NHL deal for Colin Larkin. 46 pts in 27 games this season. @EdmontonOilers
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) March 4, 2018
By today’s standards this is old news but my good buddy Sean Patrick Ryan from theoilnight.ca posted an article yesterday about the Oilers adding Dylan Larkin’s brother, Colin, the 2017 NEHC Player of the Year.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know that Colin Larkin was on the Oilers radar but we do know how much Chiarelli loves his Massachusetts prospects. Larkin was also the ECAC East Rookie of the year in 2015
UMass Boston is a Div III (there is no Div II) team and the more notable prospects that have came out of the NCAA’s 2nd tier are Todd Krygier, Alex Hicks, and Keith Aucoin, Most of the D3’s best players top out in the ECHL at best or make it to Europe’s second or third divisions.
Peter Chiarelli said he was looking to add speed at his most recent avail and Larkin brings it. In fact, it’s Colin Larkin’s calling card just as it is his younger brother Dylan’s. Skating.
I love the idea of adding a college kid with mad speed out of the NCAA. Chiarelli is obviously following the model he used in Boston to build up part of the roster you see today and a similar model that the Penguins employ.
The difference being, Chiarelli still believes in size and Larkin is 6’3″ and 192 lbs. Basically Zack Kassian’s size. I wonder if a comparison to Viktor Stalberg would be a good one to make here.
But, if you can’t tell, there’s a hint of skepticism I’m feeling.
Colin Larkin has been playing, and dominating, in a league that’s a tad inferior and on the best team. My question is, why didn’t he commit to a team in Div I? or why didn’t a Div I team come calling given his obvious talents?
Larkin self-admits that his developmental path trended up a bit slower than his little brother’s in an article here.
“My development was way different. He was always a top player in the state of Michigan growing up in Triple A. He was always good, while I was a late bloomer and was a bit slower in my development. Then when he made the jump to the US National development program, Our paths have been so different, and i’m so excited for him. He just gets better, and better, and better every year.”
So are we looking at big player who can skate like the wind but there’s no guarantee that the other skills will translate at the AHL level let alone the NHL one.
That being said, the Bakersfield Condors are going to go through a massive turnover this summer with as few as 6 forwards leaving via free agency (Gust, Hamilton, O’Brien, Polei, Loney, plus any of the RFAs the Oilers will walk away from) and adding Larkin, Tyler Benson, Ostap Safin (possibly), Tyler Vesel (IF he signs with the Oilers), and Cameron Hebig.
Not to take anything away from Colin Larkin but I don’t expect to see him in an Oilers uniform apart from the prospects tourney in the summer. Best case scenario, he’s a solid producer at the AHL level and a player who could be relied upon to contribute as a 4th line checker at the NHL level.
Fun fact #1: UMass Boston’s goalie is none other than Ron Hextall’s son, Jeff!
Fun Fact #2: Colin Larkin was coached in the NAHL by Moe Mantha… That’s right, Oilers prospect and current Bakersfield Condor Ryan Mantha’s uncle.
Colin Larkin #Oilers (Dylan Larkin's older brother)
College Free Agent (UMass-Boston)1 year ELC starting in 2018-19
$690,000 AAV
$650,000 Base + $40,000 SBhttps://t.co/zskh8Iy7YJ— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) March 5, 2018
#Confirmed
Thoughts? Please leave your comments below!
