In light of the Larkin trade request, how would you rework the roster? A discourse on “blowing it up?”

[renberg]

Flyers fan here living in the Detroit area and keeps tabs on the Wings. IMO, Larkin is a disgrace. Clubs go through cycles of play. It’s the NHL system. I can respect a guy like Sean Couturier in Philly who is going through this with the Flyers. He shuts his mouth; laces them up and does what he can to help his club in tough times.
Larkin isn’t doing that and now wants an exit door instead of working to help Detroit turn it around. He’s squabbling with Yzerman, whose dirty laundry he’s not fit to carry. The guy is a clown. Players better than him have been in Detroit and worked their way through rough periods of the franchise. It’s why they’re remembered and respected.
If Yzerman can get Lundell, or such a player, for Larkin, do it. Take all of Larkin’s stuff outside and burn it. The Wings will be better in the long run.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

Flyers fan here living in the Detroit area and keeps tabs on the Wings. IMO, Larkin is a disgrace. Clubs go through cycles of play. It’s the NHL system. I can respect a guy like Sean Couturier in Philly who is going through this with the Flyers. He shuts his mouth; laces them up and does what he can to help his club in tough times.
Larkin isn’t doing that and now wants an exit door instead of working to help Detroit turn it around. He’s squabbling with Yzerman, whose dirty laundry he’s not fit to carry. The guy is a clown. Players better than him have been in Detroit and worked their way through rough periods of the franchise. It’s why they’re remembered and respected.
If Yzerman can get Lundell, or such a player, for Larkin, do it. Take all of Larkin’s stuff outside and burn it. The Wings will be better in the long run.

Why does Yzerman get a pass for failing to put together a good enough team around Larkin that he feels his prime is being wasted?

 

[jkutswings]

Why does Yzerman get a pass for failing to put together a good enough team around Larkin that he feels his prime is being wasted?

If you really loved the franchise, clearly you would be willing to silently accept any degree of incompetence for an infinite duration of time.

 

[SirKillalot]

Flyers fan here living in the Detroit area and keeps tabs on the Wings. IMO, Larkin is a disgrace. Clubs go through cycles of play. It’s the NHL system. I can respect a guy like Sean Couturier in Philly who is going through this with the Flyers. He shuts his mouth; laces them up and does what he can to help his club in tough times.
Larkin isn’t doing that and now wants an exit door instead of working to help Detroit turn it around. He’s squabbling with Yzerman, whose dirty laundry he’s not fit to carry. The guy is a clown. Players better than him have been in Detroit and worked their way through rough periods of the franchise. It’s why they’re remembered and respected.
If Yzerman can get Lundell, or such a player, for Larkin, do it. Take all of Larkin’s stuff outside and burn it. The Wings will be better in the long run.

This kind of stuff is easy to say when its not your career.
I don't blame him if he wants to leave, he's given a lot and he's local.
From experience a lot of people need to go elsewhere to develop further as people or their skillset and experience something else, and for the amount of time that he has been here, it's not ideal that he wants to leave, but its not unfair I think to get that point of view.

I think he should be vocal about it though, if that is his stance, its an understandable reason to want to play for a better team while you are still on a high level of your career. It happens in all other sports. Maybe it should have happened in a sign and trade when he re-signed but it is what it is.

 

[Claypool]

Why does Yzerman get a pass for failing to put together a good enough team around Larkin that he feels his prime is being wasted?

Yzerman's mistake was trying to build around Larkin. Larkin should have been traded before he signed his long-term deal.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

If you really loved the franchise, clearly you would be willing to silently accept any degree of incompetence for an infinite duration of time.

That's what gets me about all the dopes whining, "Captains are supposed to go down with the ship!" How dare Larkin want to win something during his career!