The Detroit Red Wings had a few question marks heading into the summer. They kept a few young players around by extending Elmer Soderblom and Jonatan Berggren. They wanted to take a swing at Aaron Ekblad, but had to settle for Jacob Bernard-Docker and Travis Hamonic.
But one thing they have never had to question is their first-line center, Dylan Larkin. The captain of the Red Wings has been called many things, and one NHL insider/analyst described him as a “power forward.”
Mike Rupp on Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin
The NHL Network did a countdown of the top 20 centers in the NHL. Larkin is ranked at number 15.
During the video where they explain their decision, NHL Insider/Analyst Mike Rupp had this to say about the Red Wings captain.
“I think Dylan Larkin is a prototypical power forward,” Rupp revealed on the NHL Network. “I love everything about his game.”
Power forward and Dylan Larkin were four words that this writer never believed would occupy the same sentence. Power forwards are players who use their size and toughness to muscle their way to the net and finish off scoring plays with soft hands.
Typically, they are in the opposing goaltender’s kitchen on the powerplay, wreaking havoc in the crease. Some examples of power forwards in today’s game would be Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Evander Kane, and even Zach Hyman.
Larkin can’t be lumped into that same category.
Brian Boyle Accurately Describes the Red Wings Captain
Former NHLer Brian Boyle offered some of his thoughts on Larkin. He identified the major strengths of his game, giving a more accurate description of the Red Wings captain.
“I think he’s criminally underrated. I’ve always appreciated his game. His two-way game is tremendous,” Boyle said on the panel. “He can score, he can set up players. He scored 30 goals (in) four straight years on a team that hasn’t been very good, quite frankly.”
“He’s a stronger player than anybody gives him credit for. I think he’s the whole package.”
Can a player who is the “whole package” also be a “prototypical power forward”? Looking at the power forwards mentioned above (Kane, Brady, Matthew, and Hyman), none of them have the same characteristics of Larkin: i.e, can score, assist, and have a strong two-way game.
What is a Prototypical Power Forward? Do the Red Wings Have Any?
As mentioned above, power forwards have a knack for the net. They typically use their size and speed to power their way to the goalie. Power forwards are pests for the opposing goalie.
Of the players on the Red Wings, two stand out as being close to the power forward archetype: Soderblom and Michael Rasmussen.
These players loosely fit the mold to be power forwards, but they aren’t slam dunks. If the team wanted to shore up this area of their lineup, several players around the league fit the bill.
Josh Anderson fits the mold to a tee. And, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, he is named as potential trade bait.
Larkin does a lot for the Red Wings, but representing a “prototypical power forward” is a bit of a stretch.
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