Dylan Larkin 12-1-15

Opponents have needed to keep a close eye on Red Wings rookie Dylan Larkin.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT - Detroit Red Wings rookie Dylan Larkin called plus-minus a weird stat, with a lot of puck-luck involved.

But there must be more to it than that. Larkin leads the NHL - all players, not just rookies - with a plus-17 rating. So, in his case at least, the rating correlates to his tremendous play through 26 games.

"Larkin has found a way to be out there when we've scored lots of goals," coach Jeff Blashill said before Saturday's game vs. Nashville. "There's a huge differentiation and that speaks highly of how he's played. He's been out there for lots of goals and not many against. For some reason, even if he makes mistakes he seems to find a way to maybe make up for it. And then he's obviously creating lots as well."

Remarkably, Larkin's plus-minus rating is far better than anyone else on the team. Jonathan Ericsson and Brendan Smith are next at plus-5. Henrik Zetterberg is the only other forward as high as plus-3.

Plus-minus takes into account the number of goals a team scores minus the number of goals it allows while a player in on the ice at even strength. The Red Wings as a team are plus-6.

"One thing about plus-minus that I don't like is that it includes empty-net goals (the Red Wings are minus-4 in ENGs). I think it can really skew the stat," Blashill said. "But I still put stock in the plus-minus. I still think it means something if you're out there when you score a lot and not out there when you get scored on a lot.

"I put more stock into our scoring chances plus-minus - we keep track of a plus-minus based on scoring chances - but that doesn't mean that the regular plus-minus doesn't count."

Plus-minus aside, Larkin is tied for first among rookies with 10 goals (with the New York Rangers' Oscar Lindberg and Arizona's Anthony Duclair) and third among rookies with 19 points.

"It's pretty good," Larkin said. "I think I can be more consistent, every game play at a high level and skate hard every night. That's been a challenge for me, so I think I can get better for sure."

RED WINGS NOTES

Watson's JLA debut: Nashville forward Austin Watson, born in Ann Arbor, was slated to play in his first NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday. He was the Predators' first pick in 2010 (18th overall). "I played some minor hockey games here growing up, but growing up as a Michigan kid, I've watched the Red Wings and come to games at the Joe so this is definitely a cool experience," Watson said. He played youth hockey for Compuware.

Praise for the Red Wing way: Longtime St. Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman, who joined Nashville this season, has much respect for the way the Red Wings operate: "Anytime that they have a veteran player leave, either for a new team or retirement, they always have somebody, a young stud that steps in each and every year," he said. "I think you have to give credit to their scouting staff and their minor-league system. They don't ever rush anybody to the NHL, either. There's a lot of emphasis on development and learning how to play the system in the minors so that when they get up here, they have the best opportunity to succeed."

Kettle winners: General manager Ken Holland and Blashill earned a victory in the team's 10th annual bell ringing competition Friday, as four groups of Red Wings players, personnel and alumni brought in a total of $13,699.17 for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign. During a two-hour span of bell ringing at Kroger in Plymouth, Holland and Blashill raised $6,086.13 for the nonprofit. Luke Glendening, Dylan Larkin and Riley Sheahan brought in $3,901 at the Kroger in Farmington Hills. The other two groups of Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm at Hockeytown Authentics in Troy and Larry Murphy at Kroger in Birmingham collected a combined $3,712.

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