Detroit Red Wings Dylan Larkin returns tonight against Anaheim Ducks

The Detroit Red Wings will be getting their captain back for tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde confirmed to media following morning practice that Larkin will be returning to the lineup.

Larkin left the Dec. 9 matchup against the Ottawa Senators after taking an award hit from forward Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly. He battling in front of the Senators’ net against forward Joseph. Joseph caught Larkin with a high hit near his head, while Kelly came in and made contact with Larkin as he was falling down. The Red Wings’ captain temporarily lay motionless on the ice and required help from the team trainers to get to the dressing room; ultimately he was able to get up on his own feet.

The 27-year-old has 11 goals and 25 points in 24 games this season. With Larkin set to return, he was practicing on the first powerplay unit with Alex DeBrincat, Shayne Gostisbehere, J.T. Compher, and Patrick Kane.

Last season, the Waterford Township, Michigan product recorded a career-high 32 goals and 47 assists for 79 points in 80 regular season games. He is currently in year one of an eight-year, $69,600,000 contract extension he signed in March.

Larkin was selected No. 15 overall by the Red Wings in the 2014 NHL Draft and has spent the entirety of his eight-season career in Detroit. He was one of the rare Red Wings prospects to make the team in just his second year after the draft and was named the captain for the 2020-21 season after Henrik Zetterberg had to stop playing due to a degenerative back condition.

The Red Wings sit ranked fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 15-11-4 record and 34 points in 30 games. They trail four points back of the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs who sit tied for second.