‘Here to stay’ - Red Wings, Larkin agree to long-term extension

DETROIT (WILX) - One of the biggest storylines leading up to the NHL trade deadline has come to an end.

The Detroit Red Wings and captain Dylan Larkin have agreed to an eight-year extension with an AAV of $8.7 million according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.

Larkin has been a key piece in the team’s “rebuilding,” something that is the foundation of the “Yzerplan” being led by Executive Vice President & General Manager Steve Yzerman.

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The legendary Wings captain took over in 2019, four years into Larkin’s tenure in Detroit. The Waterford native was named captain on Jan. 13, 2021, the 37th team captain in franchise history.

Larkin, 26, has been on the ice for all 59 games of the Red Wings’ season so far and leads the team in over half a dozen stats:

Goals - 22 (1st)
Assists - 35 (1st)
Points 57 (1st)
Power Play Goals - 11 (1st)
Power Play Points - 21 (1st)
Game Winning goals - 4 (1st)
Shots - 185 (1st)

He also has one short-handed goal and an average time on ice of 19:30.

Last month, the center was the lone Red Wing at the NHL All-Star game, his second consecutive appearance on an All-Star roster and his third appearance overall.

Larkin was selected by Detroit in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, 15th overall. He spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program (2012-14) and one season with the Red Berenson-led University of Michigan (2014-15).

With the NHL trade deadline on Friday, the Red Wings have opted to retain players already on the roster, including signing two players to extensions in the past two days. On Tuesday, defenseman Jake Walman signed a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.4 million.

“I’ve always said I like to play where I’m wanted and I feel wanted here in Detroit. Not just by the coaches and teammates, but the city of Detroit. It’s been great,” Walman told reporters while the Red Wings were at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre for back-to-back games against the Senators. “I think our fans are unreal and I’m really excited to play and put on for this city.”

Walman’s comments on the extension can be seen here.

Two weeks ago, on Feb. 16, 28-year-old defenseman Olli Maatta signed a two-year extension.

“I’m happy,” Maatta said of his signing. “I like it here a lot and I like where we’re going. The organization is awesome. I like the city. It’s nice to be somewhere that they trust you.”