Red Wings coach says he sympathizes with Dylan Larkin after fans boo him in season opener

Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McClellan said he felt sympathy for forward Dylan Larkin after the former captain was met with boos from the home crowd during the season-opening 2-0 shutout loss to the New York Rangers. Larkin, who was removed as captain after requesting a trade and was placed on injured reserve before the game, was introduced alongside his scratched teammates at Little Caesars Arena and received a chorus of boos.

McClellan pushed back against a post-game comment from TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette that the team was trying to embarrass Larkin. He explained, "Dylan, today, being a part of the team, he wanted to be out there for the ceremony... Dylan's explanation was, 'I don't want the rest of my teammates, the ones that aren't dressed, to not be out there,'" and added, "Obviously, he's got to live with the ramifications of asking for a trade. It's not comfortable for anybody. I feel bad for him, I do."

Fans also directed chants toward the team's ownership as the Red Wings fell behind early in the game. The organization has not yet named a permanent replacement for former general manager Steve Yzerman, whose dismissal followed Larkin's trade request and has been accompanied by several roster challenges, including the loss of free-agent Patrick Kane and contract negotiations involving Alex DeBrincat and Simon Edvinsson.

Defenceman Moritz Seider said, "Everyone has a right to express their feelings, and we've just got to deal with it. I thought we handled it pretty well."

Larkin remains under contract through the 2030-31 season with a no-trade clause through 2027-28 and has reportedly provided a limited list of teams he would consider in a trade, which has since expanded to about eight clubs, according to league sources. The Red Wings' interim general manager Shawn Horcoff and any future permanent GM will need to address the situation as the team seeks to move forward.