From a points perspective, Dylan Larkin is no longer the Red Wings most productive player. These days, it’s Lucas Raymond who, like Larkin, enjoyed an epic run at the 4 Nations Face-Off. But Raymond isn’t ready to become the face of the franchise just yet.
Instead, that’s still Larkin’s job, and it’s one he’ll continue to work until he’s no longer in Detroit. As I said in a previous article, Larkin’s time in Hockeytown should be up if the Wings miss the playoffs again this season, barring injury, of course.
At this point, Larkin would’ve had enough chances to try and bust the Wings through to the postseason but had come up short one too many times. And with Detroit building its team through an effective prospects pool with the occasional blockbuster trade or signing, this team could be even better off, ironically, without its captain should they miss again.
It’s up to Dylan Larkin to break the Red Wings through to the NHL Playoffs
Coming off of a 4 Nations Face-Off appearance in which Larkin was everywhere to the point you’d have thought he cloned himself, he’s got momentum on his side. No, Larkin and Team USA didn’t win it all, but you can’t blame him and his efforts.
It was a momentum booster for Larkin and one that should rub off on every single member of the Red Wings. Should Larkin remain effective in all three zones, in scoring, playmaking, and in the faceoff circle, he’ll lead Detroit to the postseason, even if the team doesn’t improve come the March 7th deadline.
If not, then it shows that Larkin isn’t the leader we all thought he was and that the keys should be handed to Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. As I mentioned before, Larkin would draw interest as a No. 2 center, and one that would give the Wings even more young, NHL-ready talent in a trade with a true contender.
Will Larkin finally defy the odds and break the Red Wings into the postseason?
The short answer is this: Yes. The Red Wings have finally fixed their flaws under new head coach Todd McLellan and they’re only going to get better once those few assets come to the Motor City, in whichever form they take.
Still, it’s up to Larkin to stay healthy, play elite-level hockey, and be the leader the team needs him to be. Last season, an injury to Larkin hampered the Red Wings to the point they no longer controlled their own destiny and missed the playoffs. At this point, they control that destiny and they can stay a step ahead of their biggest competitors.
Heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off, they built a lot of momentum, despite losing that final game before the break. Still, they did more than enough to show their fans that, with the right system, they’re just as if not more formidable than they were in 2023-24. A top-three finish isn’t farfetched, but it’ll be up to Larkin’s play, health, and leadership for that dream to transform into reality.