Dylan Larkin suspended from the Detroit Red Wings amid trade standoff

Hey, what is up, weather edition of the Sports Office. It's great to have you here with us. The boys are here. Woody in the house. I'm here. Ludeman in the house. Great to have you guys here. We got a lot going on, and we're going to check in with our guy Dave Ross from Beeson coming up in the second block, talk about some of the big games coming up this weekend of which one of them, maybe the biggest, is Vikings-Lions. Yes, huge game. 6-0 Vikings against the what? Four and two, four and two Lions, soon to be five and two Lions. Well, there you go. Woody's already given you a preview of what he thinks is going to happen. You can get involved in the show. We'd love to see you. How do you do that? They may ask that question. So we have answers. There's the phone number right there. You can text the show. Give us your take on whatever we're talking about. Give us your name. We'll give you a shout-out. You can also Zoom in. We can see your beautiful face right there. There's the Zoom ID number. There's a little thing that you can hit and pop right into the Zoom room. Listen, we thought we would just be talking games tonight, but this Dylan Larkin situation obviously escalated throughout the day. It started this morning. Todd McClellan, the coach of the Wings, addressing the media. Asked about Dylan Larkin not being at the team's optional skate. And he said at that point, Dylan Larkin's not at the skate. Dylan Larkin will not be with the team tonight. Sean Horcoff will fill you in. Before we heard from Sean Horcoff, who is the interim general manager for the Red Wings, we heard from Dylan Larkin's agent through Pierre Lebrun, the Hockey Insider, who basically said, we're done. We've been patient. Dylan's been a good sport. I'm paraphrasing. But he's not playing for the Red Wings anymore. Remember, Dylan Larkin requested a trade from the Red Wings at least in June, possibly in May. Six months, Dan. And nothing has happened. Other side of that. Other side of that is that Dylan Larkin has a no trade clause. We hear, based on what we have been told, that there were three teams on the initial list that Dylan Larkin said that he would accept. That list has apparently grown to ten. But it is still problematic for the Red Wings, as you're going to hear coming up. So that's where we are. Larkin not with the team, suspended without pay by the team, not with them tonight as they take on the Blackhawks. Now, within the last hour, Sean Horkoff did address the media. Give me bite number one here, guys. Let's roll in number four. This is where he said they are and what he said he's been doing to try to facilitate a trade. Since I kind of got the job from day one, I've worked extensively, exhaustively with CAA to find a solution for Dylan. You know, we've talked to the teams on Dylan's list. We've talked to other teams and taken calls from other teams around the league that have expressed interest in Dylan. And we just continue to try to find a solution that fits for both sides. You know, we have to be sensitive to Dylan and his situation and understand what he wants in this relationship. But at the same time, You know, a responsibility to our players in the locker room, the 22 other guys in the locker room, the coaching staff, management, the fans, to also do what's right for the organization. All right, let's get the complete Sean Horkoff picture before we dive in here and talk about some of the things that are happening, because he also talked about the impediment that the no trade clause has been. Again, what did that no trade clause equate to? What we hear is an initial list of three teams that Larkin would accept a trade to. So what does that mean? If you were Steve Eiserman earlier or Sean Horkoff now, there were three teams that you could talk about a trade with. If they didn't have guys you wanted or they weren't interested in taking on Dylan Larkin's salary, that puts you in a tough spot. We are told that it has now grown to 10 teams. But even with that, it has not been easy to facilitate a trade on the Red Wings end, according to Horkoff. With the teams that Dylan has on his list, it's difficult to get something done in a trade like this. There's significant challenges when you're trying to put a salary cap or put a salary like Dylan's into a team, trying to find the right pieces to give in return. Thank you. So it's difficult. How long it takes, I'm not sure, but I'm prepared to wait as long as it does, as necessary, to make sure that the return that we get is something that is good for the Red Wings overall. All right, you guys are rolling in with your texts here to the Motor City Hotel live line. Bet on it. Trade Larkin for a bag of pucks and move on and get rid of this cloud and bring Stevie Y back since this is where we were when he was removed. Dylan Larkin has shown his true colors. He'll no longer be welcome at his home state of Michigan or the University of Michigan. I would let him retire a wing. You can't do that. And I understand the emotional response, but here's the bottom line. This is an asset that the Detroit Red Wings have. And they need to flip this asset to get something for Dylan Larkin that will make this franchise better, because it's not very good right now. And you can't just cut him loose for nothing. I was talking to Charlie out on the set, and Charlie's a lawyer. He's like, well, breach of contract. And I'm like, Charlie, that's not what you want to do. You need to trade him and get something back to help the franchise. Woody, it is a time where you need to put the emotions aside and do what's best for the organization while still appeasing Larkin in his camp. We talked about this all summer long, Dan. It's franchise malpractice, what is going on with the Red Wings, okay? He asked for his trade request six months ago. Six months! And now, hold on, hold on. When he gives you three teams. I understand, I understand, but... Having heard that, you have to expect that maybe I should widen my net in the chance that I'm not going to get the haul that I want back. They wanted NHL-ready players and not a prospect. Still do, according to him today. Exactly, still do. Now, with the 10 teams that are out there, you have to be able to get something done, I think, in my opinion, because he also talked about the best interest in the team's long-term goals. Okay, is. Maybe Dylan Larkin expiring his entire contract amount because he's sitting out and losing over $41,000 per day sitting out here, 48 cents a second. Okay, is that what's going on here? It is some serious, ugly math. And right now I think that... That the wings have to go out and make some kind of deal, any kind of deal right now, as far as I'm concerned, to get this thing behind them and to move it on forward. They have young players there now. Let's get these guys going and let's see what the team is. You're threading a needle here, Luderman. You're trying to appease somebody who holds a hammer, which is a no-trade clause. And you're also trying to do something that you consider best for your franchise to maximize the value for the asset that is Dylan Larkin. But all of this has occurred in this umbrella, this six-month umbrella. What about a week ago, a month ago, three months ago? Something, something. There has to be a solution here where everyone's going to be reasonably happy. But making the fans happy. Well, you know what, at this point, maybe making the fans happy would be to maybe change your expectation and say, hey, look, maybe we get prospects instead of, you know, maybe we go that route. I think that's a conversation that they have had. I think that's a conversation that they have to have, because you have to at some point look at this and say, OK, maybe the NHL ready pieces aren't there. Right. As we were hoping they would be. And maybe because, look. As we discussed with Wojo when we were sitting here and we were saying, well, if you trade it for prospects, then you're right back to a rebuild. You're still in the rebuild. Exactly. You're still in the rebuild. You haven't made the playoffs. So it's not like you're rebuilding the rebuild. You just need to find the best players that are going to be the best for the Detroit Red Wings in 27, 28, 29, and going forward. And what happens if you wait? And it might mean being patient at home because you're not getting NHL-ready guys. It's a miserable position to be in. It is, Dan. And here's the thing. What if you wait? Okay, let's say they wait and see. I believe they have waited. What if the team doesn't do well? I mean all of a sudden then you're looking at prospects. Nobody's going to give you NHL ready players especially if the team is in the tank. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016. Get what you can. Get what you can. You need to get the best deal. And if the best deal is prospects then you need to take that. You need to do what you can. Look it becomes very clear that the The deal that they consider to be the optimal deal isn't there, or they would have traded him at this point. It was interesting. There was some nuance to what Sean Horcoff said, because to me he indicated they were also talking to teams that were not on Dylan's list. And if that's the case, then they have to go to Dylan and say, hey, look, we did find something we like with Team X. Would you accept that trade? I would accept that line of thinking if they're doing that. That is what I would be doing. It sounds to me like that's what Horcoff is saying. That's what I would be doing right now. Going out and seeing, hey, look, who else can give me a better deal? Maybe someone no one's thought about, and all of a sudden it's, you know, now we're how far into the season? You know, nine, ten games in, let's see what develops. But to sit here and continue to see this thing. Fester, I mean, Larkin's been here for 12 years. I understand him wanting to get out after nothing has happened. So, you know, accommodate the guy. What did Larkin think was going to happen? One of your texts here from the Motor City Casino Hotel Live Line. Larkin made his bed. Now he can sit on it. Wings need fair competition and compensation, period. Trevor and Clawson. The Red Wings are no longer a serious organization. This whole situation is a disgrace to what we once knew as a competent hockey club, Matt in Auburn Hills. Is this similar to the... Let me say this. Okay. It felt like a rudderless ship all summer. Yes. And this certainly doesn't help. But I don't want to put this completely on the Wings because the no-trade clause makes it difficult for them. But when you add to it the fact that Simon Edmondson is sitting at home right now and he's not here. And doesn't want to talk. That's a problem. Yes. That's a problem and it's not a good look for the organization. Do you think Simon Edmondson is looking at the Larkin situation saying, man, I'm not getting involved with this. I want out of here too. I think he wants a deal that he considers fair. And they're not doing it. You can bridge the gap between what the Wings think is fair and Edmondson thinks is fair is where you are. But To the texter's point, it's not a proud moment for this organization right now. When you have a guy that wore the C that is asking out and sitting at home and you're trying to trade him and you can't, and then one of your... Young players that you thought you'd be building around, and Simon Edmondson is sitting at home not playing for you right now. Those don't add up to glory days for the organization. Dan, I laughed a little minute, not at what you said, but you used the word bridge, and that was the kind of offer they were giving to Edmondson, and that makes no sense at all. Why would you give him a bridge offer? It's going to cost you more in the end because you're going to have to pay him at the end. So why not make the deal to get this guy in right now with Edmondson and get Larkin out? The guy wants out, get him out. As of now, no deal done with Edmondson. All right, that's where we are with the Red Wings. What happens next? Well, they got to work the phones and try to get a deal. What clearly isn't going to happen is Larkin isn't going to be playing for them anytime soon, nor is he getting paid, so we will see where this goes. We've seen his last day in a Red Wings sweater, I think. Yeah, it's done. It's over. Not coming back. All right, we'll take a break. We'll come right back. Dave Ross on the other side. Let's hit on some of the big games coming up this weekend. Stick with us. This advertising. So according to your math, $41,237 per day. So in the time we've been on, he has lost roughly $700. Pretty much. Yeah, $700 roughly. Something like that. Dan Miller money. By the way, as we bring in our good friend Dave Ross from V-CIN, Dave Ross, what's up, man? If you're looking at the odds for Dylan Larkin's next team, Minnesota is the top choice right now in the betting markets. Then New Jersey, then Washington. We will see what happens. Washington. Washington, we'll see, I don't know. No, no, no. I thought Minnesota didn't have what they needed. Minnesota's the team that we've heard for months, but nothing has happened yet, so clearly it doesn't appear that there's a sweet spot for both sides. All right, you can catch Dave every morning on V-CIN. We love talking to him about the big games that are coming up every week. Dave, what do you do with Michigan, a team that should have beaten Indiana last week? For a signature resume-building victory and didn't do it because their offense is miserable. Well, as Woody and Rich and I discussed last week, never a sweat taking seven and a hook with Michigan against Indiana last week. Never a sweat, right? Somehow they cover, even though they don't, you know, you can't even score double-digit points here offensively. I mean, I guess you could say you did hold down one of the best teams in the country last week in Indiana. At least you got it to overtime at the Big House. You're right, Dan. We're not in the moral victory business here. Certainly, if you're Kyle Whittingham at this stage. But do I want to lay 15 and a half on the road in Piscataway? Do we think they can score 16 points? 10 points. . . Therein lies the rub, Dan. . I mean, can you guarantee me that Michigan can score 21 points to feel safe about possibly getting the cover? Look, if you made me play it, which it's not a strong play, I would lean Michigan's way in this one. In that, it's more of a fate of Rutgers and what's become of them here this year, where they look like they're just non-competitive at times. I don't want to say they wave a white flag, but there doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of fight there. And if Michigan still is fighting, and if they are playing better, and that defense is still as good as it showed last week and the weeks beyond, it's going to be tough for Rutgers to score. So could we get to a 24-7 cover by the hair on our chinny-chin-chin? Possibly. It's not an overly confident play, but I don't trust Rutgers. I'd have to lay it with Michigan. Hey, I got home, and I cashed the ticket on Michigan by a half point last week. But it was sweaty all the way. You know what? Here's the really disappointing thing, if you're a Michigan fan, is that that defense is legit playoff worthy. Yeah. That defense should have you playing in big games in December and who knows in January. If you just had a moderately competent offense, but you don't, and that's a problem. And you can talk about coaching, but right now, At the most important position in all of sports, they're getting virtually no production from their quarterbacks. You don't even have good special teams. I mean, they're out there missing kicks left and right. Come on, man. It's terrible in Ann Arbor right now. And you know what, Dave? I'm going to tell you right now. I am going with Rutgers in this right here. I will put the money on Rutgers. Yes, I will. I will. I have a feeling that all of a sudden in Piscataway, we're going to see magic and it's going to be unbelievable. All the Michigan fans are going to be like sad cobras like, oh, I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Oh, it's going to be ugly. Woody, you're not going to go as far as to say you take Rutgers on the money line, would you? You need those points in pocket. Look, I remember, okay, a couple weeks ago, Miami was favored by 22 or whatever over Florida State, and I said, no way. It's way too big. The same way I'm saying this is way too big. I'm going with Rutgers. It's going to be a close game. We're going to agree to disagree, but I see where Woody is on this one. But I'd still lay it with Michigan, but I'm picking up what you're putting down. Yeah, you're taking points based on a bad offense. That's what you're doing. And you're assuming that bad offense will be more significant in the game than your really good defense. And we'll see what happens. How much of a step forward can Tommy Carr take from last week to this week? That's, I mean, is there, what's his learning curve? I mean, is it steep? I would like to see some better play calling. Oh, no doubt. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. That's another thing. Last week, don't turn his back to the goal line on third and goal. That's probably a good place to start. You know, Bo Schembechler was somewhere rolling over in his grave because you don't do that at the one-yard line if you're Michigan. You find a way to play big boy football and power that thing in there. I mean, and you know what? Take two cracks at it. And if they stopped it twice, shake their hand, walk off the field, and go play defense. I think that's what got Lloyd Carter to get out of the booth and leave his seat from the game. Woody's Hurricanes ranked number one in the country, Dave. Thank you very much. Take it on Bill Belichick and North Carolina. Yes. All right. There hasn't really been the signature win or anything for Bill Belichick. He's getting double digits in this game. Can North Carolina even make it interesting? I think so, guys, and here's the thing, and Woody, congrats, congrats on the Canes being number one on the Canes. Do we trust Mario Cristobal? At this stage of our betting lives. I mean, is that where we are, America? Not late in games. Look, I understand where he's going with this because Mario has cost us games in the past in situations like this. But this year, it's Canes all the way. The hammer is down, dude. No way do the Canes let up. It's going to be Miami big over North Carolina this week. Bet on it. First of all, I'll just say this. Bill Belichick was looking ahead last week when they were at Syracuse. There's no place like dome when you go up there. to the Orangemen, and you get beat there by Syracuse there. So maybe a little bit of looking ahead for UNC last week to Miami. I do like the points with Bill Belichick here. I think it'll be closer. Miami's going to win, Woody. Miami's going to win. But I'm taking the points with the underdogs here in UNC. I played the game on Madden, and the Canes won 50-13. We'll be right back. We'll see what happens. Bill might be looking at whatever's coming next for him because this thing doesn't feel like it's really headed necessarily in the right direction. Ask Jordan what she thinks about the game. I'll leave that one alone. Dave, is there a college game that has your interest this week? Is there anything jumping out at you? You know, it's really been so chaotic, Dan, week in and week out. And, you know, I really am kind of looking at like Notre Dame now after that first loss a couple of days ago. You know, how are they going to look now? Are they going to go out there and try to put style points on people? And this is the argument, right, guys, every year that we say, oh, they don't really factor that in. When you lose to BYU and then BYU loses to UCF and they only have really Miami on the schedule here, Woody, to make that good impact win. Quinn, I wonder against the other guys. If I should lay the points with Notre Dame because they're going to start laying out people to make subliminally their case that I test we're still one of the best 12 teams in the country. Dan, that's what I'm going to start looking at here in games not named Miami. Does Notre Dame absolutely go out there and lay people out? That's smart. I got 60 seconds here. Your team that you picked to win the NFC North is in Detroit for a big game on Sunday. Vikings Lions. How do you see this one? Lions favored I think by three and a half. Okay, guys, I said this last week. As much as I love where Minnesota is at, you know, undefeated, the last undefeated team in the land here, they are so fraudulent. I'm laying it with the Motor City Kitties. I laid the three early in the week. It's up to three and a half. That doesn't scare me off. Jared Goff's playing at a high level. I love Detroit this week. Unless Brian Flores figures out a way to turn over Jared Goff and nobody else has been able to do it. I think the Lions win by double digits. It's going to be interesting because that defense got the best of the Lions last year, and I want to see what the Lions do to counter it this year. Hey, Dave, good stuff, man. We appreciate you, brother. Thank you very much. Outstanding. Dave Brown joining us right there. Catch him on V-CIN every morning. Great information like this. Catch him here every Thursday night on the Sports Office. Take a break. Come right back. We'll close out this edition next. All right, this from the Motor City Casino Hotel Live Line. There you go. Hello from Canton Township. Teams around the league are making moves. Do you believe Brad Holmes will make a splash before the trade deadline? That's from Don. Obviously, this is coming off the fact that the Bears made a huge move today, trading two number ones to get Jeffrey Simmons. 49ers got Buckner. Dallas had already traded for Joey Porter Jr. He's a junior. I do believe there's a move made. The question is, how big will it be? Look, I don't know. To see the Bears get the best D tackle in the NFL Instantly plug him into that line. Oh, boy. It's big. There's no doubt about it. That tells you Ryan Poles is in it. I still think for the Lions, it's cornerback. Yeah, I would agree. It still feels like cornerback. I was talking to some of the guys out there. They also talked about a cover linebacker. That'd be nice. Which is something that they might do. But the corner is the key. Because if you can get a guy that can shut off maybe that part of the field, then all of a sudden everything helps. Something very important. The Lions game is on Fox. That game is going to be right here. You're going to be down there early. So 9.30, we're on the air on Sunday morning. Our pregame show is going to 90 minutes. We've got a big game coming up. But this is, look, bottom line is this. They're 6-0. You're 4-2. You lose this game, the math for you to win the division gets really difficult. Because they're three games up on you with one in their back pocket against you. So, the Lions have to find some way to win this game. This is a huge afternoon at Ford Field, and I think it is going to be absolutely lit. I agree with Dave. I think the Vikings are fraudulent at 6-0. Well, their schedule's been soft. Their schedule's been soft. They played the Bears in a driving rain, but the schedule's been soft. They have not faced a quarterback playing as well as Jared Goff to this point. But I go back to what they did to the Lions last year, and I simply say this. The Lions have to be better against them. Looking good. Dan, you notice I have a Milwaukee Brewers batting helmet on right now. You know why? Milwaukee's number one and Fox 2 is number one because they both have a Woodruff on their team. How about that? How about that? You like that, huh? Hey, that's it. Thanks for joining us.