Via Paul Kukla of Abel to Yzerman comes praise for Dylan Larkin as a “star of the weekend” from the Hockey News’s Adam Proteau:
1. Dylan Larkin, Detroit: Larkin and his Red Wings played three games this week, and Detroit’s captain amassed five goals – including his first career hat trick, scored Saturday against the New Jersey Devils – and seven points as the Wings won two of those games. The 25-year-old Larkin is on pace to score 40 goals and 77 points – and that would be career-bests in both categories (his current goals record is 32 goals, and his current points record is 73 points, with both marks set in the 2018-19 season).
Larkin averaged approximately 20 minutes of ice time this week, a sign Wings head coach Jeff Blashill trusts him to back up his desire to win by playing responsibly at both ends of the ice. In 27 games this season, Larkin has 15 goals and 29 points. Last season, in 44 games, he scored nine goals and 23 points. That ought to tell you how well Larkin has played, and why the Red Wings are technically in fourth place in the Atlantic Division. Yes, the fifth-place Boston Bruins are just three standings points behind Detroit, and they have a whopping five games in hand on the Wings. But after many years of disappointing team results, Larkin seems set to help push Detroit back into post-season contention.
The Red Wings probably won’t make the playoffs, but it’s sure nice for the team to feel even remotely relevant again.
