{"id":457617,"date":"2026-02-14T06:01:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T06:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/457617\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T06:01:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T06:01:11","slug":"zetterberg-was-mentor-to-red-wings-larkin-detroit-hockey-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/457617\/","title":{"rendered":"Zetterberg was mentor to Red Wings Larkin \/ Detroit Hockey Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Detroit<\/a> Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin<\/a> is taking to the Olympic stage for the first time. At this pivotal moment of his playing career, he\u2019s thankful for the mentorship he received at the outset of his professional journey from another Red Wings captain and Olympian.<\/p>\n

Henrik Zetterberg<\/a> was Larkin\u2019s predecessor as captain in Detroit. The two were linemates during Larkin\u2019s rookie NHL season of 2015-16.<\/p>\n

Playing for Sweden, Zetterberg won a gold medal at the 2006 Torino Olympics. That was the previous time that the Winter Games were held in Italy.<\/p>\n

With his mind on the gold medal and the gold medal on his mind\ud83e\udd47<\/p>\n

Dylan Larkin gets some words of encouragement from Coach Snoop. pic.twitter.com\/1HEhrV9DXg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NHLPA (@NHLPA) February 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Larkin is skating for the USA in the current Olympiad in Milano Cortina, Italy. On the world\u2019s biggest sporting stage, he\u2019s also remembering all that he learned at the outset from Zetterberg.<\/p>\n

\u201cHenrik Zetterberg, who I got to play with for my first three years, is probably the most significant person I\u2019ve leaned on in my career,\u201d Larkin told website rg.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2007-08. That was the most recent Stanley Cup win by the Red Wings.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust his leadership and how he quietly went about being one of the best players in the NHL for so long,\u201d Larkin said, explaining how he learned much from Zetterberg simply through the process of osmosis.<\/p>\n

Larkin is the only player on the current Detroit roster who has been part of a playoff Red Wings team.<\/p>\n

Larkin Leans On Kane Among Current Red Wings<\/p>\n

Just because he\u2019s the one wearing the C, that doesn\u2019t mean Larkin still isn\u2019t seeking out advice from mentors. Among the players he\u2019s admired and respected for years is someone who suits up with Larkin in the Detroit dressing room.<\/p>\n

After all the buildup, team bonding and soaking in the #WinterOlympics<\/a> experience, the U.S. Olympic Men\u2019s Ice Hockey Team is ready to turn the page and get down to business starting today at 3:10 p.m. ET against Latvia.<\/p>\n

Feature story: https:\/\/t.co\/fJrasn23ZW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fdLGXb0ZVk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

That would be veteran forward Patrick Kane<\/a>. He recently became the NHL career scoring leader among US-born players.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an American-born player, Patrick Kane would be there for sure,\u201d Larkin said. \u201cYou grew up wanting to be just like him, with his hands and the plays he could make.\u201d<\/p>\n

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