Video: TSN’s Cameron Gaunce argues that Dylan Larkin’s presence casts a ‘dark cloud’ over the Red Wings

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This afternoon, TSN’s Cameron Gaunce, a former NHL’er, argues that Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin having shown up to training camp is a bigger distraction than Connor Hellebuyck not showing up to the Winnipeg Jets’ training camp:

Over the course of a 3:35 clip, Gaunce suggests that leadership discussions will be awkward for their defrocked captain, that Simon Edvinsson’s status as not re-signed as of yet makes the situation worse, and Gaunce compares and contrasts the awkwardness of Larkin coming through the door with Connor Hellebuyck not being present at all.

Daily Faceoff ranks the Red Wings’ salary cap situation as 2nd-best in the league. For now.

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Daily Faceoff’s Scott Maxwell has been ranking each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams’ respective salary cap situations over the past week, and, according to Maxwell, Steve Yzerman left the Detroit Red Wings in a pretty good place. Sort of.

2. Detroit Red Wings

Last Year: 8th
Contract Rating: 22nd
Contracts with No-Trade/No-Move Clauses: 11th
Dead Cap Space: t-1st
Quality of Contractual Core: 1st
Cap Space to Team Quality Differential: t-10th

Much like the Blue Jackets, a massive “what if” hangs over the Red Wings’ ranking: Simon Edvinsson. It not only creates the illusion of significantly more cap space than Detroit will have during the regular season, which impacts their cap space to team quality differential, but it also alters their contract rating and could change their first-ranked quality of core.

To be fair, Edvinsson’s addition to Detroit’s “core” wouldn’t alter their ranking, it would just change the gap they have over second place from 7.07 to 2.3. That’s a significant bright spot in their cap management, as they’re exclusive with who they give term to these days. Only Dylan Larkin, Mason Raymond and Moritz Seider belong in that club, and Larkin, the worst of the three, is likely out the door soon, and could make it even better.

But otherwise, there’s too much up in the air to fully credit Detroit as this strong of a salary-cap manager. Their contract rating is probably the best indicator of where they sit as a team, more in the middle. While they have some prospects (Emmitt Finnie, Marco Kasper) and lower-lineup players (Jacob Bryson, Wilmer Skoog) on well-valued contracts, they lose out by having far too many overpaid players (Mason Appleton, Ben Chiarot, J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp, Justin Faulk, Keegan Kolesar, Michael Rasmussen, among a few smaller ones). If not for the uncertainty of Edvinsson’s contract, no dead cap space and minimal contract clauses (although one belongs to a player using maximum control to get his desired destination), Detroit’s contract rating would weigh much larger on their cap situation and ranking. Case in point: the Ducks were in the top five before signing Cutter Gauthier. After the signing, it dropped them to 13th.

Continued; I don’t understand how re-signing Edvinsson would drop the Wings’ salary cap situation into “not-as-good” territory. That’s baffling.

Not exactly accentuating the Red Wings’ positives here

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The Athletic’s James Mirtle summarized the biggest storylines surrounding the opening of NHL training camps ahead of the 2026-2027 season, and Mirtle did not pull any punches when it comes to the Detroit Red Wings’ struggles both on and off the ice:

3. Detroit: With no permanent GM and no captain, what on earth is going on with the Red Wings?

I honestly can’t recall a situation quite like this. The reeling Red Wings pushed out their longtime top exec — and, oh yeah, he’s a franchise legend as a player — then waited months to ultimately settle on an unusual and unsatisfying interim situation. Shawn Horcoff, the interim GM, kept it close to the vest in his first appearance as the organization’s public face. His incredibly difficult challenge is to dig out of the tough spot his owner put him in. Good luck.

Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin, a disgruntled hometown first-line center stripped of his captaincy, is trying to quiet the noise around his trade request. It’s, uh, not going all that well. The entire situation is pretty volatile. Fans are filled with anger and apathy, and a tough start on the ice could snowball into something worse.

Continued; I know that things are tense and nervous around the Red Wings, but they haven’t played a game yet. I cannot totally freak out until and unless the team struggles out of the gate.

THN picks the Wings to finish last in the Atlantic, as most publications will predict…

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The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau follows something of a trend in predicting that the Detroit Red Wings will finish last in the Atlantic Division standings this season:

8th: Detroit Red Wings

2025-26 Divisional Finish: Sixth

Off-Season Power Ranking: 32nd

Newcomers: Viktor Arvidsson (RW), Keegan Kolesar (RW) Daniil Tarasov (G), Shawn Horcoff (interim GM)

Here’s Why They’re Picked Eighth: We’re not here to pile on the Red Wings, a franchise that once was the measuring stick for all NHL teams. But there’s no denying the fact that Detroit has stumbled time and again, in virtually all aspects of the game.

Nothing the Wings added this summer will push them into a playoff spot. Star center Dylan Larkin still wants out, and Horcoff has no GM experience. So unless a Motown miracle happens, Detroit is destined for another long year.

Why We Could Be Wrong: Every Atlantic team has components worth building around, and the Red Wings have that in defenseman Moritz Seider and wingers Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat.

There’s always a chance Detroit surprises people – that’s why they play the games – but the Wings are facing a mountainous task in a vicious division, so it will take a lot of internal improvement for them to ascend the Atlantic standings.

Continued; it’s going to take a significant amount of work for the Wings to even battle for a Wild Card spot, but I’m not willing to write the Wings off just yet. There are still games to be played.

J.T. and Jesse Compher will play NHL and PWHL hockey together in the same city this season

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The NHLPA’s website has posted an article about the fact that J.T. and Jesse Compher are playing hockey in the same city this year:

From NHLPA.com’s Chris Lomon:

Continue reading J.T. and Jesse Compher will play NHL and PWHL hockey together in the same city this season →

The Red Wings entertained Special Olympians yesterday at training camp

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From the Red Wings’ Facebook page, with pics:

Poly hockey athletes from Special Olympics Michigan joined us as VIPs at yesterday’s opening day of Training Camp, presented by Ticketmaster!

Athletes got to watch camp & enjoy an exclusive player experience where they were in the spotlight themselves – meeting & signing autographs for Red Wings players and prospects 😊

Continued

A shorter preseason means more work to accomplish in less time for coach McLellan and his Red Wings charges

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Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen reports that the Red Wings’ coach and players are very well aware of the fact that this year’s preseason is significantly truncated, down from 8 games played over the course of 2 weeks to 4 games played over the course of one week:

“By this time next week, we’re almost done — three exhibition games and only have one left,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “You don’t have time to wade.”

The Red Wings are at [Columbus Monday,] Pittsburgh Tuesday, and then are home Thursday at 7 p.m. to face the Buffalo Sabres Thursday. The preseason schedule is over Saturday with a game at LCA against the Blue Jackets.

The Red Wings may be too busy to be distracted by all that is happening around. The start of the new 84-game regular season is two weeks from today.

Players understand why this is happening. They know that it could be worse if they allow themselves to become distracted by the circus.

“It’s part of the business,” Red Wings player J.T. Compher said. “Unfortunately, when you don’t reach the goals that you set out for as a team, that’s what tends to happen. Teams maybe get broken up, players get moved, coaches, all the way to the top.”

Continued; coach McLellan was also asked about back-up goaltender Daniil Tarasov yesterday:

Continue reading A shorter preseason means more work to accomplish in less time for coach McLellan and his Red Wings charges →

Tweets of note from the second day of the Red Wings’ 2026 training camp: after announcing new jersey sponsor, Wings get down to work

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Updated at 11:43 AM: The Detroit Red Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center this morning to participate in their second day of training camp.

Here are the Tweets/X posts of note from Friday’s on-ice sessions.

This post will be updated repeatedly, so “stay tuned!”

The day began with some business news…

And then the Wings got down to the business of hockey:

Update: Hello, Simon Edvinsson!

Continue reading Tweets of note from the second day of the Red Wings’ 2026 training camp: after announcing new jersey sponsor, Wings get down to work →

Press release: Red Wings partner with DQS as new jersey patch sponsor

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Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Here’s the press release:

Detroit Red Wings announce Metro Detroit-based DQS Solutions & Staffing as jersey patch partner

  • DQS becomes Red Wings’ Official Workforce Partner for the 2026-27 season
  • Red Wings home and road jerseys will feature DQS branding beginning September 21
  • Multi-year partnership reflects the Red Wings’ commitment to supporting Michigan-grown businesses deeply invested in the community

DETROIT, Mich. – September 18, 2026 — The Detroit Red Wings today announced Metro Detroit-based DQS Solutions & Staffing (DQS) as the team’s new jersey patch partner. As part of a multi-year agreement, the DQS brand mark will be featured on Detroit’s home and away jerseys beginning September 21. DQS will also serve as the Red Wings Official Workforce Partner.

DQS is one of Michigan’s fastest-growing companies and has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for three consecutive years. Founded in 2020 as Detroit Quality Staffing LLC, the company has deployed more than 45,000 associates and provides scalable workforce and security services designed to help employers solve complex operational challenges. DQS specializes in building and managing launch-ready workforces that can flex with production schedules, seasonal demand and changing operational needs.

Operating under parent company AXVOR, DQS works alongside Comprehensive Logistics and McLaren Transport as part of an integrated supply chain platform supporting customers nationwide. Together, the companies bring workforce, inbound-to-manufacturing logistics, warehousing and transportation capabilities under one network.

“We are excited to welcome DQS as our new jersey patch partner and feature their brand on the Red Wings jerseys,” said Ryan Gustafson, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment President and CEO. “DQS represents the same Michigan work ethic our organization and our fans take pride in, and we look forward to building a great partnership for years to come.”

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings partner with DQS as new jersey patch sponsor →

For Dylan Larkin, there ain’t no easy way out

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EliteProspects/DLLS Stars/Shap Shots’ Sean Shapiro weighs in regarding Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin’s incredibly awkward press conference on Thursday.

Shapiro suggests that Larkin tried to take the easy way out by offering non-answers to every question posed by the Red Wings’ media corps. As such, Shapiro goes so far as to describe Larkin’s reaction to a very understandably uncomfortable situation as “cowardly,” betraying Larkin’s own sometimes awkward but very honest leadership style:

Larkin said he wanted to be truthful, that he wanted to give some explanation, which he immediately followed up with zero explanation at all.

The trade request he said was for personal reasons, but then refused to give any further explanation of what that meant. We didn’t need the full list of reasons, maybe there is something truly personal about this, but you can’t simply state media reports are wrong about it then refuse to give anything of substance back (I thought Nick Cotsonika voiced this extremely well in his question to Larkin about the situation, when he said I don’t care what’s been reported, I just want the truth.)

Larkin also said he didn’t want this to get out, which I struggle with how neither he nor someone in his close circle, his agent maybe?, didn’t stop at some point and make him realize that was impossible.

He’s a top-six center, American gold medal winner, and captain of the Detroit Red Wings, still one of the NHL’s iconic franchises. There was no way it was going to stay secret, whether he liked or not.

So Larkin is lying here, but I guess the deeper question is whether he’s lying to us or lying to himself. And if it’s the latter, you kind of have to question how his agency, Pat Brisson and CAA, somehow haven’t stepped in to save their client from himself during this public self-immolation of any good will Larkin ever had in Detroit.

Continued (paywall) at length..

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