In a week filled with NHL moves, at least one man is staying home. The Detroit Red Wings announced Wednesday that they had agreed to an extension with centerman and captain Dylan Larkin.
The eight year, $69.6 million deal comes as a relief to Red Wings fans, as speculation mounted as to what the organizations plans were for their star player. Teams had inquired about the 26 year old captain, but no deal seemed to materialize. Larkin’s deal comes in at a slightly higher price tag than the recent extension Bo Horvat signed with the New York Islanders.
Dylan Larkin’s time in Detroit and beyond
Originally selected by the Red Wings in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Larkin has put together 415 points in 563 games. After Henrik Zetterberg’s career ended, the Red Wings were without a captain for two years. Dylan Larkin was the first Michigander to be named captain for the organization.
With the Red Wings still trying to build a core that can compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference, keeping their leading scorer through his age 34 season could prove fruitful in the coming years. Dylan Larkin leads the Red Wings in scoring this season, with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in 59 games.
This new deal is the latest in a series of extensions for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, as the team agreed to terms with defensemen Olli Maatta and Jake Walman in February.
The Red Wings haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, losing in the first round. Though the past few games haven’t gone their way, keeping Dylan Larkin should help their push for a wild card spot. The team may look to add depth at the trade deadline on March 3.
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