PuckSleuth
71Not on an NHL roster · Center · Shoots L
Dylan Larkin
Age 30 · 6'1" · 198 lb · Born in Waterford, USA
Cap hit
$8.7M
8.4% of $104M cap
Term
5 yrs
Through 2030-31, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$1.029M
vs. $9.729M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2025-26 regular season
GP
74
Goals
34
14.8% shooting
Assists
33
16 primary
Points
67
0.91 per game
TOI/GP
20:11
PP 3:16 · PK 1:31
xGF%
48.2
5v5, -1.8 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.01
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
52.9
789 W · 703 L
Plus/minus
+3
Blocks 33 · Hits 46
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13 @ TBL · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17:33 | 2:44 | 0:34 | 10-7 | 100 | 2 | 0 | -2 | -0.25 |
| Apr 11 vs NJD · L 5-3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20:08 | 1:35 | 0:00 | 10-4 | 67 | 2 | 0 | -1 | +0.05 |
| Apr 9 vs PHI · W 6-3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 19:34 | 3:02 | 3:40 | 15-10 | 33 | 0 | 0 | +2 | +2.96 |
| Apr 7 vs CBJ · OTL 4-3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 23:20 | 0:51 | 2:46 | 11-11 | 50 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.96 |
| Apr 5 vs MIN · L 5-4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17:55 | 1:39 | 1:30 | 13-7 | 40 | 0 | 1 | -1 | +0.34 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,029 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
41st percentile
59th percentile
46th percentile
63rd percentile
74th percentile
61st percentile
38th percentile
66th percentile
45th percentile
99th percentile
34th percentile
62nd percentile
35th percentile
34th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play stylePure offensive scorer
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Larkin is a high-volume shooter who generates chances at an elite rate from in-close, relying on speed and positioning over physical play. He plays a perimeter game that doesn't emphasize defense or physical engagement, making him best suited as an offensive catalyst.
- Shooting volume
- 96
- Playmaking
- 61
- Zone entries(est.)
- 42
- Forechecking
- 9
- Physicality
- 13
- Defensive impact
- 31
- Puck management
- 41
- Speed
- 76
Where he shoots from
Slot 49% · Mid-range 35% · Perimeter 15%(350 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Shooting volume in the 96th percentile, heavily concentrated from the dangerous home plate area
- Speed and transition ability in the 76th percentile, enabling quick shot creation
- Even strength goal and shot share at 48.2%, sustaining offensive pressure consistently
Watch-outs
- Forechecking in the 9th percentile, offering minimal puck pressure away from the puck
- Physicality in the 13th percentile, limiting his ability to win puck battles
- Defensive impact in the 31st percentile, a secondary priority in his overall game
Similar style: Frank Nazar (CHI), Jake Guentzel (TBL)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 74 GP · goals above average
Season total +1.0 goals, or +0.01 per game.
- Even strength defense
- -0.6
- Power play
- +2.2
- Penalty kill
- -0.1
- Finishing
- -1.5
- Playmaking
- -0.7
- Penalties
- +0.9
- Faceoffs
- +0.9
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | DET | 74 | 34 | 33 | 67 | +3 | 229 | 20:11 | 52.9% | +0.01 |
| 2024-25 | DET | 82 | 30 | 40 | 70 | -16 | 234 | 20:04 | 54.5% | +0.07 |
| 2023-24 | DET | 68 | 33 | 36 | 69 | +5 | 221 | 20:10 | 55.4% | +0.21 |
| 2022-23 | DET | 80 | 32 | 47 | 79 | -7 | 244 | 19:33 | 54.4% | +0.11 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- NHL Insider predicts Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin's potential trade return to the Florida Panthe
The Times of India · Oct 3
- Red Wings' Biggest Dylan Larkin Concern Already Showed Up in Season Opener
Sports Illustrated · Oct 3
- Paul Bissonnette calls Detroit Red Wings ‘bush league’ over Dylan Larkin stunt
Awful Announcing · Oct 3
- NHL Rumours: Larkin Gets Booed, Carlo’s Kneeing Major & Bobrovsky Apologizes
thehockeywriters.com · Oct 3
- Barkov injury could reopen Panthers' path to Dylan Larkin blockbuster
The Rat Trick · Oct 3
- Dylan Larkin humiliation in Detroit could suddenly open the door for Kent Hughes
montrealhockeyfanatics.com · Oct 3
- Dylan Larkin Booed in Detroit as Red Wings Trade Pressure Builds
NHLTradeRumor.com · Oct 3
- Red Wings coach reacts to Dylan Larkin facing opening-night boos
Yahoo Sports · Oct 3
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.18 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.5 mph
- 65th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 186
- Hardest shot
- 91.7 mph
- 89th pct
- Distance
- 243.0 mi
- OZ time
- 42.7%
- 57th pct
- DZ time
- 40.2%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 30, forwards typically produce 84% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 34, when the typical level is 63%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
5 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | DET | $8.7M | 8.4% |
| 2027-28 | DET | $8.7M | 7.7% |
| 2028-29 | DET | $8.7M | — |
| 2029-30 | DET | $8.7M | — |
| 2030-31 | DET | $8.7M | — |
UFA after 2030-31. $43.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).