This time around, Dylan Larkin will fill Anthony Mantha’s role as the center of attention as the Detroit Red Wings begin their annual prospects tournament Friday at Center ICE Arena in Traverse City, Mich.
Last fall, all eyes were on right-winger Mantha, Detroit’s top pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft, as he prepped for his pro debut, though it didn’t go well. Mantha suffered a leg fracture early into the tournament that derailed much of his rookie campaign.
Naturally, Larkin is hopeful for better luck. While the majority of the people in his peer group will be at school, Larkin will begin his education toward what he hopes will turn him into an NHL regular sooner rather than later.
“All my friends went back to school and they had their first day of school (Tuesday),… said Larkin, who was a freshman at the University of Michigan last fall, but will be studying to improve his hockey IQ this year.
“It's good not to worry about that,… Larkin said of classroom time. “For me especially, I love hockey and it's all I really wanted to do since I was a kid.
“To get this chance is awesome.…
Like Mantha a year ago, Larkin, last season’s Big Ten rookie of the year, is well aware of the excitement emanating from Wings fans about what many feel is his limitless potential.
“It's tough not to (pay attention to the hype),… Larkin said. “It's something I want. To be on the Detroit Red Wings, I want that really bad so there's expectations. But I put expectations on myself too.
“I'd say that's more pressure, from myself.…
The man who felt the hype a year ago will be back again at this year’s tournament and Mantha hopes fate will permit him to make a longer showing toward his goal of ramping up his bid to become a Red Wing.
“My goal is the same, to play in the NHL, so I need to come here and be ready and have a better season for sure,… Mantha said.
Like Mantha, Larkin intends to ignore the outside attention and strive toward doing what he does best on the ice.
“I think just having fun, honestly,… Larkin said. “I don't know if many people say that but for me it's huge. Going to the rink every day, the media's not in there before practice, you get to focus on practice. You don't have to think about whatever, you just play hockey.
“For me, that's huge. Ever since I was a little kid I was like that.…
Forward Evgeny Svechnikov, the Red Wings’ top pick in the 2015 NHL entry draft, who had 32 goals and 78 points as a QMJHL rookie with Cape Breton last season, will also be on Detroit’s prospect tourney roster, as will forward Andreas Athanasiou, who led the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins’ rookies with 16 goals last season; forward Tyler Bertuzzi, a 2013 second-round pick who produced 98 points with the OHL’s Guelph Storm in his final season of major junior; and Joe Hicketts, who attended the camp as a free agent last year, earned an NHL contract and went on to win a gold medal with Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship as the only defenseman on the roster who was not a first- or second-round draft pick.
Another intriguing player to watch will be defenseman Robbie Russo, a former New York Islanders’ draft pick signed by the Red Wings in August who was the NCAA’s second-highest scoring blueliner in 2014-15, netting 41 points for Notre Dame.
Detroit will compete against teams of prospects from the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues in the tournament, which runs from Sept. 11-15.
The complete Red Wings camp roster:
Goal – Connor Ingram; Matt Mancina; Jake Paterson;
Defense: Jalen Chatfield; Joe Hicketts; Justin Lemcke; Jarett Meyer; Andrew Prochno; Robbie Russo; Vili Saarijarvi ; Ty Stanton.
Center: Andreas Athanasiou; Kurt Etchegary; Dylan Larkin; Conor McGlyn; Zach Nastasiuk; Tomas Nosek; Dominic Turgeon;
Left Wing: Tyler Bertuzzi; Adam Marsh; Evan Polei; Evgeny Svechnikov;
Right Wing: Nick Betz; Anthony Mantha; Jerome Verrier.
Added Attractions The Red Wings announced Thursday that Mike Green, Kyle Quincey, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, and Teemu Pulkkinen have been added to the lineup for Sunday’s HockeyFest at Joe Louis Arena.
HockeyFest will run from from 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the Joe Louis Arena Box Office (313-471-7575), any Ticketmaster outlet (800-745-3000) or online at DetroitRedWings.com. Adult tickets are $20 and children 12-under tickets are $10.
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