Red Wings sign Dylan Larkin to eight-year contract extension
Captain and three-time NHL All-Star leads Detroit with 57 points in 59 games
Larkin, 26, has skated in 59 games with the Red Wings this season and ranks among the team leaders with 22 goals (1st), 35 assists (1st), 57 points (1st), 11 power play goals (1st), 21 power play points (1st), one shorthanded goal (2nd), four game-winning goals (1st), 185 shots (1st) and 19:30 average time on ice (4th). The 6-foot-1, 198-pound center represented Detroit on the Atlantic Division team at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game, marking his second-consecutive All-Star roster selection and third of his career. He was named the NHL's Second Star for the week ending Feb. 5 after helping the Atlantic Division claim its first 3-on-3 title, notching six points (5-1-6), a plus-seven rating, 14 shots and six takeaways in two games, including a hat trick in the championship game against the Central Division. Larkin was also named the NHL's Third Star for the week ending Feb. 19 after tallying eight points (4-4-8) in a four-game span. He recorded his 400th career point with an assist on Jan. 24 vs. San Jose, becoming the fifth-youngest player in franchise history to reach the milestone.
Larkin is currently in his third season as the Red Wings' captain after being named the 37th captain in franchise history on Jan. 13, 2021. He became the first Michigander and native metro Detroiter to wear the 'C' for the Red Wings, assuming a captaincy that had been vacant for two seasons following the end of Henrik Zetterberg's career in 2017-18 due to injury. The Waterford, Mich., native is just the second American to serve as captain for Detroit after Reed Larson (Minneapolis, Minn.) and fifth player to wear the 'C' under Ilitch ownership (since 1982-83).
Originally selected by the Red Wings in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Larkin has played in 563 games with Detroit and compiled 415 points (169-246-415), which is tied for the fifth-most among his draft class. He is currently tied with Vyacheslav Kozlov for 20th place on the franchise's all-time scoring list. Larkin recorded a goal and an assist in his NHL debut as a 19-year-old on Oct. 9, 2015 vs. Toronto, becoming the first teenager to play in the team's opening-night lineup since Mike Sillinger in 1990-91. During his rookie campaign in 2015-16, Larkin was named to the NHL All-Star Game and set the NHL's fastest skater record during the Skills Competition, posting a lap time of 13.172 seconds to break Mike Gartner's 20-year-old record. Larkin also made his Stanley Cup playoff debut with the Red Wings in 2016, contributing one goal and 18 penalty minutes in five postseason contests.
Prior to turning professional, Larkin spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2012-14 before playing one season at the University of Michigan in 2014-15. He was named the Big Ten Rookie of the Year while earning a spot on the conference's First All-Star Team after producing 47 points (15-32-47) in 35 games for the Wolverines. Larkin signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings on May 21, 2015 and made his professional debut with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins during their postseason run, logging five points (3-2-5) in six games. On the international stage, Larkin represented the United States at five-consecutive IIHF World Championships from 2015-19, totaling 34 points (10-24-34), a plus-15 rating and 32 penalty minutes in 45 games. He captured a bronze medal while serving as an alternate captain in 2018, and also won bronze at the 2015 tournament. Larkin also skated for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, posting one assist in two appearances. He played for his country at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, collecting seven points (5-2-7) in five games. Larkin previously helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with four points (2-2-4) in six games, and claimed a bronze medal at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with seven points (2-5-7) in six contests.
Dylan Larkin, Center
Born Jul 30 1996 -- Waterford, MI
Height 6.01 -- Weight 198 -- Shoots L
Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 1 #15 overall 2014 NHL Entry Draft
