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Red Wings Need Larkin to Step Up in New Era

Posted on September 26, 2018September 15, 2020

DETROIT, MI – Dylan Larkin has suddenly become a veteran at the age of 22 for the Detroit Red Wings.

“It could be the first time I’m not the youngest guy on the team,” Larkin said. “That’s why I’m growing out this beard.”

The rebuilding Red Wings are desperately hoping the talented, two-way centre can quickly become a leader on and off the ice. They suffered a setback before the season even started when captain Henrik Zetterberg’s back injury ended his career.

“It’s a massive loss,” general manager Ken Holland acknowledged. “No one person is going to be able to replace one of the greatest Red Wings of all time.”

Schmaltz looking to take next step with Blackhawks

Posted on September 17, 2018September 15, 2020

CHICAGO, IL – While the Chicago Blackhawks tumbled into last place last season, Nick Schmaltz showed off the flashy skills that made him a first-round pick in 2014.

Another step forward for the centre might have more to do with his mental approach than any improvement on the ice.

The 22-year-old Schmaltz is focused on consistency as he tries to make the transition from promising young player to elite NHL forward. His progress on that front could have a big impact on Chicago’s success after it missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

“I think that just comes with maturity and knowing how to play that full 82-game season where you’re playing the same type of game every single night,” Schmaltz said Saturday after the Blackhawks’ annual training camp festival.

“That’s what the best players in the league do. It’s tough to do. It’s a grind. It’s a lot of mental preparation and work and making sure you’re taking care of yourself every day and come to work every day.”

The Evolution of Ryan Johansen

Posted on September 4, 2018September 15, 2020

NASHVILLE, TN – The hockey world was stunned by a blockbuster trade in January of 2016 between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators.

Columbus, in the market for a defenceman, swapped star centre Ryan Johansen for talented blueliner Seth Jones. Nashville was the perfect trading partner – a team with a surplus of talented defencemen but a need for playmaking and attacking capabilities up front.

Johansen had only a few seasons under his belt at the time but he was already emerging as one of the league’s preeminent goal scorers. Johansen scored 33 goals in his 21-year-old season (2013-14), and then followed that up with 26 more goals in 2014-15. Only 12 skaters would end up scoring more goals than Johansen over that two-year interval. His assist rates were quality, but not nearly as impressive – his 75 total over that two-year stretch was 33rd best in the NHL. Adjusted for ice time, he was 43rd in the league.

Cole loves the direction of the Avalanche and sees them as perennial playoff performers

Posted on August 28, 2018September 15, 2020

DENVER, CO – When Ian Cole was considering his options in free agency, the defenseman liked what he saw in the Colorado Avalanche: speed, youth and most of all, potential.

Cole, who signed a three-year contract with the Avalanche on July 1, said those three factors mean Colorado’s return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season is just the start for this group.

“I love the playoffs; gotten a taste of that just about every year I’ve been a pro. And that team in Colorado, we could certainly be in that situation every single year,” Cole, 29, said at the Chicago Charity Classic on Saturday. “For the most part, they have a fantastic young core of players. High speed, high skill level. Certainly, in my mind, they’re on an upward trend of getting better. It was a situation that I really thought that I could thrive in, help with, and hopefully help win games.”

Dylan Larkin’s new deal may mean he’s the next Detroit Red Wings captain

Posted on August 10, 2018September 15, 2020

DETROIT, MI – Dylan Larkin did some quick math: By the time his new contract expires, he’ll have played for the DetroitRed Wings for eight years.

His role during that time is almost likely to include the captaincy.

The Wings committed five years and $30.5 million to Larkin, who celebrated his 22nd birthday July 30. Larkin was deemed worthy of the deal, announced Friday, because of the growth he’s shown since he made the team in 2015-16, a year after he was drafted 15th overall in 2014.

In that short time, Larkin has emerged as the frontispiece of the rebuilding process, his inner drive drawing comparisons to Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg.

Red Wings lock up franchise center Dylan Larkin long-term

Posted on August 10, 2018September 15, 2020

DETROIT, MI – The Detroit Red Wings leading point-producer is now their highest paid player.

The Red Wings locked up 22-year-old center Dylan Larkin on a five-year deal worth $30.5 million on Friday. The deal has an annual average value of $6.1 million, some $16,667 more than Henrik Zetterberg makes to take the average annual value title.

Larkin had 16 goals and 47 assists last year, doubling his point total from the year previous after getting a nearly four-minute bump in ice time per game. Larkin is the best player on a team that came into the 2017-18 season as the oldest team in the NHL.

Larkin foreshadowed Friday’s signing earlier in the week.

“Something’s coming,” Larkin told Sportsnet. “I’ve told everyone I think it’ll be before training camp. It’s right there. I’m just waiting to iron out the details.”

Larkin will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the deal in 2023.

Christian Dvorak agrees to 6 year extension with Coyotes

Posted on August 9, 2018September 15, 2020

GLENDALE, AZ – The Arizona Coyotes announced on a Friday that the team has signed centre Christian Dvorak to a six-year extension.

The deal carries an annual average value of $4.45 million and the extension kicks in beginning with the 2019-20 season.

A native of Palos, Ill., the 22-year-old Dvorak appeared in 78 games a season ago, scoring 15 goals and adding 22 assists.

“We are very pleased to sign Christian to a long-term contract,” Coyotes general manager John Chayka said in a statement. “Christian is a highly skilled, reliable, two-way center who continues to improve each season. He will be a key player for us in the future and we are thrilled to have him with us for the next seven seasons.”

Larkin spearheads USA Hockey tribute game for Jim Johansson

Posted on August 6, 2018September 15, 2020

PLYMOUTH, MI – When Dylan Larkin was still a relative unknown in the hockey world, USA Hockey’s beloved Jim ‘J.J.’ Johannson was there for him and his family.

And now it’s Larkin’s time to repay the favor to Johansson, who died unexpectedly Jan. 21 at age 53. The Detroit Red Wings star forward showed he is speedy off the ice as well as on — quickly spearheading a charity hockey game that will take place 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.

“It was really Dylan Larkin at the men’s world championship this year who brought it up and said we should have a game to pay tribute to J.J. and raise money for a couple funds,” said Dave Fischer, USA Hockey’s senior director of communications. “He said ‘I’ll rally the guys and get the players,’ and in early July he started going the path of trying to get guys and then he said ‘We can get enough guys, let’s do it.’”

John Gibson signs eight-year contract extension with Ducks

Posted on August 4, 2018September 15, 2020

ANAHEIM, CA – John Gibson signed an eight-year contract extension worth $6.4 million per season with the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

The 25-year-old goaltender has one year remaining on a three-year contract extension he signed on Sept. 21, 2015 and could have become a restricted free agent after this season. His new extension will take effect next season and go through the 2026-27 NHL season.

“I’m excited to be a part of this organization for the long term,” Gibson said. “Staying with the Ducks was always my preference, and I couldn’t be happier. Living in the Orange County community with the great support of our fans, I can’t think of a better place to play. It’s great to be a part of the future of this team moving forward and hopefully bring a Stanley Cup back to Anaheim.”

Gibson’s .923 career save percentage is the highest among goaltenders to appear in at least 150 NHL games since 1955-56 (when shots on goal became an official NHL statistic), ahead of Hockey Hall of Famers Ken Dryden (.922) and Dominik Hasek (.922), as well as Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins.