Video ‘embarrassing’ but ‘D-Boss’ takes it in stride

Detroit – A Dylan Larkin video has gone viral but it’s not because of one of his Red Wings goals.

This has to do with a YouTube video Larkin shot as a 13-year-old with childhood friend Evan Gizinski in the basement of Gizinski’s Utica home.

The nicknames are, well, awesome dude -- Larkin is “D-Boss” and Gizinski “EG Slayer.”

“It’s been embarrassing watching it,” Larkin, now 19, said after Wednesday’s gameday skate at Joe Louis Arena. “But you just have to laugh it off.

“Guys won’t stop talking about it. A new nickname, a lot of laughs.

“It was harmless. A lot of guys my age were making videos (back then).”

Teammates have had a field day giving the business to “D-Boss.”

Watch: Larkin had some �sick snipes� as 13-year-old

“D-Boss is going around here in the locker room,” said captain Henrik Zetterberg with a grin. “He was a little rattled when it came out first, but he’s young, and he was even younger when that video was made.

“We just keep telling him it’ll work out in the long run.”

Wings coach Jeff Blashill, 42, is glad YouTube and social media weren’t around when he was 13.

“I can tell you I am happy there was no social media when I was a teenager, or college student,” Blashill said.

But Blashill is pleased Larkin is having fun with the video and is not defensive.

“It’s an important part of being comfortable in your own skin, which is the ultimate sign of maturity,” Blashill said. “You’re able to laugh at yourself a little bit and understand we’ve all done things in life.”

Blashill was asked if he noticed that Larkin had a wicked wrist shot, even as a 13-year-old.

“I wasn’t looking at the shot, I was looking at the hat,” Blashill joked.

In the video, Larkin sports a “rally cap” – it is turned inside-out.

For Blashill, though, the joking only goes so far.

“I won’t call him D-Boss,” Blashill said. “I call him Dylan.”