The Red Wings release update on Dylan Larkin's health

UPDATE: Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde has provided an update on the health of captain Dylan Larkin, stating that Larkin will miss significant time and that there's no timetable for his return to the lineup.

From Coach Lalonde:

Read below for our earlier report on Larkin and the resulting six game suspension handed out to teammate David Perron.

Earlier this evening it was announced that Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron has been suspended 6 games by NHL Player Safety for his cross check on Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub.

Check it out:

More to come on this developing story.

Perron was given an in-person hearing with NHL Player Safety earlier today to answer for high cross check on Zub from Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Senators. The incident occurred midway through the 1st period after Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was sandwiched with hits between Sens players Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly. Larkin appeared to get knocked unconscious while still on his skates and then proceeded to fall face first onto the ice. He laid there prone for moments in what Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot described as a, "scary moment for everybody in the rink."

Perron, thinking he was coming to his captain's defense, then delivered a reckless cross check to Zub mistaking him for the offender on Larkin.

Here's the play in question:

Perron was initially called for a five minute cross checking major, which was upgraded to a match penalty upon review. Zub was not injured on the play and went on to play more than 20 minutes in the game.

Needless to say Red Wings fans are NOT happy with the severity of the suspension. None of them are half as fired up as Perron's agent Allan Walsh though.

Check out Walsh's take on the suspension and his ripping of NHL Player Safety boss George Parros:

I've gotta say...

I don't always agree with Allan Walsh, but he's bang on with this take. The fact is that there's exactly zero consistency and accountability with NHL Player Safety under Parros' direction.

Meanwhile it looks like Larkin will be out of the Red Wings' lineup indefinitely. ESPN insider Kevin Weekes reported today that Larkin's x-ray scans all came back negative (good news) but that there's still no time frame for his return to the lineup.

Check it out:

Joseph and Kelly each received just two minute minor penalties for roughing on the play.

Needless to say, but losing both Perron and Larkin from their lineup will be a tough pill for the Red Wings to swallow. The team is currently riding a two game losing streak and are losing ground in an extremely tight Atlantic Division. They're hanging on to a Wild Card playoff spot but the skin of their teeth, just one point up on the surging Tampa Bay Lightning.