Dylan-Larkin

Dylan Larkin said he expects to have a contract with the Detroit Red Wings before training camp begins in September.

"Obviously it's getting to August so a lot of talking and negotiating," the restricted free agent forward told the Red Wings website in remarks published Thursday. "I think it's a bit of a process, the back and forth and thinking and everything. It's definitely a process. You can't sit by your phone all summer, you've got to still train and work out and have fun, go on trips and stuff like that. It's a process, learning the business side of it. I feel pretty confident that something will get done before training camp. No worries about it."
Detroit general manager Ken Holland said negotiations have picked up in the past three weeks.
"I think everybody would like it to be done," Holland said. "You look at an NHL player, (you) start to get to the middle of August and everybody starts to work their way into their home city and starts to skate. I'm sure he'd like to be on the ice skating with his teammates with a contract in hand.
"I'm not putting any deadline on it because it's got to be a solution that the player feels good about and the club feels good about. We're working, we've had lots and lots of talks. I think we've made lots of progress, but we've got some work to do."
The 22-year-old had an NHL career-high 63 points (16 goals, 47 assists) in 82 games last season, leading the Red Wings in points and assists.

Reports have suggested Larkin could get a five-year or six-year contract. He completed his three-year, entry-level contract last season.
"It is an honor," Larkin said of a long-term offer. "That doesn't go around very often. It's something that you can't hang your hat on, you've got to continue to work hard and want more for yourself, more for the team and the city, the organization. I'm still not really sure where it's going to end up, but if they're willing to give a commitment like that, it's going to be a pretty good honor."
Holland confirmed they are working on a multiyear contract.
"I'd say it's longer than a bridge (contract)," Holland said. "I'd consider a bridge 1-2 years. I would say longer than a bridge. Those are part of the discussions to find a solution that makes sense for both sides."
Detroit selected Larkin in the first round (No. 15) of the 2014 NHL Draft. He has 140 points (56 goals, 84 assists) in 242 NHL games and one goal in five Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has missed four games in his three NHL seasons.
"If there's opportunity there, and for myself, I need to build on last year and improve, for myself and for the team and be a big-time player where the game's one minute left, we're up by a goal or we're down by a goal, taking a big face-off to win it back and score the big goal or score the empty-netter, something just to win games," Larkin said.
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report.