Amid an awkward return to the ice after requesting a trade this summer, Detroit Red Wings star Dylan Larkin pointed to his 16-month old daughter, Lennix, in the crowd at Little Caesars Arena after scoring his first goal of the season.
“It’s interesting, right?” Larkin, 30, told reporters after the game on Tuesday, October 6, referencing his celebration. “You score, and like I said to you guys, I’m trying to be a man and face it, and I don’t want to offend anyone with over-celebrating, with knowing the situation that’s going on. But with all that, scoring a goal in the NHL, scoring a goal for this team when we needed it, it felt pretty good.”
Larkin was stripped of his captaincy last month, roughly three months after it was revealed he had requested a trade from Detroit, the only team he’s ever played for since entering the league in 2015. He was named captain of his storied NHL franchise in 2021, the 37th in team history.
“For a hockey player, it’s the best medicine, just to play,” Larkin added. “Just enjoy it and think about the kid that would be killing to be out there. That’s really, for all of us, what it’s all about.”
Larkin made his season debut on Tuesday night, a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. He sat out the Red Wings’ first two games of the season, both losses, with an injury.
The crowd in Detroit booed Larkin throughout the game, though he received plenty of applause and support after scoring in the first period. After making his way into the locker room after the game, Larkin was grateful for the support of his teammates.
“It’s meaningful,” he said. “There’s a lot of people in here that I love deeply and mean a lot to me in my career, and, you know, it’s pretty emotional coming back in.”
Larkin is expected to stay in the Red Wings’ lineup until a trade is hypothetically facilitated, though the timeline for that remains unclear.
The NHL star — who won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics — shares Lennix with his wife, Kenzy, who was also in attendance at Tuesday night’s game.
“I met my daughter and I just instantly loved her so much and the perspective that she puts into my life,” Larkin exclusively told Us in February. “If you have a tough night and you get home, they’re not as tough.”
