George Sipple

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has been getting less ice time lately.

Larkin has played fewer than 12 minutes in three of his last five games, including a career-low 7:58 in the Wings’ 5-2 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday. As the Wings beat the Washington Capitals and Penguins on consecutive nights, Larkin played a total of 19:27 and had one shot.

Larkin has struggled offensively this season. But the lack of ice time was startling, given the Wings were playing back-to-back against two of the best teams in the league, he’s 20 and is one of the team's fastest skaters.

Asked why Larkin’s ice time was down, coach Jeff Blashill said: “First of all, we’re coming off a back-to-back. We played lots of guys. But at times, he got shorted some ice. Right now, he’s not on the power play and, right now, he’s not on the penalty kill. When you’re not on either one of those units, it’s hard to play lots. It’s just the reality of the situation.”

Blashill repeatedly has reasoned that Larkin needs to improve at stopping. Larkin tends to skate around with the puck and then pass it after running out of options. On defense, he needs to stay with his man in puck battles, rather than drifting away.

Taking away ice time is one way to get Larkin’s attention.

He told reporters last week he had gotten away from shooting the puck. He has had at least three shots on goal only once in his last 19 games and has one goal in that span.

Blashill today was asked for specifics on what he likes about Larkin’s game and what he needs to do better. He praised Larkin’s “compete level.”

But that Larkin has experienced a sophomore slump isn’t a surprise to Blashill.

“This is part of a developmental process that started the second half of last year,” Blashill said. “With Dylan, it’s making sure he’s accountable defensively. Ultimately, trust equals minutes. The more the coach trusts you, the more minutes you get. How do you earn that trust? One is making sure that he’s stopping all over the ice, and it’s something him and I have talked a lot about, and he’s done a much better job as of late.”

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