Maybe Detroit Red Wings’ captain Dylan Larkin did something bad in a previous life. He might have been cursed. It could be that D-Boss broke a mirror. All I know is that something must have happened to Larkin. I haven’t seen a hockey player with as much bad luck as him (except maybe Carter Mazur).
With the exception of the 2026 Olympics, Larkin has had nothing but bad breaks in hockey.
He came out of the gate fast. So fast, in fact, that most of his team could keep up with him. His mentor and captain had to retire prematurely because of injuries. All of his best friends were traded away in the promise of a brighter future. To top it all off, his injuries just kept coming.
No matter what's happened, Larkin has never stopped believin’.
"You just heard the song....Don't Stop Believing. That's what it is right now."
Dylan Larkin with his 3rd career hat trick fueled the way to keep the @DetroitRedWings in the playoff fight. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/ApmDATP10n
Detroit Red Wings captain takes his game to a new level
Injuries have delivered a hit to Larkin this season.
At this point, he even winces shooting the puck. Yet, despite the pain, he still powers through it. On Thursday, April 9, he scored his third hat trick of his career. As the team’s star defenseman Moritz Seider illustrates, Larkin puts the team on his back by carrying the team as best he can.
Moritz Seider: "That’s only 1 of 4. And that should be the message into our locker room right now: We need 6 more points and then we’ll see where we land."
— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) April 10, 2026
On Larkin: "He’s our leader. We believe in him. We don’t really care what you guys say about us outside this locker room." pic.twitter.com/JLvBFzOXfJ
Even in the darkest days, Larkin is thoughtful, respectful, and available for the media. No matter how many times a year fans and media explore trade avenues for Larkin, he pushes onward.
Instead of feeling down for himself, he’s dusted off every bit of snow from his pants and skated forward.
Larkin’s season hasn’t gone as planned, but he has still recorded 34 goal and 33 assists for 67 total points in 73 games. Some naysayers blame Larkin's production for the season's failures. These thoughts are coming from people who don’t care about context, the eye test or Larkin’s impact on his team.
However, we all know and understand the reason for his “supposebly” (as my aunt says with her air quotes when she’s being sarcastic, usually followed by her tokened laugh) down season. A bad neck, back, core, and knee will do that to a player. Not to mention the difficulties in a condensed schedule, travel to Italy for the Olympics, and all the rollercoaster of emotions that are a result of such high stakes midseason.
Larkin has given and continues to give all that he has for his Red Wings and his community.
Dylan Larkin is the Detroit Red Wings' nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
— Octopus Thrower (@OctopusThrower_) April 10, 2026
If he wins, he will earn a $25,000 donation to a charity of his choice. He can also elect for a $20,000 grant towards an event to benefit his cause of choice.#lgrw
Larkin's perseverance should be model for team
It reminds me of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. He’s literally given his blood, sweat, and tears (just like the tree gives up everything) for his team. Larkin’s gone to the darkest places with this team—pulling his team out of it inch by inch, yet some people still want more from him. It boggles the mind.
Instead of asking to get out of Detroit (I’m sure any playoff contender would welcome Larkin with open arms—especially after his performance at the Olympics and 4 Nations Face-Off), Larkin has continued to invest in his team.
They like to say the grass is greener on the other side because you forget to water your own yard. Larkin seems to not care about anybody else’s yard as he meticulously crafts his yard season after season.
There’s nothing more that I could ask of my captain.
Maybe folks should keep talking about trading Larkin or down of a season he is having, though, because it sure lit a fire under him last game.