Dylan Larkin Bio
Dylan Larkin is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as captain and center for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on July 30, 1996, in Waterford, Michigan, he was drafted 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Before turning professional, Larkin played college hockey for the University of Michigan, where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned multiple All-American honors.
Since making his NHL debut in October 2015, Larkin has become one of the franchise’s most important players. He was named Red Wings captain in January 2021 and has since represented the United States at multiple IIHF World Championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Larkin was born on July 30, 1996, in Waterford, Michigan, and grew up in a hockey family. He began playing minor ice hockey with Detroit Belle Tire and represented the program at the 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. His early exposure to organized hockey in the Detroit area helped shape his development as a skater and playmaker.
Larkin has an older brother, Colin Larkin, who went on to play collegiate hockey before signing a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Dylan also has cousins, Adam and Ryan, who played competitive hockey; Adam played defense for Yale University and later signed with the Reading Royals of the ECHL, while Ryan played goaltender for Miami University. This strong family connection to the sport encouraged Larkin’s early commitment to the game.
Path to Hockey
During the 2012–13 season, Larkin skated for USA Hockey’s U17 team in his first season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. He scored 13 goals and 14 assists in 55 games and helped the United States win gold at the 2012 Four Nations Tournament in Switzerland. He also won a bronze medal with the United States at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, finishing as the team’s third-leading scorer.
In his second NTDP season, Larkin moved up to the U18 team and finished second on the squad with 31 goals and 56 points in 60 games. He was selected to the 2013 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game and represented the United States at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he served as an alternate captain and won a gold medal. He then committed to the University of Michigan for the 2014–15 season, where his production as a freshman cemented his status as a top NHL prospect and led to his selection 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings.
Dylan Larkin Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Larkin’s first notable stretch came with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he posted 13 goals and 14 assists in 55 games with the U17 team in 2012–13 and 31 goals and 56 points in 60 games with the U18 team in 2013–14. His scoring pace against older competition helped establish him as one of the top American prospects in his draft class.
At the University of Michigan during the 2014–15 season, Larkin was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, earned a place on the All-Big Ten First Team, and was selected as an AHCA Second Team All-American. He finished his freshman year with 43 points in Big Ten play alone and recorded a career-best five-point night in a 10–6 win at Ohio State on January 16, 2015.
Detroit Red Wings Breakthrough (2015–2017)
On May 21, 2015, Larkin signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings and made his professional debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League during the 2015 Western Conference finals. He scored his first professional goal in his second AHL game against Jacob Markström.
Larkin made his NHL debut on October 9, 2015, recording a goal and an assist against Jonathan Bernier of the Toronto Maple Leafs and becoming the first Red Wings teenager to score in his first NHL game since Steve Yzerman in 1983. During his rookie season he posted 23 goals and 22 assists in 80 games, was named NHL Rookie of the Month for November 2015, and was selected to the 2016 NHL All-Star Game. At the All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition, he set the NHL record for fastest skater with a time of 13.172 seconds, breaking Mike Gartner’s 1996 mark.
Detroit Red Wings Leadership Era (2017–Present)
After a quieter sophomore campaign in 2016–17, Larkin led the Red Wings in scoring during the 2017–18 season with 16 goals and 47 assists in 82 games, becoming the fifth-youngest player in franchise history to lead the team in points. On August 10, 2018, he signed a five-year, $30.5 million contract extension, and on January 13, 2021, the Red Wings named him team captain.
As captain, Larkin recorded his first career hat-trick on December 18, 2021, and was named NHL First Star of the Week for the week ending December 20, 2021. On March 1, 2023, the Red Wings signed him to an eight-year, $69.6 million contract extension. In the first year of that deal, he scored a career-high 33 goals and 36 assists through 68 games before injury and offseason surgery cut his 2023–24 campaign short.
Driving Style and Strengths
Larkin is best known for his elite speed, two-way responsibility, and volume shooting. He set the NHL’s fastest skater record at the 2016 All-Star Game with a time of 13.172 seconds and has repeatedly ranked among league leaders in shots on goal, including a 221-shot rookie campaign. As captain, he has also taken on a heavy penalty-killing role for Detroit.
Notable Events and Milestones
Larkin’s most iconic moment came at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, where he broke the fastest skater record that had stood for two decades. He also became the first Red Wings rookie to play in the All-Star Game since Steve Yzerman in 1984, was named NHL Rookie of the Month in November 2015, scored his first career hat-trick in December 2021, and was named to the 2023 All-Star Game, where he helped the Atlantic Division win its first 3-on-3 title.
Dylan Larkin Career Wins
Dylan Larkin’s trophy case centers on international medals, All-Star recognition, and franchise milestones rather than total win counts. He has captured gold at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships and multiple bronze medals at the IIHF World Championship level, while also earning NHL Rookie of the Month, NHL First and Second Star of the Week, and All-Star Game selections throughout his career.
Detroit Red Wings Highlights
With the Red Wings, Larkin was named 2016 Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, was selected to the 2016 and 2023 NHL All-Star Games, and was named team captain in January 2021. In his first year of his eight-year contract extension, he set a career high with 33 goals and 36 assists through 68 games in 2023–24.
Other Wins & Performances
Larkin won a bronze medal at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, gold at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, and bronze medals at the 2015 and 2018 IIHF World Championships, where he also served as an alternate captain. He represented Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Dylan Larkin Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Larkin family. Dylan’s older brother, Colin Larkin, played collegiate hockey and signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers, while cousins Adam and Ryan also played the sport at high levels. Adam played defense at Yale University and signed with the Reading Royals of the ECHL, and Ryan played goaltender at Miami University.
Personal Life
In 2016, Dylan, his brother Colin, and their cousins started the Larkin Hockey School at Lakeland Ice Arena in Waterford Township, Michigan, as a way to give back to their hometown community. The camp has become a recurring summer program for young players in southeastern Michigan.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Dylan Larkin remains the face of the Detroit Red Wings as he continues his eight-year, $69.6 million contract extension signed in March 2023. Coming off an offseason of recovery from surgery following the 2023–24 campaign, Larkin is expected to rejoin Detroit’s top-six forward group and lead both the power play and penalty kill.
The Red Wings are aiming to end a multiyear playoff drought, and Larkin’s leadership will be central to that push. His combination of speed, two-way play, and shot volume makes him the offensive engine Detroit leans on when games tighten in the third period.
With a full preseason behind him, Larkin enters 2025–26 focused on returning to his career-best scoring pace while mentoring Detroit’s younger core. His captaincy, durability, and history of All-Star production make him the clear driver of the Red Wings’ competitive identity this season.