Dylan Larkin fights back tears after Bertuzzi trade

The Tyler Bertuzzi era is officially over in the Motor City, as he was traded by the Detroit Red Wings this morning to the Atlantic Division rival Boston Bruins (who happen to be running away with the NHL's best record) for a package that included two draft selections. 

It's certainly a difficult day for the team, who essentially pivoted on their postseason chase by becoming sellers ahead of this Friday's Trade Deadline following a pair of brutal losses to the Ottawa Senators earlier in the week. Bertuzzi has spent his entire career in the Winged Wheel, appearing in 305 games with 88 goals and 114 assists. And for those who have played with him the longest, it's not easy seeing him leave.

Captain Dylan Larkin, who yesterday agreed to an eight year contract extension with Detroit, was clearly emotional following this morning's practice session when talking about the trade that saw his longtime friend and teammate depart.

"It's really difficult," he said. "With how this season has gone, especially for Bert, but the position our team is in now, it hurts. He's one of my best friends....it hurts." 

With trades being the sometimes harsh nature of the business that is professional sports, the team knows that they must put their feelings on hold, as there is still work to be done. 

"I'm not gonna lie, you can see it's difficult right now," Larkin continued. "It's gonna be hard, but we're gonna have to come to the rink tonight and forget about it - not totally, but I'm gonna have to come back and play a hockey game, and the message this morning in our team meeting with what happened with the two guys being moved, can't really affect what we're trying to do. If it does, then we have to take our own time to grieve and do whatever, but we're trying to win hockey games now. That was the message this morning; it may take time, but we're gonna have to come back and be ready to go." 

Of course, Larkin couldn't let Bertuzzi depart without a little bit of humor. 

“He (Bert) didn’t always look pretty out there, stick and hair flying all over the place, but I always enjoyed that toothless smile”.

The Red Wings also parted ways with defenseman Filip Hronek yesterday, sending him to Vancouver in what was a rather unexpected move that landed them a protected 1st round draft pick in return. 

"With Fil going to Vancouver, it was surprising," Larkin said. "With Tyler, not truthfully as surprising, it was just kind of the way it happened this morning. But if you look at what we got, you can say it's for the future. We have a lot of draft picks now, and we can hope that they go towards doing the right thing." 

The Red Wings have to get back to work tonight when they host the Seattle Kraken at Little Caesars Arena.