Dylan Larkin, Olympic Dreams, and the Red Wings Trio Taking the Global Stage in Milano Cortina
For Dylan Larkin, the Olympic dream started the same way it did for a lot of American hockey fans - watching Miracle on repeat as a kid. The Red Wings captain still remembers wearing out the DVD with his brother, mesmerized by the story of the 1980 U.S.
Olympic team’s improbable run to gold. That underdog triumph, stitched together with grit, belief, and a little bit of magic, lit a fire in a young Larkin that’s still burning.
Now, at 29, Larkin’s childhood dream is about to become reality.
Come Feb. 12, he’ll suit up for Team USA at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics - his first Olympic appearance and a full-circle moment for the Waterford native. Officially named to the roster by general manager Bill Guerin on Jan. 2, Larkin is set to represent his country on the sport’s biggest international stage.
“I dreamed it for a long time,” Larkin said. “For it to come true and be part of that team is special.”
He’s not going alone. Larkin is one of three Red Wings heading to the Olympics, joining Lucas Raymond (Sweden) and Moritz Seider (Germany) in what’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated hockey tournaments in recent memory.
If last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off was the appetizer, this is the main course. That tournament delivered high-octane, best-on-best hockey between the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland - and it whet the appetite for what’s to come in Milano Cortina. Now, with the full Olympic field and the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014, the stakes - and the excitement - are even higher.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Seider, who, like Larkin and Raymond, is making his Olympic debut. “It’s a dream come true, and I can pretty much speak for everyone who is participating that it is.”
It’s been a long wait for NHL players to return to Olympic ice. The league skipped the 2018 Games in PyeongChang due to logistical issues, and COVID-19 scrapped any hope of NHL participation in Beijing in 2022. That absence only added to the hunger - for players and fans alike - to see the world’s best go head-to-head in the red, white, and blue (and yellow, and black, and every other flag on the ice).
“Not only for players but fans as well,” said Raymond. “Just how high a level of hockey the 4 Nations was, when all the best came together and played against each other, it’ll only be amped up more with the Olympics, on a grander stage.
“With all the best players coming back, it’s going to attract a lot of people, and players want to represent hockey in the best way possible.”
Larkin made his presence felt at 4 Nations, notching a goal, an assist, and finishing with a plus-3 rating in four games. He scored a key goal in a preliminary round win over Canada, but the U.S. ultimately fell to the Canadians in overtime in the championship game. The Olympic roster is largely a carryover from that tournament, and Larkin is eager for another shot.
“I’m excited to play with those guys again, and just the level of hockey, the speed - it was a lot of fun,” Larkin said.
But the Olympics aren’t just about the hockey. For all three Red Wings, the chance to live in the Olympic Village, soak in the atmosphere, and be part of a global celebration of sport is something they’re savoring.
“I’m looking forward to everything that comes with it, and not just the hockey games,” Seider said. “The chance to inhale the whole spirit of the Olympics and explore everything. I want to make the most of it.”
For Seider, that includes a bit of nostalgia. He grew up watching the biathlon with his grandparents - a sport that holds a special place in his heart.
“It’s a big sport at home [in Germany], and I grew up a big biathlon fan,” Seider said. “That’s one I would like to see in person, for sure.
I don’t know if it’ll be possible, with the schedule and the distance. But it’s going to be special just being around the village, being around your teammates and the national team.”
Seider, who captained Germany at the 2025 World Championships, is expected to take on a leadership role in Milano Cortina. Germany is bringing what many consider its strongest roster ever - and while they may be underdogs, Seider welcomes the challenge.
“It’s a great privilege but also a great challenge,” he said. “You have to embrace it and make sure everyone is ready to go. We’ll have some great games.”
Raymond, meanwhile, will be a key piece for Sweden’s offense. Hockey is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of his home country, and he understands the weight of the moment.
“It’s something you watched growing up, not just the hockey but all the sports in general,” Raymond said. “To be part of it is going to be a lot of fun.
I was too young [in 2006] when Sweden won the gold. I do remember 2014, when they lost in the final [to Canada].
“If you look at the greatest Swedish hockey players of all time, the memories come from the Olympics. Guys like [Nicklas] Lidstrom, [Peter] Forsberg, when they won [gold], and Henrik Lundqvist - you see the pictures and they’re still all over to this day. You want to be part of that, put yourself in spots like that.”
There’s also a unique twist to this Olympic run: facing off against teammates. One matchup is already locked in - USA vs. Germany in pool play on Feb. 15, meaning Larkin and Seider will go head-to-head.
“Those guys will go at it,” Raymond said, smiling. “I’m going to watch that game for sure.
“It’s strange, for sure. I remember playing against Dylan in Boston [at 4 Nations].
It was a weird feeling, my first time playing against him. It’s fun, though.”
The Olympics are always about more than just medals. They’re about moments - the kind that live on in highlight reels, locker room stories, and childhood memories. For Larkin, Seider, and Raymond, Milano Cortina is a chance to carve out their own chapter on hockey’s biggest stage.