Now that the Four Nations Face-Off has concluded and the NHL is basking in the afterglow of an almost universally praised event, it’s time to have an open, honest, and unbiased conversation about who should wear the C next year at the Olympics. That man is Dylan Larkin.

Now, some of you may throw out hockey stats and terms like Corsi, Fenwick, etc. to show how Larkin’s impact was overstated, but I’m not gonna lie, that is total nerd shit and math sucks. I’m just a guy watching hockey- and as that guy, I saw a True Patriot on and off the ice. When the initial rosters and line projections rolled out, Larkin was originally slated to play rotational depth forward-type minutes. By the end of the tournament, he had notched a GWG against Canada, opened up legit scoring opportunities in the final game, and was an overall bright spot on USA’s rosters, offensively. He was a player that felt like a spark plug- from chirping Binnington to opening up the ice in the offensive zone; when called upon, Larkin was willing to do whatever it took to put USA in the best position.

When asked about his impact on Team USA, he had this to say:

“I was just really trying to do whatever I could to help the team, whether that was bring energy, whether it was trying to be a voice in the room. Be there for the guys. Whatever it was, I just tried to do it, and I was happy to do it. We had such a great group of guys that it was just so good to be around everyone. It was just a great experience.”

Red Wings fans, of course, have come to expect this from Larkin- but what’s been great to see is the national love he’s received. NHL Studio Analyst Mike Rupp even went so bold as to claim that “Larkin should have a letter on his jersey come Olympics next year.” A claim that might sound clickbaity with how immensely talented Team USA is, but the more you think about it, the more it begins to make sense.

Larkin has always understood that playing where you’re from just means more. The guy is a son of Michigan; born and raised here, playing junior hockey and eventually college hockey right near where he grew up. To be selected by your hometown team, have the greatest Red Wing of your lifetime become your GM, and earn the C- that shit means something to him. I’ve heard it thrown around by podcasters and commentators alike that Dylan Larkin is as important to the Detroit Red Wings as any of the elite talent in the NHL- MacKinnon, McDavid, you name it. Let’s not forget (or maybe repress is better here) that probably the biggest reason the Red Wings shit the bed down the stretch last year was because Larkin was out dealing with injury. I have to imagine not having the guy in the locker room who has anchored the team through some really God awful seasons was a large part of why the Wings looked the way they did at the end of last year.

Jim Leyland once said that “your leaders are your best players”, but in the case of USA hockey, I have to disagree with the skipper. In a room full of elite talent, you have to go with the guy that knows what it’s like to play for something greater than their personal stat-line. McDavid is transcendent, but what separates him from his American counterpart in Matthews is that McDavid saw this tournament as a matter of national pride for Canada. Coupled with losing the Stanley Cup (to yet another American NHL team) last year, McDavid was a man that would not be denied a chance to restore Canadian glory in hockey. You need someone to wear the C who puts on a sweater every night, understanding what it means for millions of fans. I think Larkin said it best:

“That’s where it starts. Pride for your country. Pride for your flag. Putting that crest on and going out for a few games is an unbelievable feeling…I hope this pushes guys to want a piece of this and the next generation that got to watch this.”

Dylan Larkin: Captain America