The Dylan Larkin absence from today’s Detroit Red Wings’ practice prompted some folks to wonder whether this would be day when he would no longer be with the organization.

But it turned out to be a false alarm. It didn’t mean a trade was imminent.

Detroit coach Todd McLellan explained that Larkin was granted a maintenance day (time off to heal from minor injuries). McLellan said he expected Larkin to be ready to play Thursday when the Red Wings play a home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The game will mark the return of former Red Wings player Patrick Kane who left the Detroit franchise to sign a deal that will pay him $8 million per season for two years.

In three seasons with Detroit, he was an important player in the Red Wings’ dressing room and on the ice.

“Big impact,” McLellan said. “You got to see some of those moments, the big ones that the whole world was watching. Five hundred goals. American scoring (record). .. But the other impact that you wouldn’t have seen but we did was on the plane, or on the bus, or at practice. . .Having his little guy run around the locker room. That brought energy.”

Albert Johansson Out

Kane has one goal and seven assists for eight points in 12 games back with the Blackhawks, the team that originally drafted him.

While Larkin will play in this game, the Red Wings have other injury concerns. Defenseman Albert Johansson won’t play because of an injury he suffered on their recent road trip. McLellan said Mason Appleton and Marco Kasper will probably be sidelined another couple of weeks.

Injured goalie Daniil Tarasov may be ready to return to the lineup. “Tarasov looked good in practice today,” McLellan said.

His return would impact Michal Postava who was called up on an emergency basis. He turned in a dazzling performance to win his first NHL start 4-3 against the Edmonton Oilers in a shootout. He stopped Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to win that shootout.