The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin regarding becoming a father this summer, as well as his outlook for the Red Wings team:
Larkin feels just as positive about the Wings, with training camp beginning and the Wings aiming to end a nine-year playoff drought.
The acquisitions of goaltender John Gibson, forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton, and defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Travis Hamonic possibly weren’t the splashiest around the NHL, but filled Wings needs. With those veterans, and the continued development of young players on the Wings’ roster such as Marco Kasper and Elmer Soderblom, and Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson, the Wings are hopeful of internal improvement on the roster and in the standings.
“Just keep growing from within, and we made some good additions to the roster,” said Larkin, who was particularly excited about Gibson’s arrival to strengthen the goaltending overall. “With the young guys continuing to take a step, that’s what it’s all about. I’m excited for this year.”
What also gives Larkin reason for optimism is the relative stability of the roster. Sure, there were additions and subtractions on the roster, but nothing too major, and comparatively smaller than in the earlier years when general manager Steve Yzerman took over. For the most part, the core of this roster has now been together at least three seasons — some even more — and that should be a positive going forward.
“It’s Day One and who knows on opening night what the roster looks like,” Larkin said. “But we’ve talked about it, with the guys coming back into town, there’s more familiarity I feel with our group than in years past. There’s not as much turnover with the roster. It feels like more familiarity and guys have been around longer.”
Continued with discussion of John Gibson’s addition and Lucas Raymond’s outlook as well…
