How High Can Larkin Fly?

Early in the 2017-18, a prominent and popular online publication projected a grim future ahead for Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, insisting that the rest of the NHL had him figured out. They figured wrong. Thursday, Larkin became Detroit’s first 30-goal scorer in a decade. drives the bus for the Detroit Red Wings. “I think through contract negotiations, and the last couple years, people said I wasn’t a goal scorer,… Larkin told Detroitredwings.com. “But I tried to focus on it this summer and I set a goal before every season to try and get to 30. I think every player does and should. “It is bittersweet because of the situation we’re in now but it does feel pretty good that hard work pays off and to prove to people, I guess, that I can be a goal scorer in this league.… Larkin is much more than a goal scorer for the Wings. He’s the guy who drives their bus. If the other young players on the team can be injected with his drive to continually improve, there’s hope for this team’s future. “I think it’s been awesome to watch him work at getting better,… Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I know for a fact that he puts the time in to get the number of repetitions it takes to get better at things. He has truly gotten better and better and better in a lot of different areas of his offensive game. “It’s hard to do and most guys - everybody works hard, everybody skates, everybody trains in the gym. But are you willing to just go and shoot pucks over and over again and get better at a skill? Are you willing to work at a skill over and over again? A lot of guys aren’t. He is. And that’s why he’s continued to get better and exceeded a lot of people’s expectations.… Blashill, for one, would advise against trying to figure out how high Larkin can go. “It’s been great to watch and I can’t put a ceiling on him,… Blashill said. “When you have that kind of inner drive you can never put a ceiling on a player.… Roster Moves The Wings called up two more players from AHL Grand Rapids in time Friday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils. Forward Frans Nielsen (undisclosed injury) and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (lower body) are both listed at day-to-day and won’t play Friday. Recalled on an emergency basis were right-winger Martin Frk and defenseman Jake Chelios. “Jake Chelios will play,… Blashill said. “He’s done a good job down in GR, done a good job over the years in the American League in Charlotte previous to this. “I thought he played well in the preseason so he’ll get a chance to play here tonight.… It’s the second time this week Frk has been summoned in an emergency situation. A fifth-year pro, Chelios, 28, is the son of former Wings defenseman Chris Chelios. He’s never played an NHL game. When Jake Chelios makes his debut, he and his dad will be the sixth father-son combination in Wings history, joining Sid and Gerry Abel, Adam and Andy Brown, Bill and Peter Dineen, Gordie and Mark Howe and Jim Peters Sr. and Jr. Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer