Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin will miss the team’s first two games of the season as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury, head coach Todd McLellan said Thursday. Larkin will sit out Friday’s season opener against the New York Rangers and Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old center has not played during the preseason after suffering the injury while working out in the gym during the summer. His absence means Detroit will begin the new season without one of its most important forwards, although the team is hopeful that his recovery will progress quickly enough for him to return early in the campaign. McLellan said Larkin is currently being managed carefully as he works his way back to full game readiness.

Larkin was back on the ice for Thursday’s practice, providing a positive indication that his recovery is progressing. He participated in drills with the team but did not take part in line rushes. The distinction is significant because line rushes are generally part of the preparations for players expected to compete in an upcoming game. Larkin’s participation in practice suggests he is able to perform some hockey activities, but his absence from line rushes means the Red Wings are not yet prepared to put him back into their game lineup. The team will therefore continue to monitor his condition while avoiding an immediate return that could come before he is ready for the demands of regular-season competition.

Larkin was injured while working out in the gym during the summer and has subsequently been kept out of Detroit’s preseason games. Because he has not had a preseason appearance, the Red Wings have not had an opportunity to evaluate him in a competitive game environment since the injury. His continued work on the ice is therefore an important part of his progression toward a return. McLellan’s decision to rule him out for the opening two games gives Larkin additional time to recover while allowing Detroit to begin the season with a clear expectation about his availability. The Red Wings will now have to prepare for their opening contests without their captain and adjust their lineup accordingly.

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Detroit’s first challenge without Larkin will come against the New York Rangers on Friday. The Red Wings will then face the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, meaning Larkin will miss the team’s first two opportunities to establish its regular-season rhythm. The back-to-back early-season absence also gives the coaching staff time to assess how the team handles the loss of a key center before considering Larkin’s return. With both games already confirmed as dates he will miss, the immediate focus will be on ensuring the forward continues progressing in his recovery and determining when he can safely resume full hockey activities.

McLellan is hoping Larkin will be able to return for Detroit’s game against Ottawa on Tuesday. That would give the center a potential target for his season debut, although his availability will ultimately depend on how he responds to his continued recovery and on-ice work. The fact that Larkin practiced Thursday shows that he has resumed activity with his teammates, but the coaching staff has not yet indicated that he is ready for game action. His status will therefore remain something to monitor over the next several days as the Red Wings evaluate whether he can progress from drills to the more demanding requirements of a regular-season game.

For Detroit, Larkin’s absence creates an early adjustment as the team begins its campaign. He will miss the opener against the Rangers and the following game against the Jets, while Tuesday’s matchup with Ottawa has emerged as the first possible opportunity for his return. Until then, the Red Wings will rely on their available players while Larkin continues his rehabilitation from the upper-body injury. McLellan’s approach suggests the team is prioritising his recovery rather than rushing him back before he is ready. Larkin’s participation in Thursday’s practice offers some progress, but his failure to take line rushes means there is still another step before he can return to competitive action.

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