Red Wings season preview: Larkin tops group of young forwards

The 2018-19 NHL season begins Oct. 3. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the five keys, the inside scoop on roster questions and the projected lines for all 31 teams. Today, the Detroit Red Wings.

Coach: Jeff Blashill (fourth season)
Last season:30-39-13; fifth place Atlantic Division
RELATED: [Complete Season Preview coverage]

5 KEYS

1. Larkin's development

Dylan Larkin becomes the No. 1 center now that Henrik Zetterberg can't play because of back problems. Larkin, 22, led the Red Wings in scoring for the first time last season, but his 63 points (16 goals, 47 assists) tied for 58th in the NHL. His 0.77 points per game tied for 82nd. He needs to keep growing not only offensively but all around to compete against top competition at both ends.
"It's that next step where superstars are, and that's where I want to be," he said.

2. Youth movement

The Red Wings need their other young forwards to develop, too. Anthony Mantha, 24, scored 17 goals in 60 games in 2016-17 and 24 in 80 last season. He's aiming to score 30 this season. Andreas Athanasiou, 24, has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled with consistency. He will move from wing to center, his natural position. Tyler Bertuzzi, 23, has a chance to play on the top line. Michael Rasmussen, 19, the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and Filip Zadina, 18, the No. 6 pick in 2018, each has a chance to make the team -- and an impact.
"Obviously we're leaning on the youth," general manager Ken Holland said. "The youth has got to be up to the challenge."

3. Offensive improvement

After ranking 28th in goals per game (2.59) and 24th on the power play (17.5 percent) last season, the Red Wings hired Dan Bylsma as an assistant June 22 and signed unrestricted free agent forward Thomas Vanek to a one-year, $3 million contract July 1. Bylsma, the former Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres coach, will be responsible for the forwards and the power play. Vanek, 34, had 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) in 48 games for Detroit in 2016-17, and had 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) in 80 games for the Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets last season.

4. Goaltending

Good goaltending can cover up weaknesses and keep a team competitive. Jimmy Howard, 34, is capable of playing at a top-10 level when healthy and should have plenty of motivation. He's in the last season of his contract, and the Red Wings signed Jonathan Bernier, 30, to a three-year contract as an unrestricted free agent July 1. Howard had a 2.85 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 60 games for Detroit last season; Bernier had a 2.85 GAA and .913 save percentage in 37 games for the Colorado Avalanche.

5. Culture

The Red Wings have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in back-to-back seasons and are rebuilding. But they want to keep a winning culture and remain as competitive as possible to create a good environment for development.
"I think there's no reason why we can't be an 80-point-plus team and right there and fighting for a playoff spot, and in the playoffs, you never know what can happen," Larkin said. "I really believe that going into this season there's optimism in our room and guys are feeling good about themselves. So why not try and fight for a playoff spot and make the playoffs?"

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

Rasmussen seems likely to break into the NHL on the wing, the way Larkin did in 2015-16. The big question is Zadina: Will he make the initial roster, especially now that Zetterberg is gone and Athanasiou has moved to center, opening a spot on the wing? Will he start with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League, represent the Czech Republic at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and then come to Detroit?
Filip Hronek, 20, seems likely to be the seventh defenseman but is competing with Dennis Cholowski, 20, Joe Hicketts, 22, and Libor Sulak, 24.

Most intriguing addition

Zadina is the highest draft pick the Red Wings have had since they selected center Keith Primeau No. 3 in 1990. Zadina scored seven goals in seven games in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, tying for second in the tournament, and 44 goals in 57 games for Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2017-18, tying for third in the league.

Biggest potential surprise

Relative to the buzz about Zadina, Rasmussen has been under the radar. But he's also a top-10 pick and coming off a dominant playoff performance for Tri-City of the Western Hockey League, with 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 14 games. The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder is excellent below the circles.

Ready to break through

Athanasiou has wanted more opportunity; the Red Wings have wanted him to earn it. He will be put in position to succeed this season, skating at center with Vanek, with whom he clicked in 2016-17. With his speed and skill, Athanasiou should be able to break his NHL career highs of 18 goals and 33 points and improve defensively.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Tyler Bertuzzi -- Dylan Larkin -- Anthony Mantha
Darren Helm -- Frans Nielsen -- Gustav Nyquist
Thomas Vanek -- Andreas Athanasiou -- Filip Zadina
Michael Rasmussen -- Luke Glendening -- Justin Abdelkader
Danny DeKeyser -- Mike Green
Jonathan Ericsson -- Trevor Daley
Niklas Kronwall -- Nick Jensen
Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Bernier