Could No. 23 Bring Gold No. 23 to Hockeytown? Lucas Raymond, Red Wings Olympians Set for Italy Showdown
The Detroit Red Wings are sending some serious talent to Italy for the Winter Olympics - and they’re not just going for the experience. With Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin, and Moritz Seider all suiting up for their countries, the Red Wings could be adding another chapter to their rich Olympic legacy.
Let’s start with Raymond. The 23-year-old winger - who also wears No. 23 - will be a key piece for Team Sweden as the Olympic hockey tournament gets underway.
Raymond’s been heating up in the NHL this season, and he’s arriving in Italy with confidence and momentum. His skill set - quick hands, high IQ, and a knack for finding space - makes him a natural fit for the Olympic stage, where speed and creativity shine.
And while Raymond might be the headliner for Sweden, he’s not the only Wing with gold-medal dreams.
Captain Larkin Leads Team USA
Dylan Larkin is no stranger to wearing the red, white, and blue. The Red Wings captain will once again lead the charge for Team USA, bringing his trademark speed and compete level to a roster that’s looking to make a deep run.
Larkin’s leadership and two-way game will be crucial in a tournament where every shift matters. If the Americans are going to break through and win gold, Larkin’s going to be at the center of it.
Seider Anchors Germany’s Blue Line
Then there’s Moritz Seider, the towering defenseman who’ll be suiting up for Germany. While Germany isn’t a traditional hockey powerhouse, they’ve proven they can punch above their weight - just ask anyone who watched the 2018 Winter Olympics, when they shocked the world and took home silver. Seider gives them a legitimate top-pairing defenseman who can log big minutes, kill penalties, and jumpstart the offense with his elite puck-moving ability.
Detroit’s Olympic Legacy Runs Deep
If any of these three current Red Wings manage to capture gold, they’ll be joining a pretty exclusive club. Valtteri Filppula was the most recent to do it, winning gold with Finland in 2022.
That made him the 22nd player with Red Wings ties to win Olympic gold - and the 17th to pair that with a Stanley Cup ring. That’s some elite company.
The tradition goes way back, too. Frank Fredrickson and Slim Halderson were part of Canada’s gold-medal squad at the very first Olympic hockey tournament in 1920.
Both later suited up for the original Detroit Cougars in 1926-27, with Halderson scoring the first goal in franchise history. Talk about setting the tone.
Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the names who’ve worn the Winged Wheel and also stood atop the Olympic podium:
- Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg - all part of Canada or Sweden’s golden generations.
- Dominik Hasek and Robert Lang - helped the Czech Republic dominate in 1998.
- Viacheslav Fetisov and Igor Larionov - Soviet legends who brought their gold-medal pedigree to Detroit in the '90s.
- Pavel Datsyuk - won gold with the Olympic Athletes from Russia in 2018, long after dazzling in Detroit.
Griffins Alumni Making Their Mark
It’s not just the NHL roster that’s left its mark on the Olympics. The Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, has quietly built a legacy of its own on the international stage.
At the 2022 Games in Beijing, both Filppula and Finnish goalie Harri Sateri - another former Griffin - helped Finland win gold. Meanwhile, ex-Griffins netminder Patrik Rybar earned bronze with Slovakia. That made it five straight Olympic Games with at least one Griffins alum on the podium.
What’s Next?
As the puck drops in Italy, all eyes in Detroit will be on Raymond, Larkin, and Seider. Whether it’s Team Sweden, USA, or Germany that makes a run, there’s a real chance the Red Wings add another gold medal to their already impressive Olympic resume.
And if No. 23 brings home gold No. 23 for the franchise? That’s the kind of symmetry that feels like more than just coincidence. It feels like history in the making.