dylan larkin headlines Red Wings' representation as three make 2026 Olympic quarterfinals
MILAN — Three Detroit Red Wings players will be on the ice for quarterfinal action at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but only two will still be standing afterward. Detroit captain dylan larkin leads Team USA into a high-stakes clash with Lucas Raymond's Sweden on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 3: 10 p. m. ET, while Moritz Seider and Germany head to a quarterfinal meet with Slovakia.
Three Red Wings, one elimination game
All three Wings advanced out of preliminary play. Team USA earned a bye into the quarterfinals after a perfect 3-0 group run with wins over Latvia, Denmark and Germany. Sweden punched its ticket with a qualification-round victory over Latvia at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, and Germany moved on by toppling France in qualification play.
Only one of these NHL stars will be eliminated in the quarterfinals. Raymond has been one of the tournament's most productive forwards with one goal and seven assists in four games, and Seider has contributed two assists in four outings as Germany seeks to build on its momentum. Larkin's USA will line up against Raymond's Sweden in a marquee matchup that could send one of Detroit's representatives home.
What dylan larkin brings to Team USA
At 29, Larkin is in his first Olympic appearance but is carrying the same leadership traits that organizers entrusted him with as an NHL captain. He has one assist through the preliminary slate, but his contributions have gone beyond the scoresheet. Larkin has been a trusted penalty killer, a reliable faceoff man and a versatile defensive presence who can match up against tough opposition.
Larkin has made the most of the Olympic experience off the ice, too. He chose to stay in the Olympic Village with his teammates and embraced the communal atmosphere, saying the group wanted the "authentic Olympic experience" and camaraderie that comes with it. Traditions such as pin trading and watching other events have been part of the team's bonding routine.
His message has been simple and blunt: "We came here to win it all, and anything less that isn’t good enough. " That clarity of purpose has been emphasized in locker-room remarks and in-game habits — blocking shots, playing sound defense, and doing the little things that allow the higher-scoring names on the roster to thrive.
Quarterfinal picture and the path forward
The tournament reseeds after every round, and seedings through the preliminary phase have set the quarterfinal matchups. Canada sits as the No. 1 seed, the United States is No. 2, Slovakia is No. 3 and Finland No. 4. With no upsets in qualification play, the quarterfinal pairings are Finland versus Switzerland (No. 5), Slovakia against Germany (No. 6), USA versus Sweden (No. 7) and Canada drawing the lowest-ranked team left, Czechia (No. 8).
The stakes ramp up quickly: quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals on Friday, with reseeding determining matchups for those games. For Larkin and his Red Wings teammates, the immediate focus is clear — win the next game. For Raymond, Seider and their national teams, the quarterfinals represent a chance to keep momentum and national pride alive as the field narrows toward the medal round.
Wednesday's U. S. -Sweden meeting will be a measuring stick for Larkin's role on a team with several high-profile scorers. Whether he continues to influence games with defensive work and leadership or finds a more prominent offensive role, the outcome will matter not just for Team USA's medal hopes but for how three hometown stars fare on the Olympic stage.
