Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin posted a list of players whose “stock” rose or sank for the 2026 Olympics in Milan, and he included a certain Red Wings captain on his list;
Dylan Larkin, C, USA
It was apparent from the Americans’ first game that a bottom-six deployment wouldn’t stop Larkin from becoming a crucial component. His blinding speed made him a chore to defend. He delivered the game-winner in USA’s unforgettable round-robin victory over Canada. It was telling that, after Matthew Tkachuk exited the championship contest due to injury, the U.S. turned to Larkin, elevating him into top-six duty. For the tourney, the U.S. had a 5-on-5 expected goals percentage right around 60 when Larkin was on the ice. He began the 4 Nations as a fourth-liner, but he seems to have cemented himself as a third-liner next time around.
Continued; Larkin has shown at both the World Championship and Four Nations Face-Off levels that he’s more than willing to play in any role that he’s given, but his speed and skill levels are clearly high enough that he can be utilized in a first-line role with ease.
