Dylan Larkin, Red Wings Agree to 8-Year, $69.6M Contract Extension

Detroit Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin is already the face of the franchise, and he isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

The team announced Wednesday that Larkin has reached an agreement on an eight-year contract extension worth $69.6 million.

Larkin has been the lone bright spot for the Red Wings this season, as the team ranks sixth in the Atlantic Division with a record of 28-24-8. In 59 appearances, he leads the team with 22 goals, 35 assists, 57 points, 11 power-play goals, 21 power play-points, four game-winning goals and 185 shots and earned his third career All-Star selection.

The 26-year-old was in the final season of a five-year, $30.5 million deal signed in 2018 after the completion of his entry-level contract. Earning this extension fulfills his desire to remain in Detroit, as ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted he "wanted to play only for the Red Wings."

Larkin is a Michigan native who starred with the Michigan Wolverines before being drafted 15th in 2014 by Detroit, so he has spent his entire career in the state of Michigan. He was named the 37th captain in franchise history in Jan. 2021.

Unfortunately for Detroit, Larkin's individual success has not translated to team success. The last time the Red Wings made the playoffs was Larkin's debut season in 2015-16, the final campaign of a 25-year postseason streak.

Detroit remains in the mix for a potential wild-card spot with six weeks left in the regular season, so perhaps Larkin can help turn things around. The Red Wings will look to end their three-game losing streak when they take the ice Thursday against the Seattle Kraken (33-21-6).