The Detroit Red Wings will look to Dylan Larkin to continue to grow as a player, a leader, and star of the franchise.
Dylan Larkin has the makings of a player who will grow into the cornerstone player for the Detroit Red Wings for twelve plus years to come.
Larkin already the teams’ number one center will see himself sliding into a leadership role moving forward. A player that has often looked down the bench to Zetterberg for guidance and mentorship will now, be the player who young teammates will start to look towards for similar advice.
Larkin who demonstrated last season his crafty passing ability, to go with his fantastic speed has to find a way to see the puck into the back of the net more often. Larkin was only able to tally 16 goals last season. Larkin has 30 goal potential needs to increase that total into the 20’s or near 30 moving forward.
Larkin has yet to reach that star caliber level of play. Dylan Larkin needs to take the torch from Zetterberg and skate that proudly as the leader of the franchise.
Larkin will now find himself on the ice in all of Detroit’s critical situations all season long. Larkin already anchors the teams’ first line. He will be asked to be featured on Detroit’s leading power play unit along with the Penalty kill.
Depending on the development of Filip Zadina, Jeff Blashill may elect to skate him alongside Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha. Larkin has transitioned into a reliable two-way center, although he needs to be better in the faceoff dot. Larkin has improved in the dot every season but remains to hover around 50%.
I think we all expect Larkin to become the future captain of the Detroit Red Wings. That being said, Detroit, we expect will run with three alternate captains for the immediate future.