Dylan Larkin talks about managing expectations and his Hockeytown future
By Nick Barnowski –
TRAVERSE CITY – When Dylan Larkin says the last 365 days have been a little bit overwhelming, you can understand why.
Life has changed a lot for the Waterford native, and it’s changed quickly.
After being drafted in the first round by the Red Wings in 2014, Larkin has played 56 games at three different levels of hockey. He enrolled in college, left college to turn pro, and represented the U.S. in two different international tournaments.
And as he continues his second stint at Red Wings development camp in Traverse City, the hype around Larkin has reached Renaissance Center-level heights.
“There has been a lot,” he told MiHockey following Monday’s development camp practice at Centre Ice Arena. “It’s come at crazy times. Now that the season’s over there’s a lot of hype, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
The hype is real, and for good reason. The forward was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after he posted 47 points in 35 games. He was one of the top forwards at the World Junior Championships, leading the USA in points with seven. He earned a spot, at 18, on the U.S. World Championship team that won bronze.
All of that has equated to a big summer. Fans would rather he start the season in Detroit instead of Grand Rapids. But the only one who sets the expectations for Larkin is Larkin himself.
“He is the one that’s managing the expectations, and that’s through his performance,” Red Wings Director of Player Development Jiri Fischer said. “When he got drafted last year, since then, he has evolved in a way that impressed a lot of people, including us.”
Larkin has guided himself through the frenzy. He’s his own biggest critic, and uses it as motivation. His work ethic, which Fischer raved about, comes from within. It helps manage the sky-high expectations he has for his future.
“I probably criticize myself the most, and I think that is what drives me to be the player I want to be,” Larkin said. “I try to focus on what’s next in my training right now. (Red Wings coaches) have told me to stay on track and work as hard as possible.”
His evolution as a player started in Ann Arbor, where he made quite an impact on a Michigan team that was a win away from a Big Ten title and NCAA Tournament berth.
Larkin said that playing for legendary coach Red Berenson helped prepare him for what the Red Wings expect out of their centers – a complete, 200-foot game, with the ability to move the puck up and down the ice while staying defensively responsible.
“Red’s attention to detail and the way he prepares, he wants us to prepare the same way,” he said. “Everything from systems and all the little details, like face-offs, backchecking, playing in the defensive zone. I think it’s a lot of the same tendencies that the Red Wings want.”
The 6-foot-1, 192-pound forward then made himself internationally known at the World Junior Championships. The U.S. exited the tournament in the quarterfinals, but Larkin was generally regarded as the team’s best forward.
On the biggest stage – New Year’s Eve against rival Canada – Larkin didn’t shy away from the bright lights. In the final three minutes, Larkin scored twice, each goal bringing the Americans to within one. Although they lost, 5-3, Larkin said it was one of the biggest moments of his season.
“After that I didn’t really look back,” he said. “I think I just thought that I can be one of the top players in the world at my age. It gave me confidence.”
He turned pro on May 21 and immediately jumped into the middle of the Griffins’ playoff run. Larkin had two goals in his second career pro game, and finished the postseason with five points.
“I felt comfortable in the defensive zone and toward the end of the year I was playing against some of their top players regularly,” Larkin said. “I think face-offs were a bit of an adjustment with the stronger players and the most experienced guys. Everything was the next step up.”
The seemingly endless season continued for Larkin as he flew to the Czech Republic to play for the U.S. at the World Championships. As the second-youngest player on the team, he finished the tournament with one point in 10 games, playing in a mostly defensive role.
Fischer saw him play three games live, and said he fit right in.
“Playing against NHLers, I think it gave him a lot of confidence,” Fischer said. “For any player, it’s very important to be part of their national team, representing their country. In Europe, playing in this tournament is very special for all the Europeans.”
His play on the ice changed during the past season, but off the ice it was life as usual for the Belle Tire product.
“The people who know me know I’m not that changed at all,” he said. “My family and my teammates have helped. Actually, going to school helped too.
“I’m still Dylan Larkin.”
Following Tuesday’s conclusion of development camp, he can still be Dylan Larkin – but with the chance to make the Red Wings in September.
The chances, this season at least, are small. He will likely start off wearing a Griffins sweater. Red Wings GM Ken Holland said Larkin would have to play his way into a top-nine role during the prospects tournament and training camp. With anywhere from 14 to 16 forwards competing for a spot on the team, he would have to do more than stand out.
“He’s going to be really important for our franchise moving forward,” Holland said. “We want to make sure we do what’s right for him and for us. If he comes in and he’s a top-nine forward then we’re going to find a way to get him in our lineup. Less than that, then we’ll sit down as an organization and decide. “
Back to work is the first thing Larkin thought about after hearing Holland’s comments.
“I have a lot of work to do,” he said. “I don’t want to be there for a few months. I want to be there for the whole season, if I’m there. I want to have an impact on the team.”
He wouldn’t be disappointed to begin the year in Grand Rapids, and neither should fans.
With expectations so high, Dylan Larkin seems to have everything under control.