The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted an article which ponders whether Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin can become a Selke Trophy-level center at some point in the future:
As the Red Wings look to turn the corner in their rebuild over the coming years, the No. 1 thing they may need from their No. 1 center is to begin trending toward the league’s two-way elite.
Last season, the Islanders’ J-G Pageau (a well-regarded defensive center himself) said of Larkin, “It’s hard to play against him. He’s always on the good side of the puck, he doesn’t (make) a lot of mistakes, and I think that’s what makes him such a good player, both sides of the puck.”
In March, Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour, who won multiple Selkes as a player, added: “(We) wanted to draft him back in the day — it just didn’t work out. Everyone did. Why wouldn’t you? Because he’s competitive. To me, the talent is pretty easy to see. … But then when you add that competitive edge, that’s what separates guys from being OK players to great players, and that’s what he (has).”
That competitive edge has become Larkin’s calling card, as [Bobby] Ryan alluded to. And as he continues to grow in the NHL, it’s also the quality that can drive him to the two-way excellence the Red Wings will ultimately need from him.
“In the big picture, when you buy into the team game and when you become a complete player, it helps your team win,” Larkin said. “And that’s what we’re all here to do. That’s what I want at the end of my career, is to be known for team success. And, yeah, I’m still working on it, I still have a long way to go, but it is something that I want to take pride in and continue to work to be a 200-foot player.”
Continued (paywall)
