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Detroit Red Wings Extend Larkin on 8-Year Contract Extension

By Richard Jelinek

EDMONTON, CANADA - FEBRUARY 15: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings sets for a face off in the second period against the Edmonton Oilers on February 15, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Lawrence Scott/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA - FEBRUARY 15: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings sets for a face off in the second period against the Edmonton Oilers on February 15, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Lawrence Scott/Getty Images) /
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The wait is over. The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed captain Dylan Larkin to a new 8-year contract extension with an AAV of $8.75 million. $31 million of that is front-loaded and will come within the first three years.

Since the end of last season, one of the most talked about topics for the Detroit Red Wings was Larkin and his contract. Talks began after nothing was signed and if there was the potential for him to be traded then or before the trade deadline on Friday, March 3rd. The return would have been massive but general manager Steve Yzerman wanted Larkin to remain part of the Red Wings for his entire career. With talks continuing and nothing getting resolved, fans began to worry over the lack of news on a new contract.

Detroit Red Wings lock up Larkin for the next 8 years

Larkin boasted about wanting to remain with the Detroit Red Wings organization for the length of his career, to which fans agreed. Larkin has put everything on the line to help this team win, and even put his body on the line to block a shot when the team was losing. Dylan Larkin is the Detroit Red Wings and they needed him to re-sign in the Motor City.

This season, Larkin is leading the team in scoring. He has 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in 59 games. Larkin’s career high in points came during the 2018/19 season when he had 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points. Larkin could still reach that total with plenty of season still to go. He is already close to a point-per-game pace. For his career, Larkin has 169 goals and 246 assists for 415 points in 563 games.

Some of Larkin’s accolades include three all-star games, being the fastest skater in the 2016 all-star game (13.172 seconds), and the honor of becoming the 37th captain in Detroit Red Wings history on January 31, 2021. Larkin has been proud to wear the “C” since it was added to his sweater. The talented two-way center is a leader who wears his heart on his sleeve and is determined to get the Detroit Red Wings back to regular playoff appearances.

Larkin is not going to be one of the game’s elite centers nor lead the league in scoring, that is just not him. H is going to play Detroit Red Wings hockey as it is meant to be played. As he has shown in his career, Larkin can play this way and still be effective. He is a solid NHL player who does not get enough credit for the work he does for this team. One thing that does go unnoticed is how much he deals with when it has come to the Red Wings losing and not making the playoffs. He handles that situation with dignity and respect, never letting his teammates take the fall.

He is a Detroit Red Wings player for the long haul. Dylan Larkin could not be a more perfect captain for the Detroit Red Wings.

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