nbcsports
DETROIT — Dylan Larkin made his return to the Detroit Red Wings lineup on Thursday night, his first appearance since publicly requesting a trade. The 30-year-old center scored 13 minutes into the game and added an assist, helping his team defeat the Ottawa Senators. His performance earned him the first star of the game.
Larkin's night was marked by mixed reactions from the home crowd. When he first touched the puck on his opening shift, he was booed. However, after his goal and assist, he received cheers from the same fans.
Early in the game, Larkin was slow to get back on defense, allowing Ottawa's Tim Stützle to score off the rush. He quickly made amends, scoring later in the first period to give Detroit the lead and then setting up Viktor Arvidsson's goal early in the second.
After the game, Larkin was announced as the first star, drawing more applause. The contrasting reactions from the crowd underscored the unusual nature of his ongoing situation.
"I'm trying to be a man and face it," Larkin said. "I'm going to try to show up with my play."
Larkin's future with the team remains uncertain. Several months have passed since his trade request became public, and longtime general manager Steve Yzerman was abruptly reassigned from his role in mid-July. Larkin was stripped of the captaincy, reported to training camp despite an injury, missed the start of the season due to that injury, and received a chilly reception from home fans during player introductions before the team's first game.
Head coach Todd McLellan stated after the morning skate that Larkin would play against the undefeated Senators as long as the center was medically cleared. Larkin was subsequently activated off injured reserve before pregame warmups.
A Michigan native, Larkin has spent his entire NHL career with Detroit, which last made the playoffs in his rookie season a decade ago. That represents the longest active playoff drought among the league's 32 teams.
During the home opener, fans taped over Larkin's name on jerseys with labels such as "Loser," "Traitor," and "Leavin," and at times chanted "Sell the team."
Initially, Larkin provided the Red Wings with only three trade destinations he would accept—Florida, Minnesota, and Vegas—but reportedly expanded that list in recent weeks.
He acknowledged that he was mindful not to over-celebrate his goal given the circumstances.
Originally reported by nbcsports.