The Athletic’s Max Bultman engages in a thought experiment today, producing a theoretical all Michigan-born NHL team. Bultman’s article is an interesting read:
There’s been an awful lot of stretching borders this week, as The Athletic has rolled out All-State teams as part of our NHL lineup blitz.
We’ve seen Washingtonians playing for Team Minnesota. New York and New Jersey forming a joint team. That doesn’t fly in Michigan, though.
Below, you’ll find the best collection of Pure Michigan hockey talent that can be assembled. It runs from coast to coast, from Holland to Port Huron — but not an inch farther. This team plans to lead the league in Michigan per 60, and to do so, it means every last one of these guys needs to be a full-on Michigander (at least as far as eliteprospects.com is concerned).
Listed below, then, are seven Michigan Wolverines, three Michigan State Spartans and two Western Michigan Broncos. Five of them are actually Detroit Red Wings (or were last season). They add up to the best blue line to take the ice in this state in years, and, while it still probably could have probably used another star young center and another scoring wing … it’s a pretty dang impressive lineup.
Continued (paywall), and here’s what he says about Dylan Larkin:
Center: Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Waterford Township, Mich.
2018-19 stats: 32 goals, 73 points in 76 games
Wearing the “C” for this bunch, Larkin’s been in Michigan for the long haul: from growing up in Waterford, to playing for the U.S. NTDP, to Ann Arbor for college and then onto stardom with the Red Wings. He’s also in the prime of his career, a bona fide top-line center who can play the toughest minutes out there. And on this team, he’s gonna have to.
