Inside the Article:
Listen, whether you like it or not, Dylan Larkin is a Detroit Red Wing for a long time. We've heard it all, “he's not even a top-line center…” blah, blah, blah. He's a Wing, he's always been a Wing, and he should remain a Wing. <Enter: “when the roosters are crowing and the cows are spinning circles in the pasture … DUCK FLY TOGETHER” quote here>. This afternoon, the Wings' former Captain and current GM, Steve Yzerman, signed Dylan Larkin to an eight-year, $8.7 million extension.
Why it matters:
As stated, Larkin is the face of the franchise and you don't let the face of the franchise walk over such small (relatively speaking) amounts of money. He currently leads the team in points, power-play goals, and short-handed goals, and wins 53.9% of the face-offs he's involved in. Offensively, he contributed a 4.4 point share, and is also a plus on defense for the Red Wings. Is he the best center in the league? No, but he's still a pretty darn good player.
Here's how the fans reacted to Dylan Larkin's contract extension with his hometown Detroit Red Wings:
Fan reaction: Dylan Larkin's contract extension with the Wings
From one captain to the other:
Did the current captain beat “The Captain” or not?
Then, of course, Columbus peeps are going to show their intelligence:
As we all are, Ashlynne. As we all are:
The bottom line: Dylan Larkin is a Red Wing for a long time
Though he's already been in the league for what seems like forever, Larkin is only 26 years old. The hometown kid is staying in the hometown threads, and that's a good thing. Now, thinking this is the only significant move that Yzerman will make before Friday's deadline, is a fool's errand. And, moving forward finding players to complement the Captain will be just what the doctor ordered to carry this rebuild to the next step.
