Dylan Larkin Makes Olympic Debut as Team USA Faces Latvia-and Familiar Faces
When Team USA hits the ice for its Olympic opener on Thursday, it won’t just be another international showdown-it’ll be a milestone moment for one of the NHL’s most respected leaders. Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is finally making his Olympic debut, and the significance isn’t lost on anyone who’s followed his journey.
Larkin’s worn the red, white, and blue plenty of times before-five IIHF World Championships and several other international tournaments-but the Olympics are different. This is the pinnacle for an American hockey player, and for Larkin, it’s been a long time coming. Now, he gets his shot on the biggest stage the sport has to offer.
But this game comes with a twist. Larkin won’t just be representing his country-he’ll be lining up against a teammate from within the Red Wings organization.
Eduards Tralmaks, a key contributor for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, is suiting up for Latvia. It’s a rare intra-organizational clash: two players under the same NHL umbrella going head-to-head in Olympic competition.
Larkin enters the tournament in top form. Through 58 games this season, he’s posted 26 goals and 25 assists-good for 51 points.
That kind of production isn’t just impressive, it’s been essential to Detroit’s push this season. He’s the heartbeat of the Red Wings, and now Team USA will lean on his scoring touch, two-way play, and veteran presence as they chase a medal.
Across the ice, Tralmaks has been turning heads in Grand Rapids. With 18 goals-second-most on the Griffins-and six assists through 44 games, he’s carved out a reputation as a reliable scorer with a high motor. Latvia may not come into the tournament as a favorite, but with players like Tralmaks who know how to find the back of the net, they’ll be looking to punch above their weight.
The U.S. enters the matchup as a heavy favorite-four goals, to be exact-but Olympic hockey has a way of throwing curveballs. Underdogs have already shown they can hang around, and Latvia will be aiming to do just that. Expect them to play with grit, structure, and urgency, hoping to capitalize on any opening they can find.
For Larkin, this is more than just another game. It’s the culmination of years spent representing his country, leading in the NHL, and waiting for this very moment. For Tralmaks, it’s a chance to show he belongs on the international stage-and maybe remind his NHL club that he's knocking on the door.
Two players. One organization.
Different flags. The Olympic stage doesn’t get much better than this.