Dylan Larkin is no stranger to high-pressure moments, but this one hits differently. The Detroit Red Wings captain is suiting up for Team USA on Olympic ice for the first time, and as he takes the stage in Milano Cortina, Italy, he’s carrying more than just his country's hopes-he’s carrying lessons from a legacy.
That legacy starts with Henrik Zetterberg.
Back in 2015-16, Larkin entered the NHL as a wide-eyed rookie centering a line with Zetterberg, the then-captain of the Red Wings and a player who already had a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal to his name. For Larkin, those early years skating alongside one of the league’s most respected leaders were foundational.
“Henrik Zetterberg, who I got to play with for my first three years, is probably the most significant person I’ve leaned on in my career,” Larkin said.
Zetterberg wasn’t just a captain-he was the kind of leader who spoke volumes without saying much. He led by example, quietly dominating shifts, making the right plays in big moments, and setting the tone for what it meant to wear the Winged Wheel. Larkin soaked it all in.
And now, a decade after Zetterberg helped Sweden win gold in Torino-the last time the Winter Olympics were held in Italy-Larkin is following in his mentor’s footsteps, chasing his own Olympic moment.
It’s a full-circle kind of story. Larkin, now the face of the Red Wings, is the only player on Detroit’s current roster who’s been part of a playoff team in the Motor City.
He’s carried the weight of a franchise in transition and emerged as a leader with both edge and poise. But even with the “C” stitched to his chest, he’s still learning.
Still leaning on those around him.
Enter Patrick Kane.
Yes, that Patrick Kane-the three-time Stanley Cup champ, the human highlight reel, and now the NHL’s all-time leading scorer among American-born players. Kane joined Detroit later in his career, but his presence in the locker room has been more than symbolic. For Larkin, having Kane around is a chance to tap into one of the greatest American talents the game’s ever seen.
“As an American-born player, Patrick Kane would be there for sure,” Larkin said. “You grew up wanting to be just like him, with his hands and the plays he could make.”
That admiration isn’t just nostalgia-it’s fuel. Larkin’s game has always been rooted in speed and compete level, but with Kane in the room, there’s another layer of creativity and composure to draw from. It’s a blend of old-school Red Wings culture and modern-day American flair, and it’s shaping Larkin into the kind of player who can not only lead a franchise but elevate a nation on the Olympic stage.
Now, as Team USA gets ready to drop the puck against Latvia, the time for pregame bonding and Olympic awe is over. It’s game time. And for Larkin, it’s a chance to turn years of mentorship-first from Zetterberg, now from Kane-into medal-worthy leadership.
He’s not just representing the Red, White and Blue. He’s carrying the torch passed down by the greats who helped shape his game. And if his journey so far is any indication, Dylan Larkin is ready for this moment.