World Championship scribe Julie Robenhymer penned an article for DetroitRedWings.com. Robenhymer speaks with Dylan Larkin, discussing Larkin’s desire to improve his game by playing at the World Championship for Team USA:
“Last year, I took away the experience of playing hockey and making plays and skating at a really high level and I think I brought that back to Detroit and had a pretty good year,” he said about the 16 goals and 47 assists he earned for 63 points in 82 games for the Red Wings this year. “I’m just trying to take it to the next level now and take another step further. I want to have a good tournament and end my season on a good note.
“And it’s not about stats. I don’t care if I score a goal the whole tournament, I just want to win,” Larkin said before this year’s world championship began on Friday in Denmark. “I want to come out of here with confidence going into the summer and feeling good about where my game’s at and where it has the potential to go so I can work towards getting there this summer and have a real good season next year too. I want to keep getting better.”
Robenhymer continues, and Larkin’s drive is…intense!
Well gotta give this kid credit for his drive to win. So much for all that hype about Abby being the next captain. I do worry about what losing does to Larkin, year after year. That weighed down a guy like Taylor Hall and led to poor decisions, both on and off the ice.