Red Wings must count on star center if they plan on making the playoffs

When a team’s star player isn’t lighting up the stat sheet often, it could result in a recipe for failure, especially when that team is a group that hasn’t seen a postseason berth in ages. Such is the case for the Detroit Red Wings, who have just nine points so far in what was supposed to be a year that would have seen them bust through their playoff drought. 

That player is Dylan Larkin, who, while finding the net often, hasn’t contributed to goals from other players this season, landing him with just five points and one assist. The good, obviously, is that Larkin has a 16.7 shooting percentage and is on pace for between 35 and 40 goals. He’s also been winning faceoffs, with 56.8 of his draws going in his favor. 

But Larkin should have been that player averaging at least a point per game, not on pace for between 45 and 46 at the moment. While it’s only been nine games, and that number will undoubtedly rise, there seems to be a correlation between Larkin’s performances and presence and the way the Red Wings fare on the ice. 

Dylan Larkin has been good but not good enough for the Red Wings

Dylan Larkin’s late-season absence played a big role in the Red Wings missing the playoffs and extending the league’s longest drought next to only the Buffalo Sabres. Fast-forward to this year and above-average play has once again set the Red Wings back, at least early.

While hockey is clearly a team sport, and in some cases the ultimate team game considering how much ice time each skater gets and its fast-paced, chaotic nature, Larkin is proving to be the team’s heart and soul; if there was a phrase for it. Right now, it’s up to him to start carrying this team more if they plan on earning that postseason berth. 

I don’t want this entire article to be doom and gloom, as Larkin is in the fortunate position in which he doesn’t need to completely put the team onto his shoulders. Better goaltending and the emergence of players like Lucas Raymond, plus supplements in former Chicago Blackhawks teammates Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat help, but none of the above is THE star player. 

That role rests only with Larkin, and it’s more than past its due date that he needs to start taking control of games and doing so now. The Wings can’t afford to fall too far behind and play catch-up hockey, and again, it’s ultimately up to Larkin to make sure that doesn’t happen.