Dylan Larkin is as important to the Detroit Red Wings as Auston Matthews is to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jack Eichel is to the Buffalo Sabres.
He wasn’t drafted No. 1 overall like Matthews or No. 2 like Eichel. He hasn’t scored as many goals as they have. His second contract didn’t reach $10 million per season as Eichel’s did and Matthews’ will.
The Red Wings’ fan base is rightfully excited about Filip Zadina’s scoring touch, Michael Rasmussen’s arrival and Joe Veleno’s potential. But Larkin, 22, is the foundation on which the Red Wings are being built.
“He’s very, very, very important to the future of this franchise,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland told USA TODAY Sports.
At 22, Larkin has been named one of the alternate captains. No one will wear the ‘C’ in Henrik Zetterberg’s first season in retirement. But it’s not difficult to foresee the day when Larkin will be the team's clear leader.
“I definitely think Larks is ready for that,” Matthews said. “He’s a great player and he’s focused. I think at times over his three years there, he’s already been the guy there.”
Matthews, 21, Eichel, 21, and Larkin all came through the U.S. National Team Development Program. If the NHL returns to the Olympics in 2022, those three centers should make the U.S. squad.
Larkin, drafted 15th overall in 2014, showed his leadership this summer when he was the mover and shaker behind an All-Star exhibition game of American players to raise money for a scholarship fund for the late USA Hockey executive Jim Johannson.
“Larks is super dedicated to hockey – he loves it,” Eichel said. “That’s the first thing you have to have as a player.”
Steve Yzerman is the gold standard for judging No. 1 centers in Detroit, and there will never be another Yzerman, who went from being one of the league’s premium offensive players to the ultimate playoff warrior.
But Larkin can be a leader in the style of Chicago’s Jonathan Toews. When Larkin was in his draft year, he drew comparisons to the Blackhawks star.
Toews has been a strong offensive player, but won't contend for a scoring title. But he did everything else to help the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cup championships.
“Dylan plays with a lot of will, passion, determination and pride,” Holland said. “He loves the rink. He’s learned over the past year and a half how to be a more complete player, to be more committed defensively.”
Larkin said he feels the same entering this season as he would have felt if he was still serving as Zetterberg’s understudy.
“I know the player I want to be – and that’s one of the best players in the league,” Larkin said. “I don’t think now that ‘Z’ is gone that it changes the way I want to play.”
He said the only change now that Zetterberg is retired is “I have the pressure to have answers.”
“Those answers come from how I perform and how the team performs,” Larkin said. “I want that pressure.”
He does have a Toews-like understanding of what he needs to do to best serve the team. He will have to show this young Detroit team the way with his drive.
Larkin said he is not re-inventing his game, although he would like to score more goals. He scored 63 points last season, with 16 goals.
“I thought I had a pretty solid year,” he said. “If I could have capitalized on more of my scoring chances, and I thought I had a ton early in the season…”
Larkin’s game is speed and relentless pursuit of the puck.
“He can fly and still catch players off guard,” Matthews said.
It’s possible that he could net 25-30 goals and push his assist total upward.
“If he gets a little confidence, he will take off,” Eichel said.
Another reason why Larkin is the perfect foundation block is he is a Michigan native. He grew up in the Detroit area when the Red Wings were winning Stanley Cups.
“I see the fans' perspective – the tweets, comments from friends at home,” Larkin said. “I love the city, love the fans and I want to be successful for them. But it’s different now because I’m on the other, with this group, and I want to win for them, too.”
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