Carlo Colaiacovo suggests Dylan Larkin could still open the season in Detroit

The offseason drama in Detroit’s dressing room is continuing to orbit around captain Dylan Larkin, after Carlo Colaiacovo, a former Red Wings defenseman, floated a possibility that Larkin may have to begin the upcoming season with the Red Wings even though his trade request has been publicly known for more than two months. The comments underscore how trade timelines in the NHL often move slower than fans expect, especially when teams need to line up matching needs across multiple roster spots.

Colaiacovo, now working as a TSN Insider, framed the situation as a practical one rather than a definitive end point. According to the report, he raised the idea that Detroit could still have Larkin on the opening-day roster despite the request, suggesting that the organization’s immediate plans may hinge on whether a suitable deal materializes quickly enough.

The backdrop to the speculation is that Larkin’s trade request was made public earlier this summer, reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. As of Aug. 11, that request has been known for over two months, a timeline long enough to raise expectations among supporters and the broader league that something would have already happened.

From a team-building standpoint, the central issue is what Detroit’s front office can execute in the time window leading into the season. When a captain is openly angling for a change, the team still has to balance short-term performance needs with longer-term roster construction. Even if a move is the goal, a delay can force a club to plan for the season as if the player remains in place.

It is also worth noting what this story is not. It is not a confirmation of a deal, a roster announcement, or an official statement from the Red Wings. The report instead reflects Colaiacovo’s assessment of likely outcomes based on how such situations often play out, while Detroit still works through whatever internal and trade-market variables are at work.

For Detroit, the operational question becomes whether the organization can manage the captaincy and on-ice responsibilities without the distraction of a final resolution. If Larkin is in Detroit to start the season, the team would need to integrate that reality into its early-game identity, including leadership expectations from its captain and how his role fits with the rest of the lineup.

What to watch next is straightforward: whether the league’s trade ecosystem produces an offer that both satisfies Detroit’s needs and aligns with Larkin’s preferences. If not, the probability of him beginning the season in red and white strengthens, turning this offseason storyline into a season-long question of when, or whether, a change comes.

Conversely, if meaningful discussions accelerate, the timing could still compress quickly. NHL trade processes can evolve in stages, and teams sometimes pivot once the right mix of assets and roster fit emerges. Either way, Detroit’s early-season form may provide a clearer read on how much leverage the situation has on the ice, not just in headlines.