My interview with Dylan Larkin

Thank you to the Red Wings captain for chatting with me!

I thought I was dreaming.

The subject line read “INTERVIEW OPP: Detroit Red Wings Captain, Dylan Larkin”. I read it twice, then thrice, then one more time, just to be sure. This couldn’t be a scam…could it? The Dylan Larkin? Waterford’s own? Well, as it turns out, yes. It was, in fact, Dylan Larkin.

I truly could not believe what I was reading.

The toilet paper in the forefront of the image is frying me

How the interview went

I’ve interviewed players in the past, but, like those interviews, I only had a brief 5-minute period to speak to Dylan. Since the focal point of the interview lay around his partnership with Charmin, I had just a few minutes to ask questions about the Wings and the Olympics. My original article, uploaded to Heavy Sports just minutes earlier, has a few extra quotes, but I included the lion’s share of the interview below.

For those unaware, Larkin’s known for showing up in games that matter. Here’s a clutch goal he scored against Jordan Binnington during the final round of the Four Nations Faceoff:

I made sure to ask him all about at experience, how international line chemistry works, and, of course, who he’d bring back with him from the Olympics. You can read the full transcript of the interview below the video, but, if you’d prefer to see me stare longingly into my laptop camera, that is also available.

Watch my interview with Dylan Larkin

Interview transcript

On the 2025-26 season

J: This season has been such a great journey for fans and I hope it’s been the same for you. What do you attribute the success to?

D: I mean, it’s just like you said, a journey. It’s not even this year, either. It’s last year with Todd (McLellan) taking over the team and instilling confidence in our group. He showed us how winning hockey looks. I’d throw a lot of credit in Todd’s corner as to why the team is having success. Same to Steve (Yzerman) too, getting us Gibson and how well he’s played for us. These last 22 games he’s been on fire.

J: Every hockey player has their routine before game time. What’s yours?

D: I like to start my afternoon with a nap. I’ll probably crash an hour, two hours, then I get up and shower and grab coffee and make my way to the rink. Usually with the coffee I have to go to the bathroom [laughs].

After I’m done with my business, I start with two puck (stick handling drill) and do my whole warmup on the ice. I like to run the warmups and get all the guys ready to go. Then, from there, the game starts.

Larkin on Olympics, Team USA

J: You were a huge factor in last year’s Four Nations Faceoff. What was it like playing with different players than your typical line mates? Did you have to make any adjustments to your game?

D: I think the biggest adjustment was playing on the wing for a little bit. You don’t have as many responsibilities defensively but you have more responsibility to open up space for other guys on the ice and get to the net. We tried to keep things as fast as we can.

J: Last question, Dylan: if you could bring anyone back with you from this Olympic roster to join you on the Red Wings, who would you pick and why?

D: Can I take them all? [laughs]. No, I’d probably say Zach Werenski. He’s one of my best friends. We grew up playing together. You know, he was my roommate at Michigan, I was in his wedding…he’s just such a special player. He’s a real force with how big he is and how well he can skate. He truly dominates as a defenseman.

Dylan Larkin makes his Team USA Olympic debut on February 12 against Team Latvia.