Top Wings prospect Dylan Larkin leaves U-M for pros

Dylan Larkin is back from the world championships and onto the AHL playoffs.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press today that Larkin, the blue-chip prospect from Waterford, is joining the Grand Rapids Griffins under an amateur tryout contract, forgoing his final three years at Michigan.

An ATO allows Larkin to play for the Griffins now without burning any of the three years of the NHL entry-level contract he also agreed to today. The Griffins open the Western Conference final Sunday at Utica.

"He's a guy we think will be able to produce points at the AHL level," Holland said. "He can skate, he can play left wing or center, kill penalties. He's good defensively."

Todd Richards and Dan Bylsma, who coached Larkin as he helped Team USA win bronze last week at the world championships in Prague, "unanimously agreed that he's ready for the AHL," Holland said. "And that he's close to the NHL."

Larkin is scheduled to join the Griffins on Friday for their bus ride to Utica, N.Y., and practice Saturday.

"My year at Michigan has been the best year of my life, the most fun year of hockey I've ever had," Larkin said in a statement released by U-M. "Going to one of the best universities in the world and having fun with my classmates, it will be tough missing out on what they're going to accomplish. On the other note, I have a chance to live out the dream of my life and I'm really excited about it. I think it's a great opportunity. I really feel like I'm ready for this challenge."

Larkin turns 19 at the end of July. The Wings selected Larkin 15th overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft. He has excelled everywhere he has been, including winning gold at the 2014 world under-18 championships.

His outstanding first year at U-M (15 goals and 32 assists in 35 games) earned him Big Ten freshman-of-the-year honors and the invitation to be one of only two 18-year-olds to play for Team USA at worlds. (The other was Jack Eichel, expected to be the second overall pick in next month's NHL draft.)

Now Larkin can gain the advantage of playing pro hockey with the likes of Teemu Pulkkinen, Tyler Bertuzzi and 2013 first-round pick Anthony Mantha -- and be coached by Jeff Blashill, who is the leading candidate to replace Mike Babcock in Detroit.

The Wings made it clear to Larkin before he turned pro that he has to work his way to the Wings.

"He knows there's no guarantee he'll be on the team," Holland said. "He knows he has to come to camp and make our roster or be sent to Grand Rapids."

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.