Dylan Larkin 3-10-17

Dylan Larkin has had a tougher second season in the NHL with the Red Wings.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings' preseason plan to have Dylan Larkin assume their top-line center spot went sideways in a hurry.

The 20-year-old Larkin wasn't ready for the role, and Henrik Zetterberg wasn't prepared to relinquish it.

Now the Red Wings are re-visiting the plan. This time, they're trying Larkin in the middle on the third line. Wednesday in Colorado will be Larkin's fourth game in a row at center.

"We moved him off the center position to the wing earlier in the year to try to free him up a little bit and to take some of the responsibility off him," coach Jeff Blashill said. "It's a heck of a thing as a 19-, 20-year-old kid to have to be a centerman and play the way we expect our centers to play. With that said, we got in a spot where we felt potentially Larkin could help our team win at the center position.

"I think for Larks to be a real impact player he's going to have to be a two-way player and that's what he looked like against Chicago (on Friday), and he's done well in the other games for the most part. I thought his compete level has been high, he's winning puck battles."

Larkin is centering Andreas Athanasiou and Riley Sheahan. He said the plan is to keep him at center the rest of the season.

"He's giving me time to figure it out and play," Larkin said. "Even though the Boston game (6-1 loss Wednesday) wasn't a good outcome, I started to feel more comfortable and then these past two homes game I've felt really good. I like playing with AA and having good speed on the wing and I feel there's some chemistry there."

The fast-skating Larkin must learn how to slow the game down at times.

"No matter the position you play, as long as he stops on pucks, stops (when) coming back in his zone, wins puck battles, he'll be a real good player," Blashill said.

It's important for the club that Larkin learns to play center. Zetterberg will be 37 next season and Frans Nielsen will be 33 next month. The organization has no potential top-two centers in the pipeline. It's a position that's difficult to fill.

"Centers are extremely valuable, and if we can get him to become an elite center that's a huge thing for our organization," Blashill said. "Myself, (Devils coach) John Hynes, who coached him in the World Championships, (Michigan coach) Red Berenson, most of us think his defensive instincts are better served at center. He's a guy who anticipates where the puck is going. Sometimes that can hurt you at wing, but it can help you at center. He can potentially give us a real strong skating centerman."

Playing wing on Zetterberg's line most of his rookie season, Larkin didn't have the same defensive burden.

"Coming back and being responsible in your own zone," Larkin said. "I feel more natural going after pucks down low rather than coming in as a winger and having to wait for the puck. Just figuring out little tricks to pin guys in the corner and box out in front of the net and make sure you have your guy when there's a scramble in front of our net."

He's seeing how Zetterberg does it.

"He's not the fastest guy, but he's going to make a play, hold onto it and take a hit," Larkin said. "You see Frans does the same thing as well. Once you kind of realize you have to hold onto it a few seconds longer or maybe chip or an area pass especially when you're playing with a guy like AA. Just that split-second of holding onto it and supporting your D is huge for possession."

Blashill said the move also gives the team a chance to see if Darren Helm's speed and anticipation ability can be utilized on the wing. He practiced Tuesday on Nielsen's line, with Anthony Mantha.

Larkin hopes that he, Athanasiou and Mantha can eventually form a line.

"Just get us three together and just play and figure it out," Larkin said. "If we have a bad game we're not going to play and if we're on we can be the best line on the ice."

Larkin, following a breakthrough rookie season (23 goals, 45 points, plus-11, has had a tough go. He has 13 goals, 10 assists and a team-worst minus-23 rating.

"I think he's got an inner drive to be great," Blashill said. "I think he's developing a mental toughness.

"He understands I don't want him to be an OK player, I want him to be a great player in this league and to do that he had to learn certain things, things that maybe he got away with a year ago, he wasn't going to be able to keep getting away with."