In a recent countdown, the NHL Network ranked the Detroit Red Wings captain, Dylan Larkin, as the 19th-best center in hockey heading into the 2023-24 regular season.
Larkin, 27, is coming off a career year, scoring 32 goals and totaling 79 points over 80 games. Many fans, myself included, have often questioned if Detroit’s captain is better suited as a second-line center when the Detroit Red Wings become serious Stanley Cup contenders. It’s been a debate for quite some time, and it will be likely throughout Larkin’s entire career. Just remember, Sergei Fedorov had been Detroit’s second-line center behind Steve Yzerman for years; it’s not an insult.