Team USA forward Dylan Larkin reflects on his rookie season with the Red Wings, compares competing the IIHF World Championships last year to this year, what he hopes to improve upon and his expectations heading into the World Cup of Hockey. (2:17)

MOSCOW -- During the past year, Dylan Larkin has completed a stellar freshman season at the University of Michigan, won a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic, signed with the Detroit Red Wings, earned a full-time roster spot out of training camp, led the Wings with 23 goals as a rookie, served as their lone representative at the All-Star Game, been named to Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey this September and represented the U.S. once again at the IIHF World Championship in Russia.

"I've almost been too busy to really let that all sink in, but when you say it like that ... It has been a good year," said Larkin, 19, with a smile.

That's putting it mildly.

When the Red Wings drafted him 15th overall in 2014, they had Larkin ranked much higher on their board and counted themselves lucky that he was still available. In addition to his speed and skill, they loved what they had seen of his character and work ethic.

"I remember Tyler Wright, our director of amateur scouting, telling a story of [Team] USA playing at the U-18 World Championship. Dylan partially separated his shoulder but he came right back in and finished the tournament," said Jiri Fischer, director of player development for the Red Wings. "He wanted to play. That's not typical, for a 17-year-old guy to play with pain and really try to do anything to win."

After being named Big Ten freshman of the year, Larkin earned a spot on the national team at the world championship last May. He used that tournament as a litmus test to see how he stacked up against the competition and to decide if he was ready to make the jump to the professional ranks.

Despite scoring only one point in 10 games and realizing that he wasn't anywhere close to the player he wanted to be, Larkin decided to embrace that challenge head-on and immediately signed his entry-level contract with Detroit. He made his debut for Grand Rapids, Detroit's AHL affiliate, on May 24, 2015, during the first game of the Western Conference finals against Utica. He would go on to score five points in six games in the series.

"There are a lot of players who want to move up a level, but they don't always back it up with their work ethic or studying the game or maturing their body off the ice," Fischer said. "Dylan has done all those things. He's certainly one of the best prospects that we've had in a long time."

Now that Larkin realized what it took to be competitive at the next level, it was time for the Waterford, Michigan, native to really get to work.

"I knew my upper body needed to be stronger so I could win faceoffs," he said. "I needed to hit the gym and put on some weight to physically be ready to play and compete with men, and I think I did that."

By the time rookie camp began, Larkin had added 10 pounds. He impressed his coaches and fellow players there and then again in training camp. A roster spot opened because of Darren Helm's preseason injury, so a few weeks later Larkin found himself suiting up for the Red Wings, the team he grew up rooting for, to start the season. He became the first 19-year-old to debut for Detroit on opening night since Mike Sillinger in 1990-91 -- six years before Larkin was born.

Dylan Larkin has seven points after eight games at the world championships, second on the U.S. team behind Auston Matthews' eight. AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin

"Dylan was one of several guys who were fighting for a spot, and the decision was made that he's a player who improves our team every night," Fischer said. "After a few games, it was clear that he wasn't a fill-in or a replacement player."

Jeff Blashill, the Red Wings' first-year coach, showed confidence in Larkin, giving him top-six minutes and a chance to play to his strengths -- speed and skill.

"I think I was put in a great spot to succeed," Larkin said. "Playing with Henrik Zetterberg for 60 games, you're going to be pretty successful. But I also have to give myself some credit. I did the right things leading up to that opportunity. I worked really hard so that if I was put in that spot, I'd be prepared."

Midway through the season, Larkin began playing alongside veteran Russian forward Pavel Datsyuk, which proved to be a lesson in itself for the rookie.

"I think Pavel had to have some patience playing with me," Larkin said with a smirk. "Maybe the second or third game I was playing with him, he said, 'Hold puck. Hold puck. Cycle and then we have fun.' And then I think I shot it from the goal line a few times, and I tried shooting it from the outside, and he kept saying, 'Hold puck. Hold puck and then we cycle.' Then the third time I had a bad shot or maybe a turnover and he didn't look at me on the bench. I knew I was in trouble."

As Larkin worked on being more patient with the puck, he continued to raise his game to meet every challenge and expectation -- including Datsyuk's -- as the season wore on. He represented the Red Wings at the All-Star Game, and broke the record for fastest skater in the skills competition.

Dylan Larkin's storybook rookie season for Detroit included an invite to the 2016 All-Star Game -- where he was the Red Wings' lone representative -- where he broke a record in the fastest skater contest. Dave Sandford/Getty Images

"Midway through the regular season, he was one of our best players night in, night out. He improved our team speed and also helped to carry some of the load for Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk," Fischer said. "Dylan has historically been a center, and Jeff Blashill put him on the wing. Then our centers wanted to play with Dylan because he pushes the pace and he helps them pick up the energy on every shift."

When the Red Wings were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Larkin accepted another invitation to compete at the world championship, this time in a top-six position. Playing both center and wing, he has seven points in eight games and his versatility is proving to be a big asset for Team USA, which upset the Czech Republic in a shootout Thursday and will face Canada in the semifinals Saturday, with a chance to play for gold against either Finland or Russia on the line.

In fewer than four months, Larkin will be playing for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto on a combined team of Canadians and Americans all under the age of 23.

"It's a great, young team and we have some of the best players in the world," he said. "We have a lot of speed and a lot of skill and a lot of energy.

"I think I'll go into that team with the same mentality that I went into with the world junior team two years ago and the world championships last year," Larkin continued. "I'm probably not going to be a power-play guy. I'm probably not going to be a top-two line guy. I'm going to have to earn minutes and I'm going to have to skate and kill penalties and do the little things that the team needs. I might not be in the same role that I play in Detroit, but I think it's a great honor and I'll do anything to earn minutes there."

Larkin is also looking ahead to his second NHL season and preparing himself for the increased expectations that come with being a budding star.

"Dylan surprised a lot of players on the ice with his speed and how hard he fights for the pucks and how mature his game is," Fischer said. "Next year, in order to be as successful or more, he's going to have to reinvent his game a little bit. It's something that every elite offensive player has to do throughout their career.

Fischer said Larkin will have a target on his back next season and can't let up on his training.

"You can't just keep doing the same thing and think that success is going to keep coming," Fischer said. "That's not how it works in the NHL. There are smart players and they hate failure and losing and being beat, and they'll study who they play against so that doesn't happen. Dylan's biggest thing is going to be taking the next step physically this summer to improve and get stronger and more powerful. He needs to be hungry for more."

If his past is any indication, there should be no concern about Larkin's willingness and desire to improve every day.

"I don't believe in a sophomore slump and I don't intend on having one. I'm just going to prepare as best as I can like I did last summer and go into the new season even stronger," Larkin said. "I think I need to prepare more this offseason for a marathon and I'm excited to do that. This past year was great, but I don't plan for it to be my best one."