Dylan Larkin’s Game-Winner Pushes Red Wings Forward - and Etches His Name Deeper into Franchise Lore
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t obvious. But it was Dylan Larkin.
With 4:41 gone in the third period Friday night, the Red Wings captain found the back of the net on a goal that needed a second look - but ultimately stood as the game-winner. And while the tally itself may not make the highlight reel, its impact certainly will. Not only did it secure two crucial points in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race, but it also carved Larkin’s name a little deeper into Detroit hockey history.
That goal marked the 266th of Larkin’s career, nudging him past John Ogrodnick into 10th place on the Red Wings’ all-time goals list. In a franchise celebrating its centennial season - one that boasts names like Howe, Yzerman, and Fedorov - cracking the top 10 is no small feat.
“It’s impressive in an organization like Detroit,” said linemate Lucas Raymond, who assisted on the goal. “So many greats have come through and played here. Dylan puts in a lot of work, and he carries a big load for this team both on and off the ice.”
That load has only grown heavier over the years - and Larkin has embraced it. Now in his 11th NHL season, all with Detroit, the 29-year-old has become the embodiment of what it means to wear the “C” in Hockeytown. His consistency, drive, and leadership have helped guide a young Red Wings squad through the ups and downs of a rebuild and into legitimate playoff contention.
“Dylan cares immensely,” said head coach Todd McLellan after the win. “He cares about the city, the team, the organization and his teammates. He is a proud Red Wing, proud captain.”
The list of names ahead of Larkin on the franchise goal leaderboard reads like a Hall of Fame roll call: Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Alex Delvecchio, Sergei Fedorov, Henrik Zetterberg, Ted Lindsay, Norm Ullman, Pavel Datsyuk, and Brendan Shanahan. Five of those players also wore the captain’s “C,” and McLellan made it clear that Larkin is following in their footsteps - and learning from their legacy.
“Nick Lidström, Henrik Zetterberg, Steve Yzerman - they all wore the ‘C,’ and they all had those qualities,” McLellan said. “They were proud Red Wings, and he’s learned that from them.”
But it’s not just about milestones or history books. Larkin’s goals have mattered - a lot.
Of his 266 career goals, 37 have been game-winners. That puts him 12th all-time in Red Wings history in that category.
And this season? Six of his 24 goals have sealed victories.
Only Steven Stamkos has more game-winners in the NHL this year.
“Larkin has a knack for scoring timely goals, which he did tonight again,” McLellan said. “We can use him in all situations - just a great teammate.”
That all-situations reliability has been a constant since Day 1.
Back in 2014, the Red Wings used the 15th overall pick to select the Michigan native, who was just 18 at the time. By the start of the 2015-16 season, Larkin had cracked the lineup - becoming the first 19-year-old to suit up for the Wings since Mike Sillinger in 1990-91.
He wasted no time making an impression. In his NHL debut, Larkin scored a goal - becoming the first Red Wings teenager to do so since Yzerman in 1983.
That goal, fittingly, was assisted by Henrik Zetterberg and Mike Green, and scored against future Red Wing Jonathan Bernier. Talk about a full-circle moment.
Larkin’s rookie season ended with 23 goals and 22 assists, good for fourth on the team in points. It also marked the last time Detroit made the playoffs. He chipped in a goal during the Wings’ first-round exit against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it was clear even then: this was just the beginning.
Now, nearly a decade later, Larkin is still leading the charge - and still chasing that postseason return. Signed through 2031, he’s not going anywhere. And with the Red Wings sitting at 29-16-4 through 49 games, currently third in the East, that long-awaited playoff return feels closer than it has in years.
The captain is doing what captains do - showing up when it counts, lifting his team, and leaving his mark. Friday night’s goal might not have been a beauty, but it was a moment that mattered. And for Dylan Larkin, that’s been the story all along.