Dylan Larkin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dylan Larkin
Larkin with the United States in 2016
Born	(1996-07-30) July 30, 1996 (age 29) Waterford, Michigan, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Detroit Red Wings
National team	United States
NHL Draft	15th overall, 2014 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	2015–present

Dylan Larkin (born July 30, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey player. He is the captain of the Detroit Red Wings team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Red Wings picked Larkin as the 15th overall player in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Before becoming a professional player, Larkin played college hockey for the University of Michigan. There, he was named the Freshman of the Year. He also made the All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten First Team. He was also recognized as a Second Team All-American.

Playing Career

Dylan Larkin started playing minor ice hockey with Detroit Belle Tire. He even took part in the 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with his team.

Junior Hockey Years

During the 2012–13 season, Larkin played for USA Hockey's U17 team. This was his first year with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. He scored 13 goals and made 14 assists in 55 games. Larkin also helped the USA team win first place at the 2012 Four Nations Tournament in Switzerland.

In the 2013–14 season, Larkin played for the NTDP's U18 team. He was second on the team with 31 goals and fourth with 56 points in 60 games. Larkin was chosen to play in the 2013 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game. He scored a goal and an assist in that game. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Larkin 17th among top North American skaters for the 2014 NHL Draft. The Detroit Red Wings then drafted him 15th overall.

College Hockey Years

Larkin began his college career with the Michigan Wolverines in the 2014–15 season. He was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Rookie of the Month for January. Larkin led all college freshmen with 14 points (seven goals and seven assists) in six games that month. He had a point in every game and an eight-game scoring streak.

On January 16, 2015, Larkin had a great night with five points (two goals and three assists) in a 10–6 win against Ohio State. He was the first Michigan freshman to get five points in a game since 1997.

Larkin (left) and teammate Zach Hyman playing for Michigan in February 2015

On February 24, 2015, Larkin was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week. He led all Big Ten freshmen with 43 points (15 goals and 28 assists). This made him the first Michigan freshman to reach 40 points since Aaron Palushaj in the 2007–08 season. Larkin was also among the top freshmen in the nation for scoring. After his great first year, Larkin was named the Big Ten's 2014–15 Freshman of the Year. He was also chosen for the 2014–15 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten First Team. He was also named an AHCA Second Team All-American.

During the 2015 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, Larkin set a new record for points in a single game. He scored one goal and made three assists.

Professional Hockey Career

On May 21, 2015, Dylan Larkin signed a three-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. This meant he would not play his last three years at the University of Michigan. He was sent to the Red Wings' minor league team, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Larkin played his first game for the Grand Rapids Griffins on May 24, 2015. In his second game, on May 25, he scored his first professional goal.

Larkin with the Red Wings during a preseason game, September 2015

On October 5, 2015, Larkin made the Red Wings' main team for the 2015–16 season. He was the first 19-year-old to start on opening night since 1990. In his first NHL game on October 9, 2015, Larkin got his first NHL point (an assist) and scored his first NHL goal. He was the first Red Wings teenager to score in his first NHL game since Steve Yzerman in 1983.

Larkin was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for November 2015. He led all rookies with seven goals that month. He also led all rookies with 10 goals and a +14 plus/minus rating.

On March 24, 2016, Larkin took his 200th shot of the season. He became only the fifth Red Wings rookie to do this. Larkin was also chosen for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game. He was the first Red Wings rookie to play in the All-Star Game since Yzerman in 1984. At the NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition, he set a new NHL record for the fastest skater. He finished in 13.172 seconds, breaking the old record from 1996.

In his first NHL season, Larkin scored 23 goals and made 22 assists in 80 games. He was the sixth rookie in the team's history to lead the team in goals. He also led the Red Wings in plus/minus rating and shots on goal. Larkin was named the 2016 Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year.

After his rookie year, Larkin played both winger and center. His second year was not as strong, as he finished the 2016–17 season with 17 goals.

Larkin (center foreground) with the puck in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, January 2018

During the 2017–18 season, Larkin led the Red Wings in scoring. He had 16 goals and 47 assists in 82 games. On August 10, 2018, he signed a five-year contract extension with the Red Wings.

On January 13, 2021, the Red Wings named Larkin their team captain. On December 18, 2021, he scored his first career hat-trick. He was then named the NHL First Star of the Week.

Larkin was chosen for the 2023 National Hockey League All-Star Game. He helped the Atlantic Division win its first 3-on-3 title. He scored five goals and one assist in two games, including a hat trick in the championship game. He was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week for that period. On March 1, 2023, the Red Wings signed Larkin to an eight-year contract extension. In the first year of this contract, Larkin scored a career-high 33 goals and 36 assists in 68 games. He had surgery after an injury late in the 2023–24 season and spent the offseason recovering.

Personal Life

Dylan Larkin has an older brother named Colin, who also played hockey. His cousins Adam, Ryan, and Woodser also play hockey. Adam played defense for Yale University. Ryan plays goaltender for Miami University.

In 2016, Larkin, his brother, and cousins started the Larkin Hockey School. It is located at Lakeland Ice Arena in Waterford Township, Michigan. They created the school to give back to their community.

International Play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze	2015 Czech Republic
Bronze	2018 Denmark
World U18 Championships
Gold	2014 Finland
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Bronze	2013 Canada

Larkin has played for the United States in many international hockey tournaments. He won a bronze medal at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He was the third-highest scorer for the U.S. team in that tournament.

He also won a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he was an alternate captain. Larkin was the leading scorer for the United States at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was tied for the tournament lead with five goals.

Larkin won a bronze medal with the United States at the 2015 IIHF World Championship. He also played in the 2016 IIHF World Championship and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In 2017 and 2018, he played in the IIHF World Championship again, serving as an alternate captain and winning another bronze medal in 2018. He also represented Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play Statistics

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013	United States	U17			6	2	5	7	6
2014	United States	U18			6	2	2	4	2
2015	United States	WJC	5th		5	5	2	7	4
2015	United States	WC			10	0	1	1	6
2016	United States	WC	4th		10	2	7	9	8
2016	Team North America	WCH	5th		2	0	1	1	2
2017	United States	WC	5th		8	2	8	10	6
2018	United States	WC			10	3	6	9	8
2019	United States	WC	7th		7	3	2	5	4
Junior totals					17	9	9	18	12
Senior totals					47	10	25	35	34

Awards and Achievements