Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin Shows Why He’s The Captain

Dylan Larkin is one of the few scoring goals. He’s always in the front of the media answering the tough questions. Heck, he’s even dropped the gloves this year–adding more backstory to his long friendship with Zach Werenski.

If there was any question of another Detroit Red Wing player wearing the “C”, Larkin extinguished those doubts with just a few weeks of hockey.

The Red Wings Were Lucky Larkin Was Still Available

When he was selected 15th overall in the 2014 draft, few envisioned he would become the Red Wings’ next captain. Many expected a good player, one that would have stay power in the lineup, but it wouldn’t be very long before Larkin would demonstrate his dominance at Michigan and then as a Detroit Red Wing. He scored in his first game as a Red Wing, won the fastest skater competition at the All-Star game, and tallied 23 goals in that first season. Hockeytown’s hometown kid would only get better.

The whispers naming him the next captain only got louder when Henrik Zetterberg was forced to step away from the game in 2018 due to his back injury. It was paused as Steve Yzerman took hold, but there was no doubt that last season, Larkin embraced the role as defacto Captain without wearing the C on his sweater.

That brings us to this year. As the Red Wings took a beating at the hands of the Blackhawks not once, but twice, it was Larkin on the ice buzzing around creating chances. On Friday, he roofed the only Wings goal on a play he created himself.

Even if you watch his celebration after his goal, it’s similar to those you saw about twenty years ago with another familiar face who made wearing the C and institution in Detroit. Yzerman’s celebrations would involve his teammates and serve as a moment to inspire them on. One that comes to mind against Vancouver during Game 3 of the 2002 quarterfinals down 2-0. Yzerman scored a goal, nodded his head at his teammates in a way of letting them know it was just the beginning of their comeback.

Reading Larkin’s body language after scoring that goal Friday night said the same. While the result wasn’t the same, it’s only a matter of time before it’s trending the other way to glory.

Although the team sputtered a bit after the 2-2 start, you can see that Larkin embodies the spirit needed to gut out games even when they’re not going the right way. In six game this season, Larkin is a point-per-game with three goals and three assists. It’s not a reach to think he could finish the season on that pace.

Imagine his impact when the Yzerplan is in full bloom.