Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis praises Dylan Larkin as Team USA’s “secret weapon” during the Four Nations Face-Off:
Just about every night, he’s been consistently near the top in most notable advanced categories. According to SportContract, Larkin has an expected goals-for percentage of 64.0 and a Corsi-for of 56.5 percent. He’s doing it while averaging 14:29 a night, too. Larkin has two points in three games, with both coming against Canada to help USA earn a berth in the final. His 78 percent Corsi-for percentage against Sweden, though – USA’s lone loss – was equally as impressive.
But two things you can’t quantify on a scoresheet that make him vital to USA’s success are his speed and his work ethic.
It can be difficult to mold an all-star team together, especially with USA boasting some of its best depth ever seen. When Larkin made the team, it was to play a role. He was a good fit because he’s energetic and looks to make opponents accountable every time they touch the puck. Larkin isn’t the flashiest most skilled guy and not necessarily the one who’s going to score that huge goal in the dying seconds when you need it most. But you can throw him into any situation and feel confident about him, and that’s what you need in a showcase event like the 4 Nations Face-Off.
If you watch Detroit closely, none of this is surprising. Of course, you want your team’s players thriving in an event like this, but the numbers don’t lie – Larkin has made a positive impact. When NHL scouts talk about what they want to see from top prospects, they often to point to someone like Larkin – a guy who can score, but also do the dirty work needed to win. You spend more time away from the puck than with it, and Larkin truly makes an impact away from it.
Let’s keep it simple: When Larkin is on the ice, the puck generally makes it to the opponent’s zone. More often than not, Larkin has made the United States more difficult to play against. There was no better example of that than his game against Canada, with Larkin’s goal proving to be the game-winner. Larkin was arguably USA’s best player against Sweden in a game where the team wasn’t close to being fully healthy.
For good measure, Larkin has yet to be on the ice for a goal against, either.
