Needless to say, Detroit Red Wings players and fans alike are eager to put last season behind them. A ghastly 17-49-5 record prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was the NHL’s worst by a large margin, and the lowest point total Detroit had compiled since the mid 1980’s.
Training camp for the upcoming and condensed 2020-21 NHL Season is underway at Little Caesars Arena, and the team’s heir-apparent to the captaincy is determined that something like last season doesn’t happen again.
“Let’s make sure to put the work in and make sure what happened doesn’t happen again on our watch,” Larkin said. “It stops now.”
For the Michigan native who grew up a Red Wings fan, last season was a difficult one – not only for him, but for all those involved. Of course, the ten month break between action didn’t do anything to help things either.
“It was hard, one of the hardest years of my life,” Larkin said. “Then you add to it sitting at home 10 months and thinking about it and all the things going on around the world.”
GM Steve Yzerman gave the team a facelift this offseason, bringing aboard several new faces while bidding goodbye to several veterans. This year’s edition of the team will not only look different, but will be experiencing a new reality as most NHL buildings will be closed to fans due to the ongoing pandemic.
“For me, you put a puck out there and put a Red Wings jersey on, and we’ll be playing games, it doesn’t matter or when,” Larkin said. “There’s going to hard circumstances all year from what we’re used to. We can use it to an advantage.
“We can get in a groove at home and then be a great road team and find a groove there. There’s a positive to it. But it will be different not having our great fans here. But there’s only so much you can do right now.”
The Red Wings begin the new season January 14 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
– – Quotes via Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News Link – –
