainly people test your young players. I’ve been with Dylan since Day 1. They’ve definitely tested him from a young age, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the same with Raymond and Seider (continued) …— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 15, 2021
Blashill (continued) … “Those kids are both pretty tough, strong kids and I think do a pretty good job of protecting themselves. I guess if it goes on we have to get people in here to make sure we’re protecting them.”— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 15, 2021
More Blashill: “You saw the reaction of our players. We want to look after each other. Obviously, there was a lot of guys willing to stick up for Dylan on the ice and on the bench. We’re a pretty close-knit group … There definitely a sense of we got to look after our teammate.”— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 15, 2021
