Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, as expected, was stationed as Team USA’s No. 3 center at the team’s first practice in preparation for the start of the Olympic hockey tournament.

USA’s first game in Thursday at 3 p.m. against Latvia on Peacock. Grand Rapids Griffins player Eduards Tralmaks plays for Latvia.

Larkin is starting with New Jersey’s Jack Hughes and Buffalo’s Tage Thompson on his wings. Auston Matthews is USA’s No. 1 center with Minnesota’s Matt Boldy and Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel on the wing. The No. 2 line has Jack Eichel centering Ottawa’s Brady and Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk.

At the 4 Nations Face-off last season, Larkin thrived in a bottom six role for the Americans. His impressive play in that tournament made him an easy choice for the Olympic squad.

Earlier in this season, Larkin thought it possible he could end up on the wing if he made the U.S. squad. He was fully prepared to be in the bottom six.

“I would probably try and play like Emmett Finnie and be a good supporting player and someone that digs pucks and gets them to guys and goes to the hard areas,” Larkin said. “He’s a special player, special guy.”

First practice for Team USA 🇺🇸 saw some familiar Lines & Pairs from 4Nations.

Top-6 and D-pairs skated together today, bottom-6 is still “projected.”

Jack Hughes is a go, Charlie McAvoy is too, although in a full shield. pic.twitter.com/3MiU12t7nt

— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) February 8, 2026

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins have long history of Olympic medal winners.

In 1955, John Utendale became the first black player to sign an NHL contract. It was with the Red Wings.

Goalie Sebastian Cossa delivers yet another important win for the Griffins.

Red Wings Extra

A former Red Wings player is the man who put together the Czechia team competing in the Olympic tournament. Jiri Slegr has been general manager of the Czech team for two years. He played 677 NHL games as a defenseman from 1997 to 2006. That included a brief stint with the Red Wings in 2001-02. Then-GM Ken Holland gave up prospect Yuri Butsayev and a third-round pick to land Slegr.

👋 Mo! https://t.co/zxRYxBFuMy

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 8, 2026

 

Hockey Now Digest

Boston: Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak were named as alternate Olympic captains for USA and Czechia, respectively. Boston Bruins. 

New Jersey: Jack Hughes starting in bottom six of USA coach Mike Sullivan’s American lineup. New Jersey Devils.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski spells out the Penguins’ true trade needs heading into the NHL trade deadline. Pittsburgh Penguins  200