Under normal circumstances, talking about your new eight-year, $69-million contract extension is an unconditionally happy experience. But for Dylan Larkin, there were seriously mixed emotions as he met with the media in Detroit in the wake of his new pact with the Red Wings.
While Larkin’s signing was big news given he was inching closer and closer to becoming an unrestricted free agent, Detroit’s captain was asked how tough it was to see core players Filip Hronek and Tyler Bertuzzi sent packing in deals for draft picks, even as the Wings linger in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
“Really difficult,” he said. “The position our team is in now, it hurts.”
Speaking specifically about Bertuzzi, Larkin needed a moment away from the microphone to collect himself as he reflected on seeing a player he grew up with on the Wings be traded.
“He was one of my best friends,” Larkin said. “I’m surprised [about the trades]. The last 24 hours is one of the hardest days [I’ve had] of the business side of it. Being excited, being happy, talking to Tyler yesterday and [him] being happy for me. [I] saw him this morning and he was upset [about leaving] and I am too.”
Larkin did acknowledge it was nice to put the contract discussion to bed and shift his focus solely on getting Detroit the wins it will need to climb into a post-season berth. Entering Thursday night’s action, the Wings were five points back of the final Eastern wild-card berth, with four teams to climb over to get it. “I can continue to focus on what I have to do to try and get this thing where the guys in the room want it to go,” he said.
Though Larkin may have been a bit blindsided by GM Steve Yzerman’s work leading up to this deadline, he did indicate the communication lines were open during his contract negotiations and the Red Wings boss was very transparent about what he saw as the long-term plan for the organization Larkin — a Michigan native — grew up rooting for to become a contender again.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations throughout this whole process,” he said. “We’ve [communicated] a lot more than I expected in a contract negotiation. I always understood what the plan is and I believe in it.”
That just might be a little harder today than other days.