Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin criticized his general manager, Steve Yzerman, after the team failed to make the playoffs.
The Red Wings missed the playoffs for the ninth-straight season, and Larkin wasn’t pleased with it. He’s the lone player who has been a part of the team for all nine seasons, and he believes Yzerman should have done something at the deadline to try and give the team a boost.
“We didn’t gain any momentum from the trade deadline, and guys were kinda down about it. So it’d be nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice and a morale boost as well,” Larkin said in his year-end availability on April 19.
It was a subtle shot at Yzerman as Larkin wasn’t pleased the team didn’t make any moves at the deadline.
At the trade deadline, Detroit acquired Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks for Joe Veleno. It was a minimal trade as Larkin wanted Yzerman to do more.
Detroit ended up finishing the record with a 39-25-8 and missed the playoffs by five points.
Larkin, meanwhile, has six years left on his eight-year, $69.6 million deal with the Red Wings. He recorded 30 goals and 40 assists for 70 points in 82 games.
Larkin Believes Red Wings Can Turn it Around
Although Detroit has missed the playoffs in nine straight seasons, Larkin is confident in the group.
Larkin believes the Red Wings have a good core. He’s also confident that Todd McLellan is the right coach to lead Detroit to the playoffs next season
