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Detroit Red Wings are moving Dylan Larkin to center

By Dave Stevenson

Apr 17, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) skates with the puck during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) skates with the puck during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Red Wings are planning on moving Dylan Larkin from wing to center. 

After the retirement of Pavel Datsyuk, the Detroit Red Wings have to try to replace what he brought to the table. His creativity and skating is quite rare, even in centers. The Red Wings are planning on moving second year forward Dylan Larkin from wing to center to try to compensate for the loss of Datsyuk.

“He’s obviously been a center his entire life,” said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, via NHL.com. “We drafted him as a center, but when you have guys like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk down the middle, guys who are so good 200 feet, it’s tougher. Dylan played with Zetterberg last season and Zetterberg took a lot of the responsibility off of Dylan to free him up to play the game. Long-term, the plan is that Dylan is going to be a center for us.”

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This could be a tough transition for Larkin. Even though Larkin is a natural center, playing center in the NHL requires a well-rounded set of skills. Centers are relied on to lead both on offense and defense. Larkin will miss most of the Red Wings training camp to play for Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey, which will complicate the transition further. Looking at their centers, Larkin is probably going to be a wing for them.

Larkin likely learned quite a bit playing with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Frans Nielsen could help ease the burden on him. Last season, the Red Wings made sure to shelter Larkin with favorable zone starts. Larkin started in the offensive zone 38.6 percent of the time and in the neutral zone 36.5 percent of the time.

How does this affect his fantasy value? It shouldn’t matter too much. He’s an extremely talented player. Larkin had 45 points in his rookie season. Because the Red Wings have depth at center, they can afford to give Larkin favorable zone starts. He’s still worth an early-to-mid round pick. Just keep in mind that he might require a bit of an adjustment period.

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