Red Wings Lose Captain Larkin to Lower Body Injury

Detroit's playoff push takes a hit as star center sidelined indefinitely

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The Detroit Red Wings suffered a significant blow to their playoff push as captain Dylan Larkin suffered a lower body injury in the team's recent loss to the Florida Panthers. Larkin, the Red Wings' third-leading scorer, will miss Sunday's game against the New Jersey Devils and his timeline for return is unclear.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are fighting to end their playoff drought that dates back to 2016, currently sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division. Larkin's absence could jeopardize their postseason hopes if he misses an extended period of time.

The details

Larkin suffered the injury in the third period of the Red Wings' loss to the Panthers when he twisted his knee. While he was able to skate off the ice, he was visibly in pain and went straight to the locker room. Head coach Todd McLellan said Larkin will need "some time to recover" but could not provide a timeline for his return.

  • Larkin suffered the injury in the third period of the Red Wings' loss to the Panthers on March 6, 2026.
  • The Red Wings announced on March 7, 2026 that Larkin would miss Sunday's game against the New Jersey Devils.

The players

Dylan Larkin

The 29-year-old captain and third-leading scorer for the Detroit Red Wings.

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

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What they’re saying

“He'll need some time to recover. I can't give you a timeline on that right now, but he will be out (at New Jersey). As far as I know he'll come on the trip. We'll see how it goes day by day.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Red Wings will monitor Larkin's recovery day-to-day and provide updates on his status leading up to their next game.

The takeaway

Larkin's injury is a significant blow to the Red Wings' playoff hopes, as he is a vital part of their offense and leadership. The team will need other players to step up in his absence as they fight to end their postseason drought.