(Another in a series of player profiles prior to training camp.)

Dylan Larkin

Position: Center/left wing

Age: 21

Height/Weight: 6-1/190

2016-17 stats: 80 games, 17 goals, 15 assists, 32 points, minus-28 rating, 37 penalty minutes.

Career stats: 160 games, 40 goals, 37 assists, 77 points, minus-17 rating, 71 penalty minutes.

Contract status: One year remaining on entry-level deal at a $925,000 cap hit. Will be a restricted free agent in 2018.

2016-17 in review: Production declined by six goals and 13 points from rookie season. ... Second-worst plus-minus rating on team (minus-22 on road, minus-6 at home). ... Tied for team lead with five power-play goals. ... Registered 43 fewer shots on goal in same number of games. ... Led team with 49 takeaways. ... Led forwards with 51 giveaways, second on club. ... Won 45.4 percent of faceoffs (196-of-432), up from 41 percent previous season (41-of-100). ... Averaged slightly less ice time (16:09) than previous season (16:33). ... Eighth among forwards in average power-play time (1:52). ... Scored first career shorthanded goal April 3 vs. Ottawa. ... First and only career fighting major Oct. 21 against Nashville's Yannick Weber. ... Had two goals and eight assists in eight games for U.S. at World Championship, ranking first on team in assists, second in points and first in plus-minus (plus-7).

2017-18 outlook: After a smooth transition from college to the NHL in 2016-17, Larkin took a step back last season, not uncommon for young players.

He didn't have as much space or time to make plays. It was more difficult to score, harder to defend. He described it as a learning experience and vowed to be more mentally prepared heading into this season, realizing he has a lot to learn about this league.

He will get another opportunity at center, where the team will soon need a young player to step up and assume the No. 1 spot after Henrik Zetterberg retires. He wasn't prepared for it at the start of last season but fared better near the end of the year and performed well there at the World Championship.

Zetterberg is expected to remain the top-line center, so playing on the second or third line should help Larkin with the transition, where he's not going up against the best players all the time. Larkin flourished the first half of his rookie season on Zetterberg's wing; he must find a way to thrive without the captain.

He has tremendous speed, which he often uses to circle the perimeter looking for an opportunity. Adding strength should help him be more effective on the inside.

Key question: Will a slightly more experienced Larkin adjust to the center spot?