Coming off his best season in the NHL, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is "pretty confident" in signing an extension with Detroit this summer -- and GM Steve Yzerman would like to get one done.
"I do think it was (my best season)," Larkin said Tuesday after finishing with 31 goals and 69 points in 71 games. "I felt at times I could take over a game and be a big difference-maker. I hadn't had that feeling in a while. It's confidence."
Larkin has one year remaining on the five-year, $30.5 million deal he signed with the Wings in 2018. He rebounded in a big way this season after sinking to offensive lows a year ago, reestablishing himself as a No. 1 center in the NHL. Yzerman intends to re-sign Larkin before he hits unrestricted free agency next summer; both sides would rather check that box this summer than carry a cloud of uncertainty into next season.
"I haven't been in this position with Steve, so I'm excited to see what he has to say and I'd really like something to get done," said Larkin, who turns 26 in July. "I've just been talking with my agent, so I don't know if there's been conversation yet. We're just kind of waiting to hear."
No doubt, the losing in Detroit has taken a toll on Larkin. He acknowledged the "frustration" of "being in this position again:" the Red Wings just missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season, the second longest drought in franchise history. It might be another year or two before they return. That would drive some players out of town, but Larkin, the homegrown captain of his childhood team, said he can't envision himself playing anywhere else.
"As I've gotten older and more experienced in the league, I've really seen it firsthand with some of my past teammates and friends that have learned the business side of the game, and I'm fortunate enough to be here just finishing my seventh season," he said. "I really love being a Red Wing and being the captain of the team and I think this team is going to do special things in the near future. So I don't really envision myself being anywhere else. I also do understand there's a business side of hockey, but to answer your question, no."
Larkin is also committed to the Wings because he believes in Yzerman's vision for the team. It began to come to fruition this season with the arrival of recent first-round picks Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, two of the top rookies in the league. A couple more should arrive next season, headlined by 2021 sixth overall pick Simon Edvinsson. Yzerman also wants to be "more aggressive" in free agency this summer to push the Wings closer to the playoffs in 2023.
"Reflecting on the season, I believe that we're in a better spot today than we were a couple years ago," Larkin said. "For the last number of years we've just been acquiring a lot of draft picks (in trades) and it gets frustrating when you lose NHL players and don't get anything in return. To now finally see the Lucas Raymonds and the Mo Seiders come into our lineup, it certainly gives me hope for the future because they're really good players, really good people, really high-character guys. Now that they're starting to arrive, it makes me excited and more optimistic about the future, absolutely."
At the same time, Larkin doesn't want to wait much longer. His message to a number of his young teammates as they departed for the summer was that "next year, we have to start taking this thing over." That is, it's not all about the next wave of players.
"I think I have been patient and continue to have patience, but also want guys to know and try to lead by example in the way of, we can try and change this ourselves as well," Larkin said. "One guy can't do it, but you get a good core of guys, we can start to really move this thing in the right direction."
Larkin's season ended prematurely for the second year in a row after he underwent core muscle surgery last month. But he said Tuesday he feels good, "the surgery was a success and I will be ready for the start of training camp." On the other hand, Larkin feels poorly about his longtime coach Jeff Blashill losing his job, a reflection of the organization's unpleasant reality. The Wings still have a ways to go.
"It's a tough feeling. You don't want to see anyone get fired," Larkin said. "It's just another emotion for another disappointing end to the season. We don't want to continue to be in this spot much longer. I think everyone heard what Steve had to say yesterday, they're looking for different answers, and it's a bit of a wake-up call for us again (as players)."
There are better days on the horizon for the Red Wings, and a new contract coming for their captain. Their former captain is trying to lead them back to where they belong, and Larkin intends to be one of the forces that gets them there.
"I do understand what Steve is trying to do and what the end goal is, and that's to win the Stanley Cup for the city of Detroit," Larkin said. "I believe in that and I'm excited for the future."
