• As Larkin walks away from Red Wings, where does that leave Simon Edvinsson?• Minnesota's tricky situation with Quinn Hughes• The most fitting endorsement ever

Honestly, it’s for the best. 

The Dylan Larkin Detroit Divorce became official Thursday, with the team’s former captain informing the club he would no longer play for them; the Red Wings responded by suspending him without pay and removing his nameplate from the team’s dressing room. 

Of all the players who, last summer, asked for trades or said they wouldn’t be re-signing once current contracts expired, several sources said Larkin had the toughest time handling the blowback. While others blocked it out, got their wish or stayed away, he threw himself into the fire, hoping playing for the winged wheel until a trade occurred would calm the storm. And, I was told on several occasions that he was concerned how commentary about his situation would be received by his teammates. 

That said, less than one week after Connor Hellebuyck was sent east, Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, met face-to-face with his client and announced the player “had enough.” He’s not the only one.

Please God, use your omnipotent power to get Bill Guerin or Kent Hughes (or anyone else) to make the trade so we can all stop talking about it. 

One of my working theories is that Brisson/Larkin are aware of an offer they deem acceptable, even if that feeling is not shared by interim GM Shawn Horcoff. 

Anyone who covers the NHL will tell you things change with one phone call. But, as this situation went supernova, there was nothing close. Horcoff once again indicated he will act only when judging it to be in the best interests of the Red Wings. 

Complicating all of this is that some of the most interested/motivated purchasers are not places he’s indicated a willingness to go to. There’s an awkward high-school prom dance with Montreal, while Buffalo and St. Louis are also believed to be searching for the secret password to enter this party. The Red Wings have not been shy about asking for a larger tent. To this point, Larkin has not agreed — again — to expand his list of acceptable destinations. Some, particularly Florida and Vegas, seem impossible due to roster/salary-cap reasons.

Minnesota is believed to be dangling rapidly-improving Danila Yurov, another veteran (trade protection has me uncertain of whomst) and a Costco of firsts. But it is hands off the core, as the desire is to strengthen, not go sideways. Educated guess: the Wild seem to be betting that their best offer beats the best offer from any other team Larkin is willing to go to. Let’s see if the Red Wings draw anything on the river. 

Carolina is a perfect fit. An absolutely perfect fit for his game. But, are they willing to pay the forward for Larkin they weren’t for Hellebuyck? Right now, I don’t see it. 

The biggest challenge in predicting the end of this saga is understanding Detroit’s goals. Ownership is also extremely sensitive to how it is perceived, which is why I was so surprised that, a day after scoring a major victory signing Alex DeBrincat, it undercut Horcoff by saying they were still looking for a President of Hockey Operations. 

They badly want playoff action in their beautiful new building, but, as important as it is to get a good return for Larkin and for Simon Edvinsson (although they continue to publicly insist they will sign him), the longer they are out of the lineup, the more monumental that task.  

I try to look at everything as an opportunity. For 25 years, Detroit was the NHL’s powerhouse, four Stanley Cups, Hall-of-Famers galore. Every dynasty crumbles. This is Detroit’s chance to remake their group, add something fresh. 

Watch Horcoff’s Thursday-night media conference. HockeyTown is burning, but he’s calm. It’s not him I’m worried about. This was a rough summer for the organization. Indecision played a major part in getting us here. Larkin’s ready. So is Edvinsson. Are the Red Wings?

1. Teams I’ve heard took a long look at Edvinsson: Boston (although less chatter recently), Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose, Seattle. No doubt there are more. The talks with the Sharks are substantive, I believe, with at least one serious offer between them — an offer that was not accepted by Detroit, as the story goes. (That’s not to say the Wings were unreasonable.)

I can’t speak for certain about the Blues, but........

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