It’s nothing to worry about. Just a nagging ailment. They’re playing it safe. Erring on the side of caution.
Two games into the NHL preseason, Dylan Larkin, the No. 1 center for the Detroit Red Wings, has yet to action.
“Just a nagging injury - I wouldn’t even call it an injury, just a thing going on,” Larkin explained to Mlive.com. “It’s my foot, my heel.
“It’s something that came up during training, running. We’re trying to figure it out and get it settled down. I feel good on the ice. Just taking it easy I guess, resting up. I hope to play soon but I’m not sure. I skated today, felt good. We’ll see what tomorrow feels like.”
The ailment seemed to have settled down as the Wings began training camp in Traverse City, Mich. but it flared up again and they aren’t taking any chances.
“It was fine for a couple weeks before and then it started again in an off-ice workout we had,” he said.
Larkin has undergone tests on the heel, which all returned negative results for anything of a serious nature. While if a player is going to miss time, the preseason is the best time to miss, Larkin still knows he needs to get into game action in order to get his timing done and rebuild chemistry with linemates Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi.
“You want to get on the ice,” Larkin said. “It’s been a long summer. I think the chemistry, you still need to work some things out. I’d say everyone’s first game is pretty ugly. I just don’t want my first game to be against a National Hockey League team. “We’re working on it. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. I’ll be alright.”
Were these games ones that counted in the standings, Larkin would be suiting up and playing. But there’s no sense pushing through the aggravation for a preseason contest.
Larkin doesn’t know exactly how many exhibition games he needs to feel ready for the real ones. He just knows he wants to get into one real soon.
“I don’t really want to put a lot - I think we’re putting a little more thought into this than what it really is,” Larkin said. “I’ll be back playing soon. I feel great. I had a great summer in the gym.
“This isn’t an injury that’s going to hold me back. If this was the regular season, I’d be playing tomorrow night. I think we’re looking into it too much. It’s nothing to really worry about.”
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»