MILAN — Dylan Larkin has seen again and again just how dangerous his new linemate from the Buffalo Sabres can be.
For a change, Larkin is rooting to see it on the ice.
Larkin, the Detroit Red Wings captain, is in a groove at the 2026 Winter Olympics, from rooming with U.S. captain Auston Matthews to getting fitted in swanky gear.
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A little less red-eyed on Monday, Feb. 9, for having slept off some of the jetlag from the previous 24 hours, Larkin got his legs moving during a good hour-long practice that followed a photoshoot on the ice at Santagiulia Hockey Arena, site of the men’s hockey tournament. The U.S. plays its first game on Thursday against Latvia.
Dylan Larkin of Team USA takes part during training on Day 2 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 8, 2026 in Milan.
After team photos on the ice, there were multiple groups that formed, including Larkin with fellow former Wolverines Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski and Kyle Connor, who was on a line with Larkin at Monday’s practice. That’s just the University of Michigan contingent. From the state itself, there’s also Connor Hellebuyck. (Quinn Hughes and brother Jack weren’t born in Michigan, but Canton is their hometown.)
“It’s huge for the state,” Larkin said. “I hope fans in Michigan and our Red Wings fans know that I’m from Michigan. And I hope our fans can rally around Zach and Kyle and the Hughes’ and Helleybuyck.”
Tage Thompson of Team USA is seen prior to training on Day 3 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
For the next two weeks, Larkin would also like Wings fans to rally around his Olympic linemate – at least based on early groupings: Tage Thompson, the 28-year-old, 6-foot-6, 220-pound winger from the Sabres, has 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-6 rating in 21 career games against the Wings.
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“He’s given us so many fits in Detroit with the way he hangs on to pucks and makes plays and then the way he can shoot it,” Larkin said. “So both the guys that I was with today, it’s just get to the net, get them to puck and use my speed around the boards.
“We know very well what Tage can do and I think he’s going to be a big part of this team and maybe an X-factor that we didn’t have at the Four Nations tournament. There’s a lot of great stories and I’m happy to be going through it with those guys.”
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: US men’s hockey line pairs Dylan Larkin with Tage Thompson