Red Wings Strip Dylan Larkin of Captaincy in Pre-Camp Shocker

The Detroit Red Wings just dropped a massive bomb right before training camp, stripping Dylan Larkin of his captaincy. In the NHL, taking the 'C' off a guy's sweater is not a casual administrative update. It is a full-blown organizational statement.\n\nStripping a captaincy in hockey is basically the equivalent of changing the locks on your house while your roommate is still sitting on the couch. It is loud, it is awkward, and it guarantees that the first day of camp is going to feel like a tense Thanksgiving dinner.\n\nLarkin has been the face of this franchise through a brutal rebuild. He is their top center, he is healthy, and he has worn that letter while taking the brunt of the media heat for years.\n\nDaily Faceoff broke the news, but the immediate question is what exactly triggered this. You do not just wake up in September and decide your franchise cornerstone needs a public demotion unless there is a massive philosophical shift happening behind closed doors.\n\nFrom a market perspective, this is the kind of vibe shift that makes you immediately pause on any Detroit futures tickets. Team chemistry is hard to quantify, but a fractured locker room right as the season starts is usually a massive red flag for anyone looking to back a playoff push.\n\nNow all eyes shift to the opening of training camp. The media scrums are going to be an absolute circus, and the front office has some serious explaining to do before the puck even drops.