Detroit names Larkin as team captain
Waterford native first Michigan-born player to wear the ‘C’ for Wings
Waterford native Dylan Larkin made history on Wednesday.
In the long, storied history of the Red Wings, there has never been a player from the metro Detroit area recognized as the team captain. In fact, no Michigan native has ever been chosen to wear the “C” on the winged-wheel jersey and proudly stand up as the leader of the team.
Until Wednesday.
Larkin, 24, today, was named the team’s 37th captain in franchise history, according to a statement released by the team.
Larkin joins the list of modern-day superstars such Steve Yzerman, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom to wear the “C”.
Going way back Larkin joins Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Sid Abel as players to serve as captain.
Additionally, according to the team’s press release, centers Luke Glendening and Frans Nielsen will serve as alternate captains for the 2020-21 season.
Detroit opens the season today at Little Caesars Arena against the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m., FSD).
Larkin served as an alternate captain for the Red Wings since 2018-19 and assumes a captaincy that has been vacant for the last two seasons, following the end of Zetterberg’s career in 2017-18 due to injury.
The Waterford native is just the second American to wear the ‘C’ for Detroit after Reed Larson (Minneapolis, Minn.) and is the fifth player to serve as captain under Ilitch ownership (since 198283).
Larkin’s career has been exclusively linked to the state of
Michigan, playing his youth hockey in the Lakeland Hockey Association and with Belle Tire AAA Hockey, before spending two seasons with the Ann Arbor-based U.S. National Team Development Program (2012-14), one season at the University of Michigan (2014-15) and debuting professionally with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins during the team’s postseason run in 2014-15 prior to making the Red Wings as a 19-year-old in 2015-16.
In the team’s press release, Yzerman, former captain and current executive vice president and general manager, said: “Dylan is an extremely competitive and driven player who sets the standard for dedication and conduct for the Red Wings. This is the right time to name our new captain and we’re certain Dylan is ready to take on the responsibility. He will be an outstanding leader for us, both on and off the ice.”
Larkin is entering his sixth season with the Red Wings,
To date, he has appeared in 389 games, netting 266 points, including 107 goals
and 246 penalty minutes.
In 2019-20, Larkin led the Red Wings in points for the third-consecutive season, becoming one of just six players in franchise history to lead the team in scoring for three-straight years (along with Lindsay, Howe, Yzerman, Pavel Datsyuk and Zetterberg).
Additionally, he’s one of just 12 players to lead Detroit in points three-ormore-times in his career. Larkin also became one of the youngest Red Wings to reach 100 career goals, becoming the sixth player in the last 40 years to reach that mark for Detroit prior to turning 24 and, at 23 years and five months, was the youngest to do so since Yzerman.
Head Coach Jeff Blashill had this to say about Larkin: “I am extremely excited that Dylan Larkin will be our captain. To be named captain of the Detroit Red Wings is an enormous honor and one that Dylan has certainly earned. Dylan has the utmost respect from his teammates because of his work ethic, passion, care for others and burning desire to win. I have watched first-hand as Dylan has grown as a leader during his time with the Red Wings and internationally at three World Championships representing Team
USA. He is ready for the challenges that come with serving as captain and will be complimented by a great leadership group ready to support him.”
Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Larkin made an immediate impact after making the team in 2015-16 and was named a 2016 NHL All-Star, where he broke the league’s fastest-skater record during the Skills Competition.
In his lone collegiate season with the Wolverines, Larkin was named Big Ten Rookie of the Year and to the Big Ten AllRookie Team and First AllStar Team after racking up 47 points (15-32-47) in 35 games.
On the international stage, Larkin has played extensively for the United States, including each of the last five IIHF World Championships (2015-19), where he has collected two bronze medals (2015 and 2018) and a total of 34 points (10-2434) in 45 career games.
He also skated at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, co-leading the tournament in goals, and previously medaled at the 2014 IIHF World Under-18 championship (gold) and 2012 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge (bronze).