Dubois vs Larkin

[Maverick69]

My last keeper slot is between Larkin and Dubois, and I'm struggling. Who would you rather keep? For what reasons? Stats categories are g, a, ppp, +/-, pim, hit, blk. There is no league salary cap.

[sweetcelly]

Slight edge to Larkin in the points categories, while Dubois gets the edge in pims, hits and blocks, and a big advantage in plus minus. Both players could be poised for a big breakout. I'd go with Dubois mainly due to the large advantage in +/-. Scoring will be very close between the two, I'd project Dubois for 65 next year, and Larkin for 70 (assuming an 82 game season).

[Smurf54]

Yeah this is a tough one. This time last year I likely would have said Larkin, because I felt he had the higher offensive upside. But with Detroit being awful, and with Dubois looking like a stud in the playoffs, I'm not sure that gap is as big as I once thought it was. Both are solid multi-cat guys, with Dubois having an edge in hits, pims, and blocks. The biggest divider between the two in the short term is likely +/-. I hate making decisions on that basis, but based on that, and Dubois being younger, I give him a slight edge over Larkin when choosing keepers.

[stevegamer]

If there's a trade market for them, explore it, it's close as others said.

Forced to pick, give me Dubois.

[Axeman33]

Welcome to the forums.

I wouldn't mind seeing all your other keepers and knowing how many you're allowed to keep before I choose here. My initial gut reaction is Dubois but I'd like to see who else you are keeping before dumping Larkin.

[Maverick69]

Welcome to the forums.

I wouldn't mind seeing all your other keepers and knowing how many you're allowed to keep before I choose here. My initial gut reaction is Dubois but I'd like to see who else you are keeping before dumping Larkin.

Thanks. Been reading for a little while, but decided to start posting.

We're allowed 10 keepers, and right now I have: Hellebuyck, Hedman, Heiskanen, Eichel, Laine, Tkachuk, Stamkos, Kane, Guentzel.

[Axeman33]

Thanks. Been reading for a little while, but decided to start posting.

We're allowed 10 keepers, and right now I have: Hellebuyck, Hedman, Heiskanen, Eichel, Laine, Tkachuk, Stamkos, Kane, Guentzel.

Ya, those are pretty solid keepers.

I'd still keep Dubois, but it really sucks losing Larkin for nothing. Any chance you can shop him OR Dubois around to try and gain something back instead of losing him for nothing?

[hockeyrobot]

Ya, those are pretty solid keepers.

I'd still keep Dubois, but it really sucks losing Larkin for nothing. Any chance you can shop him OR Dubois around to try and gain something back instead of losing him for nothing?

Yep I would try to do something like this. Big year from Larkin especially if Mantha can stay healthy for once.

[LuigiC173]

Larkin, most under the radar second half last year. I owned him all season, it was tough to start but he turned it around. Love PLD but he does not have Larkin scoring upside IMO.

[zambronies]

Agree with others. Larkin has more scoring potential, and PLD will give you more hits. I personally lean Larkin, but it’s a toss up. I’d shop both and trade the one that nets you the best return.

[jshed2]

I'd lean Larkin. While Dubois has the edge in hits and PIM, Larkin isn't a slouch in those categories either. And I think that the edge Larkin has in scoring outweighs his disadvantage in those two. Larkin is one year removed from a ~ppg season while playing with the likes of Nyquist and Abdelkader/Helm (eventually getting Bertuzzi up on his line but not till halfway through the season). With Larkin's wingers for the next couple years looking like a combination of Mantha, Bertuzzi, Zadina and Raymond, I'd prefer him by far over Dubois with Bjorkstand and Texier/Foligno.