Dylan Larkin gets savage reception from Detroit fans in hostile return

The Detroit Red Wings are looking to improve as the 2026-27 season unfolds, but they’re distracted by the Dylan Larkin trade saga. When the Wings hosted the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, it was all about Larkin, and the fans made sure he knew it.

Larkin was greeted with boos the moment he stepped onto the ice. The jeers intensified every time he touched the puck, creating an atmosphere impossible to miss.

The hostility traces back to a turbulent offseason. Larkin, who spent 11 seasons in Detroit and ranks 10th in franchise history with 643 points, reportedly requested a trade out of the organization over the summer. The fallout led to the Red Wings stripping him of the captaincy, a move that clearly stung both sides.

Larkin had missed the start of the regular season due to an upper-body injury that kept him out through the preseason. His return to the lineup had been anticipated, setting the stage for an emotionally charged moment.

A moment charged with many, many boos.

However, later in the first period, Larkin scored in his home debut, despite the hostile homecoming. And he got some cheers. Maybe that will help things out.

The trade situation itself remains unresolved. Larkin reportedly limited his preferred destinations to just four teams initially, including Minnesota, Florida, Vegas, and Carolina, before expanding the list to eight clubs. All of those teams are reportedly based in the United States, which has narrowed the market considerably.

The question now is whether the reception evolves as the season progresses, or whether Larkin's time in a Red Wings jersey becomes increasingly untenable with every hostile home game.