A new mark for the NHL's fastest skater was set by the Detroit rookie at the All-Star Skills Competition in Nashville.
Wings' Larkin jets to skating recordDylan Larkin made a little history Saturday in the Music City.
Larkin, the Detroit Red Wings left winger and most recent cover boy of The Hockey News, broke a 20-year-old mark for his skating prowess at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition.
Larkin completed a lap in 13.172 seconds, breaking then-Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mike Gartner’s record of 13.386 seconds back in 1996.
Gartner’s record was established six months before Larkin, 19, was even born. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Larkin became a trending topic on Twitter in Canada. His efforts also earned him some respect from another speedster, former NHLer Cliff Ronning.
However, Larkin’s record does come with an asterisk.
When Gartner established his mark 20 years ago in Boston, he was required to start from a static position at center ice. Larkin was permitted to have a skating start from the blueline. The clock only started ticking once he crossed the red line.
Still, it was an impressive performance in Nashville for the freshman, who has 15 goals and 33 points in 48 games.
