Larkin Could Suit Up Against Senators as Awkward Red Wings Saga Drags On

The strangest storyline of the NHL's young season could take another twist on Tuesday. Dylan Larkin, who alienated Detroit's fanbase with an offseason trade request that has yet to be fulfilled, may suit up for the Red Wings against the visiting Ottawa Senators.

Larkin missed Detroit's first two games with an upper-body injury, but his absence from the lineup has been only half the story. Stripped of the captaincy during training camp, the longtime franchise cornerstone was heavily booed when introduced before Friday's home opener — a surreal moment for a player who has given the franchise the better part of a decade.

"He's got to live with the ramifications of asking for a trade," head coach Todd McLellan said, capturing the cold reality of the situation. On the ice, Detroit could use the help: the Red Wings dropped their first two games of the homestand, blanked 2-0 by the Rangers and edged 3-2 by the Jets, with a misfiring penalty kill a particular sore spot — an area where Larkin has long been a regular.

His teammates would welcome him back. The fans may need more convincing. Whatever happens Tuesday, the Larkin saga remains the NHL's most uncomfortable watch.