Red Wings' Olympic experience could boost their NHL playoff push

Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond returned from the 2026 Olympics and have rejoined the Red Wings as the team resumes its NHL schedule; Detroit holds a playoff spot but saw its cushion shrink after recent losses.

Several Red Wings returned to practice Tuesday after participating in the 2026 Olympics. Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond all spent time with their national teams in Milan. Larkin won gold with Team USA and remained for a White House visit before rejoining the club. The team resumes the NHL season with playoff implications and a tighter margin in the standings. Key details: - Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond were back at practice after Germany and Sweden were eliminated in the Olympic quarterfinals. - Dylan Larkin won Olympic gold with Team USA, visited the White House, and was expected to join the Red Wings in time to fly to Ottawa and play on Thursday. - Lucas Raymond finished third in Olympic scoring with nine points and recorded eight assists, trailing only Connor McDavid in assists. - Detroit sits in a playoff spot after 58 games but had lost four of its last five before the break, leaving a seven-point cushion over Columbus, which held two games in hand. - Coach Todd McLellan and teammates said Larkin’s experience in winner-take-all international games, along with Seider’s and Raymond’s tournaments, could provide useful reference points in close situations. Summary: The Red Wings return to NHL play with their three Olympians rejoining the roster and with March games ahead that have meaningful standings implications. Detroit remains in a playoff position but its margin has narrowed after recent losses, and Larkin was expected to rejoin the team for the trip to Ottawa and play on Thursday. Coaches and teammates noted the Olympic experiences as potential mental and situational assets as the team heads into the season’s home stretch.