Record Holder Larkin Can’t Deliver in NHL’s Fastest Skater Competition

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was DraftKings’ +250 favorite to win the Fastest Skater race in the Skills Competition at the NHL All-Star game in Sunrise, Florida.

But his time of 14.45 seconds for a lap around the rink left him second to last on Friday night. Colorado’s Cale Makar, who fell down, finished behind Larkin.

Los Angeles Kings speedster Kevin Fiala (13.75) and Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov (13.99) were the two finalists. They are scheduled to compete in the final later tonight.

Still Holds Record

Larkin still holds the NHL record of 13.172 seconds for a lap around the rink. He set the mark in 2016 when he won the event at the All-Star game in Nashville. His blazing lap shattered the record of the 13.386 seconds set by Hall of Famer Mike Gartner.  His record had stood for two decades. Larkin was seventh at last year’s event with a time of 14.116

Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson owned the second-best odds from DraftKings this year at +320. Puck-moving defenseman Makar was third at +320.

NHL All-Star Game Props

Fastest Skater 💨 pic.twitter.com/UT8IpQMbiv

— Chris Meaney (@chrismeaney) February 3, 2023

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid has won the event three times, but he told NHL officials he didn’t want to compete in this year’s event. Gartner is the only other NHLer ever to win the event three times.

St. Louis Blues player Jordan Kyrou won last season with a time of 13.55. McDavid was fourth, but afterward Kyrou said McDavid is definitely the world’s fastest player.

Makar was the only other competitor, besides Larkin, in this year’s field who had competed in the event in the past. He was fifth at the 2022 competition.

Washington Capitals goal scoring star Alex Ovechkin is the DraftKings’ +300 favorite to win the hardest shot competition.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, a replacement for injured teammate Tage Thompson, has the second-best odds this year at +350, followed by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones at +380.