Dylan Larkin Expected to Play Tonight, Pending the Ultimate Coach Loophole

Todd McLellan just dropped the classic coach-speak update for Detroit Red Wings fans: Dylan Larkin is expected to play tonight, pending clearance from the doctors.

"Pending clearance" is the ultimate sports loophole. It basically means the coach has already written his captain's name on the whiteboard in permanent marker, and now the medical staff has to be the bad guys if they want to erase it.

"Todd McLellan tells reporters in Detroit that Dylan Larkin will play tonight pending clearance from doctors."

The Red Wings desperately need him on the ice against the Ottawa Senators. Detroit has started October with back-to-back losses, dropping a 2-0 shutout to the New York Rangers and a 3-2 grinder against the Winnipeg Jets.

Scoring two goals in 120 minutes of hockey is a great way to ensure your fans spend the third period looking at flight prices for a mid-winter vacation.

Larkin isn't just a piece of the puzzle for this roster. He is the guy holding the box so everyone else knows what the picture is supposed to look like. Without their top center, the Detroit offense has looked completely lost in the woods.

For anyone eyeing the board for tonight's matchup, Larkin's official status is the only variable that actually matters.

Keep an eye on the warmup lines. If number 71 is out there taking rushes, Detroit might actually remember how to put the puck in the net.