For sure, Dylan Larkin understands your concern. The calendar has turned to August, he’s still without a contract, and visions of Andreas Athanasiou’s holdout of last season still dance vividly in your head.
You’re worried. Larkin - at least outwardly - isn’t the least bit concerned
“Obviously it’s getting to August so a lot of talking and negotiating,” Larkin told Detroitredwings.com. “I think it’s a bit of a process, the back and forth and thinking and everything. It’s definitely a process. You can’t sit by your phone all summer, you’ve got to still train and work out and have fun, go on trips and stuff like that.
“It’s between my agents, taking care of that. It’s something out of my control. There have been more talks. It’s a process, learning the business side of it. I feel pretty confident that something will get done before training camp. No worries about it.”
Larkin is absolutely spot on. There is no reason at all to be concerned. The deals already signed this summer with Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha, those were bridge contracts that generally are easier to resolve when both sides are on the same page. The pact the team is negotiating with Larkin is going to be a long-term contract, in the 5-6 year range.
Mantha and Athanasiou are definitely pieces of the puzzle going forward, but Larkin is the apex of the future for this franchise, the leading scorer on the club last season with 63 points, and the heir apparent to Henrik Zetterberg as the leader of the team. For those reasons, the deal will get before training camp, because you don’t leave your franchise player hanging.
A Tribute
Larkin also played a vital role in organizing the Aug. 26 USA Hockey Stars and Stripes charity game to be held in Plymouth, Mich. The game will serve as a memorial tribute to former USA Hockey executive director Jim Johannson, who died earlier this year.
“It is special, Larkin said. “The idea started at worlds, right at the end. Jim Johannson’s brother, John, was there. We were talking with Pat Kelleher, the executive director of USA Hockey, and how great of an idea it would be. We had a lot of steam behind the idea, everyone was rallying around JJ at the world championships and I saw that and I thought it would be a great idea.
“It’s going to be a special night, a lot of superstars coming into town — Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy, Jimmy Howard’s going to play. We’re still working on other guys. It’s going to be a star-studded lineup so it’s pretty cool they’re all coming in to honor him and raise money for a great cause.”
“USA Hockey has done a lot. Scott Monaghan with NTDP and like I mentioned, Pat Kelleher. The three of us sat down in early June and came up with it and started that idea. Now it’s going to be an awesome event. I’m not taking all the credit but I definitely have had to get on the phone. My job has been to recruit players, which is ironic. I feel like JJ himself when he’s calling guys for the world championships and calling everyone.
“You get every answer and you’ve got to understand that it’s summer and people have families going to school at that time, or guys have things going on. It’s been interesting, talking to different guys but mostly great feedback from that.”
Larkin hopes that the event will take on a life of its own.
“Yeah, I think that’s what we’re working on,” Larkin said. “It’s going to be a great event, raise a lot of money. I think the tickets are reasonable. I think as this month goes on, the requests, I think the building will be full. The guys are going to have a great time.
“I think it will be something that will be an annual thing.”
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»