NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Dylan Larkin is the first Detroit Red Wings rookie to play in an All-Star Game since the legendary Steve Yzerman in 1984.

But there's no comparison between Larkin and Yzerman, according to the All-Star who would know best.

Jaromir Jagr, captain of Larkin's Atlantic Division team, is a 22-year NHL veteran who broke into the league in 1990 - almost six years before the 19-year-old Larkin was born - and played against Yzerman.

Jagr wasn't being critical of Larkin when he refused to compare him to Yzerman. It's just that he holds Yzerman in such high regard he didn't want to go there.

"I'm not going to talk about him," Jagr told MLive. "Stevie Y was one of my favorite players ever playing. I still, when I have the time, go to YouTube and I still watch Stevie Yzerman play because the way he played the game was totally different than any other player. That's tough to describe.

"I just loved the way he played, the way he skated, the way he handled the puck, everything. All his body, all his muscles on Steve Yzerman's body were working together. There was no separation. Legs, hands. It was always so smooth.

"Stevie was one of a kind so I'm not going to jump into that. Stevie was one of my favorites."

Larkin assisted on Jagr's goal in the Atlantic Division's 4-3 victory over the Metropolitan Division during the All-Star Game semifinals before the Pacific team won the championship 1-0.

Larkin chipped the puck ahead to Jagr, who went in alone on goaltender Braden Holtby and tied the score 2-2 with 37.3 seconds left in the first half.

"It was cool, celebrating after and to see him smile was pretty cool," Larkin said with a grin.

Larkin won the fastest skater portion of the All-Star Game Skills Challenge, breaking a record for the fastest time that had stood for 20 years.

It was Larkin's speed that Jagr has noticed the most.

"NHL has changed," said Jagr, who is fourth on the NHL's all-time list for goals with 737. "You don't have to be really big or very strong. You need to have good speed and be a good skater. That's the most important now.

"Fifteen years ago you had to be very strong."

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