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With Pavel Datsyuk possibly leaving for Russia, Henrik Zetterberg in his mid-thirties, a Jimmy Howard contract to unload, and precious little cap space to work with on a rapidly aging team there are more concerns than things to feel good about in Detroit.

But one thing that every Red Wings fan should feel good about is Dylan Larkin.

At the 2016 IIHF World Championships, Larkin has continued to pepper the opposition’s net with shots and has been nearly a point per game player, showing that his rookie year in the NHL was just the beginning.

After just one year of professional play, it’s obvious that Larkin’s ceiling is high — and that the expectations of him might be even higher.

In October all anyone could talk about is how Larkin was the first teenager on the roster since Jiri Hudler. Eight months later, with the Red Wings’ 2015-16 season over, Larkin is being talked about as the player that Detroit should be building around with the 2016 free agency period on the horizon.

A common theme in many of the expected offseason changes in Detroit is the team’s greatest need — getting younger.

Even with Kyle Quincey, Brad Richards, and Drew Miller all on their way out the door, the Red Wings are expected to make a lot of moves, and possibly some big trades, in the offseason. There has been a great deal of talk about re-tooling the blue line, moving Howard, and unloading either Tomas Tatar or Gustav Nyquist.

Expecting big things from Larkin next season is understandable, expecting him to carry the offense as a 20-year-old is unrealistic.

Where Larkin is used in the lineup forward group will be a topic of debate over the summer, especially with a major shake-up anticipated in Detroit’s top six. Putting Larkin on the ice with players like Zetterberg who can get him the puck on the rush needs to be a priority in Detroit.

However, he might be best suited to play with other players, including Andreas Athanasiou, who can better keep up with him. Together they’d provide the Red Wings with a dangerous counter-attack that will keep the opposition on their heels.

No matter who he lines up with during faceoffs, there will be a tremendous amount of focus on what Larkin does in his sophomore season. His speed, tenacity, and head-turning even strength scoring rate and ability to create chances may not have earned him a Calder Trophy nomination, but there is no debate about him being one of the most exciting young players in the league.

So, what’s next for Larkin? Considering that he averaged 16:35 minutes per game, more ice time at both evens and on the man advantage are expected.

The real question is just how much will Red Wings general manager Ken Holland have youth in mind when the free agent market opens and Detroit watches Darren Helm walk away. A lot more than a 25 year long playoff streak is at stake for the Red Wings — a legacy of success is on the line.

The best way to continue that success won’t be by adding big name free agents who are past their prime and hoping to squeeze some magic out of them. But if they build around Larkin and other key young players that bring speed and even strength production to the team, it will put them in a position where they can succeed.

What’s Next for Dylan Larkin and the Red Wings?