The 2021-22 season has been one of many milestones for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. The 25-year-old is in his 7th season with Detroit and is playing his 1st season donning the ‘C’ above the Winged Wheel.
Larkin recorded 73 points (32G, 41A) in 76 games in the 2018-19 season- which was his previous highest-scoring season. So far in the 2021-22 season with only 45 games played, Larkin has recorded 51 points (25G, 26A), which is a point-per-game pace and then some. Now, how has this season played out for the young captain? Let’s break it down month by month.
October
This season’s home opener was surely a special one as nine former Red Wings captains were in attendance to celebrate Larkin becoming the 37th captain in franchise history, a moment that he will never forget. It would only be fitting that following this pre-game ceremony, Larkin would net the team’s first goal of the season just 14 minutes into play. Only eight games were played in October and Larkin closed out the month with eight points (3G, 5A) which equates to about a point per game.
November
A busier month for the Detroit Red Wings with 14 games on the schedule, with him only playing in 11 due to stepping away for personal reasons. A two-goal game vs. the Montreal Canadiens on November 13th helped carry the Red Wings to a well-needed overtime victory. His point pace quickly picked right back up after his time away and by the end of November, he attained 11 points (7G, 4A).
December
Another slow month for the Wings with only nine games played due to the COVID shutdown, five in which he was able to record points. One of the biggest milestones of any NHLer’s career was finally reached for Dylan Larkin as he recorded his 1st career hat trick on December 18th vs. the New Jersey Devils. In addition to the three goals, he also marked another assist on his stats sheet, his highest single-game point tally of the season. For the month of December, Larkin walked away with five goals and five assists.
January
In a 14 game month, Larkin collected 14 more points. On both January 17th and January 29th, he netted two goals in each contest, keeping the captain on a fast track to a new high points record. In the game on January 29th vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs in which Larkin scored twice, he also assisted on a goal from Vladislav Namestnikov, giving himself a three-point game.
February
Only four games have been played so far this month, but Dylan Larkin has walked away from each of them with at least one point. He scored against Philadelphia on February 9th and against Minnesota on February 14th and handed out assists in all games played. Larkin delivered three assists in the home victory over the Flyers on February 12th on goals from Filip Zadina, Moritz Seider, and Michael Rasmussen. So far, Larkin has two goals and six assists this month.
This point-per-game pace he is carrying is a massive improvement from seasons prior such as the 2019-20 season in which he had 53 points in 71 games, nearly equal to what he has so far this season. The consistency in his play this season has allowed him to keep raking in points, both goals and assists, due to smart play-making and crafty passes. With 51 total points, 25 goals, and 26 assists, Dylan Larkin is on track to have the best season of his professional career so far. All this being said, has Dylan Larkin stepped into his role as captain? The stats would have to say yes.