DETROIT — Dylan Larkin, as expected, is staying with the Red Wings.
Larkin, the Wings’ captain, and the Wings agreed Wednesday to an-eight year contract extension worth $69.6 million ($8.7 million salary cap hit).
Larkin, 26, could have been one of the more highly sought-after unrestricted free agents on the market this summer.
But, given his roots and continually saying he couldn’t see himself in another uniform, Larkin wasn’t likely to leave.
Larkin is from Waterford and played at Michigan before being drafted in the first round of the 2014 entry draft (15th overall) by the Red Wings.
This season, Larkin leads the Wings with 22 goals, 35 assists and 57 points.
With Larkin signed, a big item in general manager Steve Yzerman’s to-do list, Yzerman now turns his attention toward Friday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
An interesting piece now is Tyler Bertuzzi, who can be a free agent, who could be traded. There’s been little reported progress between the two sides.