With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina looming, the spotlight should be on the world’s best hockey players preparing for a rare Olympic appearance. Instead, a construction delay is casting a long shadow over the tournament’s centerpiece - the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. The new 16,000-seat venue on the outskirts of Milan is behind schedule, and with no backup plan in place, the NHL’s participation remains up in the air.
A test event that was supposed to give organizers a first real look at the arena had to be relocated, and the next opportunity to evaluate the building won’t come until January 9-11. That’s cutting it close.
As Team Canada assistant coach Pete DeBoer noted, there’s no alternative site lined up if the arena isn’t ready. That uncertainty puts the NHL and its players in a holding pattern - and for several Detroit Red Wings standouts, it means their Olympic dreams are hanging in the balance.
Red Wings at the Ready
If NHL players do get the green light, the Red Wings are poised to make a major impact on the international stage. For Team USA, Dylan Larkin is about as close to a roster lock as it gets.
The American captain has elevated his game this season, evolving into one of the most complete two-way centers in the league. He’s logging heavy minutes in all situations - even strength, power play, penalty kill - and he’s producing at a career-best pace.
With 14 goals and 15 assists through 26 games, Larkin is tracking toward a 90-point season, something he’s never done before.
His performance at the Four Nations Face-Off only strengthened his Olympic case. Larkin notched a goal and an assist during Team USA’s second-place finish, showing once again that he can deliver in high-stakes, high-speed international play.
Roster Bubble Battles: DeBrincat and Kane
Alex DeBrincat is right there in the mix too. Like Larkin, DeBrincat is flirting with a personal-best campaign - 12 goals and 14 assists in 26 games - but the competition for scoring spots on Team USA is fierce.
The American forward group is deep, and DeBrincat may need to keep pushing the pace to separate himself. His offensive instincts and finishing ability are unquestioned, but the final roster spots could come down to role fit and versatility.
Then there’s Patrick Kane - a name synonymous with USA Hockey over the past two decades. Kane came into this season with one eye on Milan, hoping for one last Olympic run.
So far, he’s done his part, tallying 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 17 games. That kind of production projects to around 60 points over a full season - not vintage Kane, but still highly respectable.
More importantly, his experience on the Olympic stage and his legacy within the program will keep him firmly in the conversation. Whether that’s enough to earn him a spot remains to be seen.
International Impact: Raymond and Seider Already In
While Team USA is still sorting out its final selections, some countries are already locking in their rosters - and Detroit’s fingerprints are all over them.
Sweden has officially named Lucas Raymond to its Olympic squad, and it’s not hard to see why. The 23-year-old has taken another step forward this season, posting 27 points in 24 games and playing with a level of confidence and creativity that’s turning heads.
He chipped in three assists at the Four Nations Face-Off and continues to be one of the most dynamic Swedish forwards in the NHL. His breakout performance at the 2023 IIHF World Championship - 11 points in 10 games - only adds to his international résumé.
Germany, meanwhile, wasted no time in naming Moritz Seider to its Olympic roster. The Red Wings’ cornerstone defenseman continues to anchor the blue line with a blend of physicality and poise.
With 16 points in 26 games, Seider is on pace for his second 50-point season - impressive numbers for a defenseman known as much for his shutdown ability as his offensive upside. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Seider ranks sixth among all NHL defensemen in hits with 679, a stat that underscores just how physically engaged he is every night.
The Clock Is Ticking
As Olympic rosters begin to take shape, the only question left is whether the stage will be set in time. The Santagiulia Arena delay isn’t just a logistical hiccup - it could be the deciding factor in whether NHL players get to suit up in Milan at all. For players like Larkin, DeBrincat, Kane, Raymond, and Seider, the opportunity to represent their countries on one of the sport’s biggest stages is within reach.
Now, it’s a waiting game. The talent is ready.
The rosters are forming. But the venue?
That’s still a work in progress.