Nashville, Tenn. — Dylan Larkin has been to Italy, Miami, Washington D.C., Detroit, Ottawa and now Nashville in the last week, and the shocking thing is, when you talk to him, he isn’t physically drained.
Not in the least. Not in his voice (anymore, anyway) or his body, as the first two Red Wings games after the Olympics have shown.
“I feel good, really,” said Larkin, a big smile broadening on his face. “I had a lot of sleep, which is good. Maybe it’s just the emotional high of it all. The feeling I have right now, I don’t think it’ll last forever, but I’m just feeling like I’m on Cloud 9.”
What a week it was for the Red Wings captain, who hails from Waterford and starred collegiately at the University of Michigan.
Larkin was an important member of the gold-medal winning Team USA hockey team, was part of joyous celebrations after the victory, spent time in the White House, and finally returned home to a Red Wings team firmly in the playoff hunt.
It was a whirlwind. It was also fantastic, unforgettable, and produced memories for a lifetime.
Larkin spent time Sunday with The Detroit News reflecting on the Olympics, the political aftermath after the victory, and where the Red Wings stand with the trade deadline Friday, and the team looking to end a nine-year playoff drought.
The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity:
Question: Before talking Olympics, talk about the different mood around the team this season, with the trade deadline approaching. It’s so different from the previous years. You guys are probably buyers rather than sellers. Just a different atmosphere.
Answer: The mood, it’s not as much about the trade deadline, it’s more about playing well and being in the playoffs. We’re watching the standings, and unfortunately, seeing everyone is winning, but we’ve taken care of business and that’s important. That feels good. Winning helps a lot in professional sports. Coming to the rink is easier and being around the guys, everyone is lighter. That feeling around the team is different this year because of how we’ve been playing as a team.
Q: For you personally, it has to feel so much better (after all the losing seasons).
A: I give the guys a lot of credit. I give (coach) Todd (McLellan) and his staff a lot of credit. He’s demanding. You saw what he said last night (taking the Wings to task after a 5-2 loss in Carolina). He doesn’t let it slip. He holds us to a standard and that’s a standard we have to play at, and guys buy into it because the results are there.
Q: I remember a few weeks ago before you left for the Olympics, you said something like this team could be dangerous if you made the playoffs. What gives you that type of feeling?
A: Because of the body of work all year, the way we skate, (goaltender) John Gibson and his impact. That’s what I see, and if you look at our division, everyone is right there (in the standings), but we’ve played well against our division (11-4-2) and that has to give us confidence.
Q: Going back to the trade deadline for a second. How tough was it to see all your guys, many friends, get traded this time of year. Bert (Tyler Bertuzzi), specifically, I remember that was a difficult one for you. There were a lot of guys over the years.
A: Bert was tough. We were close. He was someone I loved playing with so much, you know. He was a great linemate, but it was just coming to the rink with him, and his laugh and his attitude on life. Just a great guy to be around, a great team guy. We grew real close. And Double-A (Andreas Athanasiou), he was the first one, and Mo (Anthony Mantha), guys got traded. We were sellers and those guys moved on. Filip Hronek was another. So, yes, it’s been some tough deadlines for sure.
Q: Have things gotten back to normal for you? It’s been a week (since the gold medal) now. Are you feeling different than from (the end of) last year’s 4-Nations (Tournament)?
A: That loss (to Canada at 4-Nations), there was no time to think about it and we were right back at it (with the NHL season). That was a tough loss, an exciting tournament. But flipping the script to this one, and winning the big one, and the emotional high of it. I tell you, I keep watching the videos and keep watching Jack’s (Hughes’ game-winning) goal and our celebration. It’s something I’ll remember forever, the feeling of it.
Q: We asked you the other day, and it’s so basic, but that feeling after Jack’s goal, that had to be unreal.
A: I’ve been in my career now for 10 years and you just think of possibly not winning anything, you know? That weighed on me. A lot of guys in our (USA) locker room, (were) in the same boat. For a lot of us it was our first time winning since the world juniors, and that’s a long time. So, getting the collective weight off our chest and doing it for your country, beating Canada, which was fitting because we hadn’t gotten over that hump. I tell you, I’ll never forget the screaming and hugging and jumping around.
Q: OK, just the political nature of it afterward (mainly the reaction to President Trump congratulating the men’s team on a phone call and joking “we’re going to bring the women’s team, you do know that” or he’d be “impeached”). Were you surprised or disappointed it all got so politicized?
A: There is regret (about the team laughing during the phone call). We didn’t mean to harm anyone, laughing when we did. Having some time and hearing what the women’s comments were, we were in the (Olympic) village with them and passing them by every day. Celebrating with them when we won and they won. We had so much respect for that team. What happened in the aftermath, I really don’t want to diminish how great that (women’s) team is. What a special group. Such a dominant team. I have nothing but respect for them. We were chanting two for two (both gold medal winning teams). It meant a lot to us and USA Hockey.
Q: How was that White House visit? You hadn’t ever been there, right? That had to be exciting.
A: It was a very cool experience. Something I’ll remember forever. No matter who is in office, I root for our country and I want our country to do well. It was just a surreal feeling being in the Oval Office and walking around and seeing the history and just kind of knowing all the people that have sat in that room. Very, very cool.
Q: Lastly, what will be the key for you guys in these final weeks (getting into the playoffs).
A: We have to get going. We have to get hot. We have to find —
Q: Are you worried about this slump (2-4-1 record in last seven games)?
A: No, I’m not. It’s still been a while since we lost two games in a row in regulation (November), and that’s important. You don’t want to let it slide. We’re going to be tested. I’m excited to see how we respond in March. There’s a lot of critics out there waiting to see and it’s a big test for us after how the last few years have gone. It’s on the guys to be ready.
Q: So you think something like this might be good for you guys?
A: I do. Our intensity was there the last two games. We were locked in and playoff ready and it’s hard. (But) that’s how we have to play the rest of the way.
Red Wings at Predators
Faceoff: 2 p.m. Monday, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
TV/radio: FDSN/97.1 FM
Notable: The Wings (34-20-6, 74 points) conclude a three-game road trip in Nashville (27-24-8, 62 points) in a rare weekday afternoon game. … Nashville defeated the Wings, 6-3, on Thanksgiving Eve. …. C Steven Stamkos (30 goals) continues to thrive.
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Q&A: Red Wings gold-medal winner Dylan Larkin talks unforgettable week
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
