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Dylan Larkin on How Henrik Zetterberg Shaped His Career
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin credited former teammate Henrik Zetterberg with helping shape his career. Larkin said Zetterberg set the standard with his leadership and ability on the ice.
Zetterberg, 45, spent his entire career in Detroit. He was a key contributor to the Red Wings’ 2008 Stanley Cup victory. Due to his strong playoff performance, he was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player.
Larkin, 29, entered the NHL in 2015, one year after his hometown Red Wings him 15th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft.
Larkin and Zetterberg were teammates for three season, which the American looks back on fondly. In 2021, the Red Wings named Larkin the 37th captain in franchise history, succeeding Zetterberg.
He said the former Red Wings captain was one of his mentors and praised him for his career longevity.
“Henrik Zetterberg, who I got to play for my first three year [in the NHL], is probably the most significant person I’ve leaned on in my career,” Larkin told RG‘s DJ Siddiqi. “Just [Zetterberg’s] leadership and how he quietly went about being one of the best players in the NHL for so long.”
Larkin Aims to Lead Red Wings Back to Stanley Cup Glory
Dylan Larkin is hopeful that he can follow Henrik Zetterberg‘s footsteps and lead the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup. To do so, Detroit will first have to make the playoffs, which thee team has not done since 2016.
The Red Wings went through a rebuild and have retooled their roster in recent years to compliment their young stars. Notable additions include goaltender John Gibson and three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane.
Detroit has played well this season and currently sits 3rd in the Atlantic Division with 72 points. It is a tight playoff race. The Red Wings are tied with the Montreal Canadiens, who sit 2nd in the division, also with 72 points.
While they are in a great position, the Red Wings are not yet in the clear. They are two points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, who trail with 70 and 69 points, respectively.
Larkin, however, remains optimistic that Detroit can achieve playoff success.
“It’s getting hot at the right time,” Larkin told RG. “We’ve has stretches where we’ve been hot, and you’re only going to go as far as your goaltending takes you in the the playoffs. I believe in [Gibson]. He’s a great goalie.”
He also emphasized that playoff success depends on matchups and form.
“If we get a couple of wins early in the playoffs, if we get there, I think we could do some damage.”
Larkin Explains the Significance in Playing a Playoff Game at Home
Larkin also described what it would mean to him to play in a playoff game at Little Caesars Arena. His lone playoff experience came during his rookie season, when Detroit lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
Now in his prime, Larking wants an opportunity to lead his hometown Red Wings back to prominence as strong contenders.
“It would be unbelievable to play a playoff game, the first at Little Caesars Arena in hockey history,” Larkin told RG. “It would mean a lot to our fans and mean a lot to me. It’s not all about me, but being here through some tough days and getting into the playoffs, I believe our team can do damage”
Giancarlo Aulino Giancarlo Aulino is sports writer who covers UFC for Heavy.com. He began writing for Heavy in 2025 after providing MMA coverage for Sportskeeda. Giancarlo is an experienced journalist and interviewer, having covered soccer clubs Toronto FC and Inter Toronto FC as a full-season reporter, and also producing sports coverage for Toronto radio station VIBE 105.5FM.
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