In collaboration with Upper Deck, The Hockey News will be covering the best active homegrown player for each NHL team. For the Detroit Red Wings, it is captain Dylan Larkin.
In collaboration with Upper Deck, The Hockey News will be covering the best active homegrown player for each NHL team. For the Detroit Red Wings, it is captain Dylan Larkin.
Before he had even played a college hockey game — let alone one in the pros — scouts knew how good of a player Dylan Larkin could be. More importantly, they knew how good of a leader he could be, too.
Way back in The Hockey News’ 2014 Draft Preview, one scout offered a bold predictin. “I love Dylan Larkin. Guaranteed player, heart-and-soul kid. He’ll wear a letter on his jersey some day. Plays with pace and he’s a powerful skater. You might only get a third-liner, but his work ethic is great. NHL coaches are going to love him.”
How prophetic that quote has become. After Detroit drafted Larkin 15th overall in the 2014 draft, he has blossomed into a renowned leader for the Red Wings. In 2021, he became the 37th captain in franchise history. When it comes to his play, Larkin has blown those conservative third-line projections out of the water by becoming the Red Wings’ number one center. His 506 points lead all Detroit players since he started his career in 2015-16. He also set an NHL record for fastest skater at the 2016 NHL All-Star game.
What makes Larkin such a remarkable player for the Red Wings isn’t so much the brilliant playmaking and his blend of crafty and quick skating — though those traits certainly help. Rather, it all comes down to the way Larkin elevates his game for his team as its constant heartbeat. He’s selfless, overcoming personal adversity to help his teammates through theirs. For a team that’s been in a long rebuild for the better part of his career, Larkin has been the one constant source of hope. He’s the kind of player that teammates want to play for, and more importantly who they want to win for.
Take it from David Perron, a veteran NHLer who boiled down the Red Wings season-ending, near-miss playoff push to a desire to get Larkin a playoff series.
“I think us older guys, all that stuff — that’s something we want for him, I think more than almost every player,” Perron said. “He's been through the whole thing. I don’t share the pain that maybe Larks and the fans have all shared over the last (however) many years, (but) we have to find a way to come through for them and for Larks.”
Larkin’s importance as a player showed when he went through two major injuries in the 2023-24 season, taking him out of the lineup for two extended stints. With him, the Red Wings were on pace to be a playoff team. Without him, they went 4-10.
For his talent and his leadership, Larkin is Detroit’s best homegrown player as a prospect drafted and developed within its own system. He’s also the best hometown player out of the Detroit area, ranking 10th all time in scoring among NHL players born in Michigan. The Waterford native and University of Michigan product has played the most games and scored the most points for the Red Wings by a Michigander.
As Detroit’s long rebuild is starting to come to a head, a number of other homegrown prospects are also becoming pillars of the roster. Those include Calder-winning defenseman Moritz Seider and last season’s points leader, forward Lucas Raymond.
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