I'm sorry but not being able to "control the pace of the game" is such a lame analysis. What's the point of slowing down when you can fly around effortlessly creating chaos and scoring goals? His pace is very high tempo and it is extremely effective... ala Sydney Crosby or Tyler Johnson. He is an elite skater that uses every inch of ice you give him to his advantage. I would really like to hear why slowing the pace down is such a vital aspect to becoming a franchise player. He doesn't have to be just like Toews or Kopitar to develop into just as impactful of a player. It's worked for him at every level he's played at and it is looking pretty good in Detroit too.
If you really have to ask that, I recommend you to re-read my post. With care.
ok....
Toews isn't an exceptionally creative player.
Players don't need to slow the game down to be franchise players. I don't know where you learned this nonsense.
Okay, you got me there. I should have said "really" instead of "exceptional", because I agree that Toews isn't exceptionally creative while he can be defined as "creative", though.
Still doesn't really make the difference. So far I haven't really noticed anything in Larkin games (on any level) that indicates that he is going to control the pace. Can he develop that? Of course. It is really rare to see one develop it in NHL if he hasn't really done it before. I think so.
He's saying that because he isn't Toews that he doesn't have franchise center potential. That's the silly part.
No prospect is a surefire franchise center. Not Eichel. Not McDavid. I don't think anyone's saying that it's guaranteed, but he has as good of a chance as anyone. It has nothing to do with his playing style.
No, I'm saying that he isn't like those mentioned guys because IMO he has never really showed the ability to control the game...
It's totally okay to think that you can be a franchise center without that ability. I just don't really can name any outside of Crosby (and he can do it as well in some extent).
And yes, even calling Eichel or McDavid surefire franchise players is just stupid. I think you can legitimately believe that without any serious injuries both of those will be, but you never now for sure.
I'm not really sure what would fit your definition of 'slowing the game down' or 'controling the pace' here. I thought his play when he assisted Abdelkader's goal against Toronto was a good example though.
I see him rushing the puck to to the o-zone and getting himself in the corner and winning a battle and coming from the corner with the puck. That's not exactly slowing the game down. Slowing the game down doesn't have to happen on o-zone. But
It might be that I'm not making myself too clear (because it is pretty hard to describe it with just words). And it is really difficult to show that without actually watching a full game and pointing situation's and times. Because those moments don't usually get caught on highlights.
But again, not sure what you're looking for. Part of what 'controlling the pace' means is getting the game to go at the speed you're most comfortable in. For guys like Datsyuk and Kane, that means slowing things down. When the game is slow, they have more time and space to operate. For a guy like Larkin, that means pushing the pace. When the game is fast, few players keep up with him.
No, it's a lot more than getting the game to go at the speed
you're comfortable in. That's what makes the difference between good or great players and franchise players. They understand the game deeply, and they know when they have to or should change the pace - not because they can or not sustain with it, but because their teams will benefit from it - not just him or his linemates.