Larkin vs League Captains by: Dustin Hannel

As a fan, what do we expect from our Captain? Is it leadership? Is it a high point total? Time on

Ice? What do you expect from your Captain?

I think it would be fair to assume that a majority of fans want to see scoring, and that is what

matters most. It is what wins games after all. However, there is a little bit more to being Captain

than just being the best scorer on your team. Sometimes you aren't even in the top of scoring

for your team, however they are contributing in other aspects - on and off the ice.

I wanted to focus on Dylan Larkin and his Captaincy. I know there were quite a few people who

didn't like the move by Yzerman, some just said he wasn't a quality player, and when he was

scoring he was surrounded by the likes of Zetterberg. However, this year paints a different story,

as Conn Smyth winning Zetterberg hasn't skated since the 2018 season and Larkin now had a

rookie on his line. Some could point to the skill of Bertuzzi (line mates most of the year) and

Raymond similar to Datsyuk and Zetterberg, however, watching Larkin night and night out tells

the story of a hard working 2-way forward who plays the 200 foot game for 60 minutes night in

and night out. Larkin is on pace for one of his best seasons to date. and is second overall with

goals scored and 4th overall in total points, trailing Ovechkin, McDavid, and Stamkos all getting

paid much more than Larkin. Which also brings up another point the average Captain getting

paid around 7.8 mil a year, Larkin on his current contract is getting paid 6.1 mil until the end of

the 2022-2023 season. He is 23rd lowest paid out of 28 teams for his current contract. With him

being at the top of the list in scoring and total points, I would say we are getting our money's

worth in this regards.

However, if you are one of the few that looks at the other aspects of the game to determine if he

is a good Captain, then I would say look how he plays night in and night out. He is always

hustling, even if he is getting beat he will not give up! He is going to battle in the corners, he will

even drop the gloves (Opening Night TB vs Joseph) you can guarantee he is going to put in 60

minutes every night.

If you have a different insight, I'd love to hear about why or why not you think Larkin makes a

good Captain.

Or what are you looking for in a captain as a fan?

Dylan Hannel - Wing Sauce Pod/ Olde City Sports Network