Of note from Team USA’s website ahead of the Americans’ final game of round-robin play at the World Championship, tomorrow morning against Finland (6 AM EDT on the NHL Network):
LARKIN SETS U.S. RECORD, KANE TIES ANOTHER
With assists in last night’s 9-3 victory over Norway, alternate captain Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) set a new U.S. record and captain Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) tied a U.S. record in Men’s World Championship play. With two assists last night, Larkin set a new U.S. career record for most assists in Men’s World Championship play with 21. Right behind him is Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.), whose assist last night gives him 20 all-time now. Additionally, Kane’s assist gave him his 10th in the tournament, matching Max Pacioretty (2012) and Craig Smith (2013) for most assists by a U.S. player in a single men’s world championship.GAUDREAU, LARKIN EYE JOHNSON’S ALL-TIME POINTS RECORD
All-time, forward Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) has now tallied 29 career points (9-20) in 22 Men’s World Championship games, which is tied with Paul Coppo for fourth all-time. Just behind him is alternate captain Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.), who holds 28 points (7-11) and is tied with Dustin Brown and Bob Miller for fifth. The record for most career points by a U.S. player in Men’s World Championship history is Mark Johnson, 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team gold medalist, who tallied 33 (15-18) in 61 games.
Sort of a Crash Davis situation, huh? Overtaking Johnson would be a tremendous achievement and is something to be very, very proud of, but at the same time, you were available to play in the World Championships a lot, which meant you weren’t playing in the NHL playoffs…
It’s like how Yzerman used to rack up points for Canada because the Wings either missed the playoffs or would be first round fodder. Not a record to be super proud of.
And why shouldn’t he be proud of the record? It’s an accomplishment that any player should be proud of regardless if they made the playoffs with their respective NHL team or not.
Furthermore if your child won the 100m dash, wouldn’t you want him/her to be proud of that? Or would you say “hmmm it’s not the Olympics, nothing to be proud of kiddo”?
It has nothing to do with Olympics versus World’s. The issue is…the only way to participate in the World’s is if your primary hockey team failed. That’s not all Larkins fault. Just like it wasn’t all Yzerman’s fault or Sundin’s fault for being there so often. Ryan Smith once said that although he was proud of what he did for Canada, it was slightly embarrassing that he was playing year after year.
So your example of the 100m dash isn’t really comparable. Unless it’s a race where all the good countries don’t send their athletes. But you beat out those guys from Fiji and Nepal. So good job son!
“….it was slightly embarrassing that he was playing year after year.”
Do you know that as a fact about Ryan or are you making a judgment?
Wow! Benzo! I had no idea your kid was fast enough to compete with men from “2nd rate” countries!
Achievement nothing to be ashamed of at all. Points record demonstrates individual ability and missing the playoffs just proves someone played on a poor team.
In this case, Larkin was caught in the era after the win streak and four cups. No one stays on top forever.
Homey, I totally agree. If a competitor has something to compete for then they are going for it. Once an athlete slips into complacency it usually means they have given up and are going through the motions. A real competitor will look at being in the Worlds as motivation to make his NHL team better and to work harder the next season. I am glad the Wings have someone like Larkin to show other players what it takes to get better and to be a winner – Great Draft Pick.
I am glad Larkin is using this opportunity to grow his game. It clearly helped him last season.