Red Wings Struggle With Key Players Still Recovering From Injuries

Captain Dylan Larkin and defenseman Simon Edvinsson are back in the lineup but not yet at full strength

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:52am

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The Detroit Red Wings are dealing with the challenges of having two key players, captain Dylan Larkin and defenseman Simon Edvinsson, return to the lineup after recent injuries. While Larkin and Edvinsson have rejoined the team, it's clear they are not yet back to the level of play they had before their respective injuries, which is impacting the team's performance on the ice.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are fighting for a playoff spot, and having their top players at full strength is crucial. Larkin and Edvinsson's subpar play since returning from injury is hindering the team's ability to win games and secure a postseason berth.

The details

Larkin, who missed seven games due to a lower-body injury, has struggled with his speed and physicality since returning. In a recent loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was visibly in pain and had to crawl back to the bench at one point. Edvinsson, who underwent knee surgery during the Olympic break, has also shown flaws in his usually solid two-way game, including a play in a loss to the Boston Bruins where he backpedaled instead of gapping up, allowing a Bruins defenseman to score the game-winning goal.

  • Larkin returned to the lineup after a seven-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
  • Edvinsson returned to the lineup following the Olympic break after undergoing knee surgery.

The players

Dylan Larkin

The captain of the Detroit Red Wings, known for his speed and physicality, who is still recovering from a lower-body injury.

Simon Edvinsson

A defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings who recently returned to the lineup after undergoing knee surgery during the Olympic break.

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, who has acknowledged that Larkin and Edvinsson are not yet playing at the level they were before their injuries.

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What they’re saying

“Well, one, we give him credit for slugging through it, and it's clear he's not 100% yet the way he's skating.”

— Todd McLellan, Red Wings Head Coach

“There's some situations that he has to play better. If you're gonna put the gear on, you have to be real good and positionally sound, so we expect that from him.”

— Todd McLellan, Red Wings Head Coach

“I got to win way more battles for these guys than I did [Tuesday] and even [Saturday] night against Philly. So, I think leading that way and winning battles, winning your one-on-one battles and keeping the puck.”

— Dylan Larkin, Red Wings Captain

What’s next

The Red Wings will need to carefully manage Larkin and Edvinsson's minutes and workload as they continue to recover, while also pushing them to play at a higher level to help the team secure a playoff spot.

The takeaway

The Red Wings' playoff hopes are being tested by the subpar play of two of their core players, Larkin and Edvinsson, who are still recovering from recent injuries. The team will need to find a way to get these players back to full strength if they want to make a push for the postseason.