from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

“For us to be good, the young guys have to carry the team and be our best players,” veteran center Frans Nielsen said. “From what they have shown so far, you get a feeling they are ready to take the responsibility and be leaders. Hank is not here so there is going to be a lot of ice time and it really looks like they are going to thrive with that ice time.

“I for sure see light at the end of the tunnel. The way the young guys have been playing, especially Larkin, you see they support each other.”

Larkin, the Wings’ first-round selection from 2014, is the face of the rebuild because of his inner drive. He’s had one taste of the NHL playoffs, in his rookie season, and hungers to return.

“We have this chip on our shoulder,” Larkin said. “Everyone went home this summer and had a really good offseason, everyone looks really good, and that is giving me confidence. There are fresh faces and a new energy.”

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