Prospect Info: 15th overall — C Dylan Larkin: Larkin signs 3 year entry deal

[A1Portable]

I guess Ryan Kesler might be another good comparison, though this is the best case scenario imo.

I agree with the comparison to Kesler.

 

[bababooeyII]

He's Ryan Kesler without the douchyness. Seriously great pick

 

[Coffee Time]

I think this is a fine pick. Center depth is at a premium and with Jarnkrok in Nashville getting reloaded at the C position was important. I think he fits the NHL game really well with his size and speed combination. Obviously most of us over 30 will be dead and gone by the time he gets to play NHL games if the current Red Wing prospect development strategy holds, but future generations of Red Wings fans should be really happy about this pick.

Buying my unborn son his Larkin jersey now. What number is this kid?

edit: ouch. 19 and 39 (mantha).

 

[snailderby]

He's Ryan Kesler without the douchyness. Seriously great pick

Haha. Yeah, I really like what the scouts have said about Larkin's character. Half of making it to the NHL is skill and potential. The other half is character and hard work.

 

[A1Portable]

Imo, Julians system helps the players. I'm really not all that impressed with Boston's D. Besides Chara and Siedenberg, they're average.

Johnny Boychuk is a very good defenseman.

 

[ProPAIN]

Why didn't the Wings have Larkin's name on his jersey if he was their number 1 pick?

 

[silkyjohnson50]

Pretty funny him showing off the Datsyuk tweet. I can't imagine going through that whole process at that age.

 

[Birko19]

Why didn't the Wings have Larkin's name on his jersey if he was their number 1 pick?

Poor guy, I know he was probably not their top pick, but he must have been one of their picks, couldn't they not stick his name on a jersey?

 

[Henkka]

I would have traded down and drafted a defenseman honestly, DeAngelo was a very intriguing player that would have helped bolstered our D prospects.

Was there anyone who was willing to trade up?

You can't make trades, if there's no trade partner.

 

[opivy]

I was a little on the fence after the pick, after watching this and reading up on the kid. I am extremely happy they selected him. It's a bit rough not having his name on the jersey though, that was a bit of a bush league move on the Wings part.

 

[snailderby]

Why didn't the Wings have Larkin's name on his jersey if he was their number 1 pick?

I like Larkin even better after seeing this video. Seems like a pretty calm and humble guy. And yeah, the Datsyuk tweet was pretty cool. Also, of course Babcock is talking already about how the draft is just one day in the beginning of a long process to become a NHLer. Lol.

 

[Henkka]

The likelihood of this team finding two franchise centers again without finishing at the bottom aren't good. As other's have already said, they're moving the team to be more defensive-focused with shutdown centers on every line and skill on the wing. Think St. Louis Blues or Minnesota Wild.

Yeah.

what do you mean with boston model?

i mean when benning was asked about the 'boston model' he said he doesn't know what that means.

Boston model is contending without those "franchise centers" picked at TOP3 but with deep forward corps and great defensive center core.

That will work best with a salary cap on long run, when you don't have to hang yourself with superstar caphits.

 

[Shoalzie]

Going to get to watch him a lot with him at Michigan...very satisfied with the pick at that spot.

 

[Bench]

Going to get to watch him a lot with him at Michigan...very satisfied with the pick at that spot.

If he has a season like Pacioretty did that's when I jump on the hype train.

 

[Claypool]

It's a bit rough not having his name on the jersey though, that was a bit of a bush league move on the Wings part.

When picking 15 they had no idea who would be available. No sense in making a jersey for him unless you know for sure he'll be available. Even if he was the guy they wanted there's no guarantee he'd be there.

 

[Birko19]

When picking 15 they had no idea who would be available. No sense in making a jersey for him unless you know for sure he'll be available. Even if he was the guy they wanted there's no guarantee he'd be there.

I get it, but watching that video I saw a few guys drafted after him with their names on their jerseys, I mean if Larkin was one of the possible guys they wanted, it can't hurt to have multiple jerseys with names of potential picks on them.

Looking at past drafts, I see that we also had no names for Sheahan and Mantha.

 

[WesNichols14]

I get it, but watching that video I saw a few guys drafted after him with their names on their jerseys, I mean if Larkin was one of the possible guys they wanted, it can't hurt to have multiple jerseys with names of potential picks on them.

Looking at past drafts, I see that we also had no names for Sheahan and Mantha.

very good point. and they told Mantha beforehand they were going to take him.

 

[mindfly]

What's Larkins chance of making the WJC U20 team as an underager? (this tournament will mostly be 1995 born players but teams always have a few 1-2 year younger players even 3 year younger sometimes), is he that good?

 

[Henkka]

from that HSJ article.

"I've never seen this kid play a bad game," Wright said. "He may not have been the best player every game, but this guy, he drives the bus for that team, and a very good team. I knew he was going to be one of those guys that was going to be high-up on our boards. He was no. 1."

Helene smoking something again...

Jeff Finley said at RWC that Larkin was 11th on their draft list.

So maybe he was their number one guy, when those ten others at Red Wings list had been snapped before him.

 

[Brandel*]

Which would mean the top 10 picks were also the Wings top 10.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

What's Larkins chance of making the WJC U20 team as an underager? (this tournament will mostly be 1995 born players but teams always have a few 1-2 year younger players even 3 year younger sometimes), is he that good?

I think it's pretty good. USA hockey thinks a lot of Larkin, and he can play a depth role if needed. I think he'll certainly be at their camp.

Edit: here's the camp roster for Lake Placid. He's on it. So is Dom Turgeon.

http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/2014njecroster

 

[ricky0034]

Helene smoking something again...

Jeff Finley said at RWC that Larkin was 11th on their draft list.

So maybe he was their number one guy, when those ten others at Red Wings list had been snapped before him.

maybe he meant #1 realistic guy

 

[Brandel*]

Red Wings Central ‏@RedWingsCentral 9m
Larkin is just a fantastic pick. If he produces early in his freshman year, he'll be challenging for No. 1 on our prospect list immediately.

 

[ChadS]

He has a -93 born brother who is 6'3", so maybe he'll even grow an inch or two more...

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Red Wings Central ‏@RedWingsCentral 9m
Larkin is just a fantastic pick. If he produces early in his freshman year, he'll be challenging for No. 1 on our prospect list immediately.

That's a bold statement! But if there's anybody who's got the scoop on Wings prospects, it's him. He seems to be plugged into how the organization values their prospects. If they're this high on Larkin, that's a really good sign.