When Dylan Larkin was named to USA’sroster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, many seemed to question the decision.
Compared to those of Tage Thompson, Cole Caufield and Clayton Keller, Larkin’s numbers weren’t as explosive at the time the roster was named. But if you don’t watch Detroit Red Wings games, you likely don’t know the true impact of Larkin’s game and what makes him such a tremendous fit on the team as USA looks to chase gold in Boston on Thursday.
It’s not like Larkin is a slouch. In hindsight, Larkin has outscored the likes of Matt Boldy, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller in the NHL this season (Matthews and Miller have missed some time due to injury). Larkin’s on pace to crack 30 goals for the fourth straight season and will likely break 70 points for the third time.
Just about every night, he’s been consistently near the top in most notable advanced categories. According to SportContract, Larkin has an expected goals-for percentage of 64.0 and a Corsi-for of 56.5 percent. He’s doing it while averaging 14:29 a night, too. Larkin has two points in three games, with both coming against Canada to help USA earn a berth in the final. His 78 percent Corsi-for percentage against Sweden, though – USA’s lone loss – was equally as impressive.
But two things you can’t quantify on a scoresheet that make him vital to USA’s success are his speed and his work ethic.
It can be difficult to mold an all-star team together, especially with USA boasting some of its best depth ever seen. When Larkin made the team, it was to play a role. He was a good fit because he’s energetic and looks to make opponents accountable every time they touch the puck. Larkin isn’t the flashiest most skilled guy and not necessarily the one who’s going to score that huge goal in the dying seconds when you need it most. But you can throw him into any situation and feel confident about him, and that’s what you need in a showcase event like the 4 Nations Face-Off.
