gretskidoo
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C Dylan Larkin (2014, 15th, DET)
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That's what I was thinking when I read that... a guy who never even hit 0.5 point per game suddenly jumps to that level of scoring pace, and people think he might be carrying Larkin?
About the whole dominating at his level and being the leader at Michigan/USA at the WJC, isn't he pretty much doing that right now? Sure, there is always something to improve upon and areas of his game that can get better being in college, but there are some areas of his game that he won't get better at until he turns pro and faces the tougher competition level.
I agree with the poster that said it is 80/20 odds that he stays at UofM. He has played well enough that they can have that conversation about him going to the AHL, but staying one more year at Michigan will probably be for the best. If he can keep it up next year, there wouldn't be any reason to send him back for a junior season, IMO, though, unless he really wants to make significant progress toward his degree.
drw02
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This is why part of me feels he might go pro. He's a 1.45 PPG player and rising as a freshman, what more does he have to prove in college? I don't think the Wings want him to stagnate playing another year against competition he is already above and only get to play 30 or so games at that. I think it really will come down to what Larkin wants to do.
Look at a kid like Jacob Trouba. Played one exceptional season at UM and made the Jets the very next season and has been one of their best players ever since. Obviously they play different positions and Larkin won't make the Wings next year on principle but he is in that realm of caliber of prospect Trouba was.
Look at Eichel, Larkin is right with him production wise, outplayed him at WJC, and only 3 months separates their birthdays and I can guarantee you Eichel will not be back at BU next year because he's ready for a higher level of competition. Yes the Wings are different than most other franchises in regards to prospect development but it's mostly by necessity. The extra patience is not needed with Larkin imo.
Exactly, the only reason why people will say "he needs more time, etc..." is because that's the way the Wings do things... If the Wings weren't as good/deep of a team or any other team drafted Larkin, there wouldn't be as much talk about him returning to Michigan. I remember reading this past summer that the Wings brass though Nastasiuk had a great prospect camp and such, and they though he could really help their AHL team and benefit from moving to the next level, and were disappointed that the prospect rules forced him back to the OHL when he is ready for the AHL right now. It wouldn't be unprecedented for the Wings to promote a guy this early, they did move Jiri Fischer from the Q to the NHL one year after his draft.
We'll see, but I don't think he is as sure to go back to Michigan as some seem to think. He appears to be ready for the next level in his development. It just depends on what Larkin wants to do... he might really want to stick at Michigan for more than one season. If it were me, I'd probably have a hard time not taking the money and going pro, but if his dream is to compete for the National Championship or something, I wouldn't blame him for wanting to go back, but I could definitely see the Wings wanting him under their own control in the AHL/NHL as soon as next season.
You guys are kidding yourselves if you think there's a chance Larkin leaves Michigan after this season. It's not happening.
It's certainly possible, I don't see why you don't think there's even a 1% chance
Eh, assuming he's on a full ride, an AHL salary doesn't strike me as that much of an incentive to leave school.
Especially considering he'd probably be a #3 center at best behind AA and Nosek (assuming he returns). Only way Larkin leaves Michigan this year is if he's on the Red Wings next season, which isn't happening.
MatthewFlames
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Regardless of anybody's ability to see into the future I think the reality is that Larkin should stay in college for another season two for his own long term developement
Paxon
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While I think it's much more likely he's in Michigan, why are you pretending you know what Dylan Larkin's priorities are? You say the only way he leaves Michigan is if he's on the Red Wings, but he would never be able to know that without first going pro.
obey86
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ricky0034
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It depends on if the Wings view Athanasiou as a center prospect, or if he is just playing there now because they don't have any better center prospects in the system. The Wings love the versatility of having many "natural centers", but AA always kind of struck me as a better wing prospect.
Regardless, even if he has a full ride, you have to think there is some incentive to leave school and start making money as a professional hockey player and the professional development that comes with playing in a better league. We don't know what his intentions are, if he wants the education and college lifestyle for a couple years or if he wants out of taking classes and focusing on his professional hockey career more immediately. I would think the Wings would be OK with him stepping into the AHL as soon as next year. He will likely spend a year in Grand Rapids regardless of when he comes out of college, be in next season or 3 seasons from now, and the sooner he comes out, the sooner he could be collecting an NHL paycheck... if he keeps his development on this path, he could be in the NHL sooner than other typical Red Wing prospects.
All that said, I think he is staying at Michigan at least one more year, but there will probably be talk within the Wings organization about the possibility of bringing him along after this year. I'd say 80/20 is a good odds for him staying a second year, and about 50/50 for a third year. I think there is no way he plays all 4 years of his college eligibility, barring something extreme happening.
I very much agree. He still has room to improve his play with the puck and the college game is a great place to do so. There are opportunity costs associated with pushing prospects forward too quickly.
For the record, I expect that he will leave after his sophomore season.
MatthewFlames
Registered User
Yeah, the list of players who have had careers ruined or stifled by going pro or being in the NHL too early is a long one. The list of players who's careers suffered because of an extra year in junior or college is negligible, in fact I can't say I can think of any (outside of the risk of a major injury before going pro)
drw02
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I doubt that. They would put him in a top 6 role just like they have with Mantha because that's what's best for his development. Larkin is more important to the future than Nosek, they would just move him to the wing.
Pulky is in the NHL next year, also think Callahan has a chance to make the team as a 4th liner...not sure if Ferraro comes back, Hoggan retires...so GR's lineup next year could potentially look something like...
Tvrdon - Athanasiou - Mantha
Nosek - Larkin - Nastasiuk
Bertuzzi - Miele - Porter
Bruton - Aubry - Campbell
Frk
Zengerle
The added benefit being we get almost our entire future roster playing together, getting familiar, creating chemistry, etc...
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I think it is hard to say a prospect's career was "ruined" by going pro too early... It could be one factor in a list of several other reasons, but it is hard to say a prospect will be "damaged" by putting him in the AHL at age 19... The Wings moved Tatar straight from Slovakia to the AHL right after drafted and he started in the AHL at 18, same thing with Jiri Hudler. Both of them are producing fine in the NHL now.
It's just kind of funny to me that people will consider Jack Eichel ready for the NHL next season, but a guy who is just a few months older than him and producing at a similar (slightly lower) level needs more time... I guess a big factor is the Wings can afford to keep him at lower levels longer and let him develop rather then rushing him, where teams like Edmonton, Buffalo, Carolina, whoever gets McDavid and Eichel, will have a more immediate hole to fill and can use them and afford to work though the rookie mistakes at the NHL level.
I still think he goes back next year, but I don't think it would be a problem if he came out.
Right, the Wings can, and will, move center prospects to the wing if they like other guys there more. Shoot, they are doing it now with Weiss, who pretty much never played the wing before in his 10+ year NHL career, because they like running Dats, Z, Sheahan, Helm or Glendening down the middle more than Weiss right now. Having too many centers isn't really a problem, but I would think they see Larkin as a future center that can make an impact in the NHL more than Nosek or Athanasiou.
Birko19
Registered User
This kid continues to score, he has 30 points (10 goals) in 21 games and from what I hear he's usually among the best players on the ice most nights.
Considering he plays a complete game and now I see he has some serious offensive potential, he probably would have had a shot being a top-5 player in his draft year had he not played on the same team with Jack Eichel.
Considering he plays a complete game and now I see he has some serious offensive potential, he probably would have had a shot being a top-5 player in his draft year had he not played on the same team with Jack Eichel.
BamaWing
Registered User
I'm ok with our center depth so let him come along at a slower pace or what we call a Ken Holland pace. I want us to get the very best we can out of Larkin which will be great considering we're becoming loaded with wingers.
Cousin has season tickets to U of M hockey. Tell him to look for certain things when Larkin is on the ice. Relays that information to me, tells me he's the real deal. Then relay that information to HFBoards months and months and months and months ago. Get ridiculed on the Detroit board. lol wut do u n ur cuzin no? lol im posd to bleave ur cuzin?
All of a sudden everyone is on the bandwaggon.
Now, I'm not saying I can predict who's going to be good with exceptional accuracy. My point is merely the universe that is HFBoards isn't as smart as they think they are.
All of a sudden everyone is on the bandwaggon.
Now, I'm not saying I can predict who's going to be good with exceptional accuracy. My point is merely the universe that is HFBoards isn't as smart as they think they are.
Prior to the WJC he was doing very, very well, but his game took off after that performance. His potential is certainly looking better and better, but talk of him leaving Michigan after this season is becoming unrealistic. Let's see how he performs next season as a leader of the team before anointing him one of the best prospects in hockey.
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