Red Wings Yzerman Addresses Larkin Criticism

Yes, Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has spoken to captain Dylan Larkin regarding the latter’s criticism of the club’s lack of activity at the NHL trade deadline.

No, he doesn’t plan to share with us what was said.

“It’s been talked about since the trade deadline,” Yzerman said. “Obviously, I’ve addressed Dylan’s comments directly with Dylan, and I will not elaborate on that in this room.

“If Dylan wants to share what I had to say with him, he’s more than welcome to.”

When he spoke during the team’s locker clean out day, Larkin expressed his disappointment that the team didn’t add more to enhance the club’s ultimately futile drive for a playoff spot.

It sounds like Dylan Larkin and the rest of Red Wings were discouraged by Steve Yzerman’s trade deadline this year. 👀 pic.twitter.com/8LltFTeDXQ

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“I think especially March, it was hard that we didn’t do anything,” Larkin said. “And then I felt the group kind of, we didn’t gain any momentum from the trade deadline, and guys were kind of down about it.”

Red Wings Yzerman Okay With His Trade Deadline Decision

Before taking questions from the media, Yzerman read from a statement he had written out that he brought to the podium with him inside a folder. It was evident that the Larkin assessment had made an impact. The usually forceful, confident Yzerman gave way to someone who sounded wounded and appeared more vulnerable.

“We did not obviously make the playoffs, which is a disappointment for us all,” Yzerman read. “Having said that, at the trade deadline, we didn’t make – actually we did make a trade and it’s been talked about a lot.”

The Red Wings sent center Joe Veleno to Chicago for goalie Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith.

"I've addressed Dylan's comments directly with Dylan."

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin sounded frustrated by Detroit not making big moves before the trade deadline.

Wings GM Steve Yzerman talked about the situation in his postseason press conference. #LGRW

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“I sit here today and I feel very comfortable,” Yzerman continued. “I can’t say I’m happy or I liked it, but I’m very comfortable with the fact that we weren’t able to make a trade that involved our top prospects, our first round picks, any of those highly valuable assets.”

Yzerman also addressed whether he saw signs of low morale, or increasing frustration among his players. The Detroit GM insisted there was no sense of those emotions during exit interviews he held with players.

In fact, he was suggesting exactly the opposite was emanating from the players.

“I don’t know if this is a good or a bad thing, but there was a lot of optimism, a lot of enthusiasm from these players, from the vast majority of players, about their relationship, the team’s relationship, response to the coaching staff, the way we were doing things and, and excited about coming back next year, even for our unrestricted free agents,” Yzerman said. “So there was a lot of positive feelings, a lot of excitement, a lot of hope from, from the players.”