Detroit Red Wings centre Dylan Larkin has been their best player down the stretch. It has shown in every facet of his game. Larkin has been playing hurt, doing all he can to help the Wings end this current Stanley Cup Playoff drought. While it won’t likely happen this season, he’s put together a blueprint for how the team must approach the down-the-stretch phase in future seasons.
Centre Dylan Larkin Has Been in Playoff Hockey Mode for the Detroit Red Wings
In the Red Wings 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on March 6th, Larkin’s knee bent awkwardly and he crumpled to the ice in severe pain. Luckily, the injury wasn’t a torn ligament, and it was clear Larkin would return. But his body language since returning has shown us numerous times that he’s not 100 percent.
Credit Image: © Mickael Chavet/ZUMA Press Wire
Still, that hasn’t stopped Larkin from putting up six points and three goals since he came back on March 24th. While the Red Wings are a meager 2-5-1 in that stretch, Larkin has 28 shots on goal (3.5 per game), three power-play goals, a 52.1 face-off win percentage, and has landed 12 hits.
You can only wonder what Larkin’s game would look like if he was 100 percent. Would he have more points and bring even grittier play? Those are two questions he can answer if he stays healthy throughout 2026-27.
Dylan Larkin Has Shown the Red Wings What Down-the-Stretch Hockey Should Look Like
Unfortunately, the Red Wings haven’t followed Larkin’s lead. Some fans have noticed and voiced their frustrations. As Larkin is the current captain, the fans have a right to be angry that the team hasn’t fed off of Larkin’s energy. Still, Larkin has done his part to inject that energy, so you can’t blame him. He can lead by example all he wants. But at some point, the team must collectively decide to follow.
The problem is that there aren’t enough high-energy players on this team. It’s a void Elmer Soderblom could have filled. Unfortunately, the Red Wings traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins as they geared up to bring defenceman Justin Faulk to Hockeytown.
Hardly another seasoned veteran in the lineup has matched Larkin’s intensity. That has created a situation where the team has often looked flat. Or, in the case of their recent loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, couldn’t hold a lead in the game’s final minute.
Once again, you can’t blame Larkin. He finished the contest with two points, one goal, five shots on goal, and four hits across 23:20 of ice time. He’s quickly shown us that, regardless of the stakes, Larkin will keep displaying his intensity, drive, and competitiveness.
Younger Players are Starting to Get the Message
If Red Wings fans want any solace, it’s that a couple of youngsters are feeding off of Larkin’s energy. In that same game against the Blue Jackets, rookie Carter Mazur landed three body checks across just 6:55 of ice time. Mazur has a limited sample size. But early returns show he will be a gritty, high-energy player in Hockeytown.
Another rookie, Emmitt Finnie, had eight hits and stole the puck twice across 16:32 of ice time. Moritz Seider skated for over 29 minutes on Tuesday night, blocked eight shots, and landed three checks. For the Red Wings, this is huge, considering how well Marco Kasper has also stepped up the intensity level, despite not playing at the same level on Tuesday.
Those are all good signs for the Red Wings, and it starts with Dylan Larkin when the team takes the ice. Imagine a few more players like Finnie, Seider, Mazur, and Kasper coming into the lineup either from within or outside the organization. Things look bleak down the stretch right now, but Larkin’s leadership is still on display. Detroit just needs more players buying in, and they will eventually break this playoff drought.
Main Photo: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images
