{"id":471036,"date":"2026-02-25T10:49:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T10:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/471036\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T10:49:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T10:49:22","slug":"red-wings-legend-thinks-russia-needed-to-be-in-olympics-dhn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/471036\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Legend thinks Russia Needed to be in Olympics \/ DHN"},"content":{"rendered":"

While watching the Olympic men\u2019s hockey tournament, Detroit Red Wings Hall of Fame icon Igor Larionov<\/a> felt like he was viewing Butch Cassidy without the Sundance Kid. Tango, but no Cash. Dumb, minus Dumber.<\/p>\n

The Professor, who flew to Milan to take in the Canada-USA gold medal game, felt that something vital was missing from the script \u2013 the presence of Russia.<\/p>\n

Russia is banned from international hockey by the IIHF since the country invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.<\/p>\n

According to @Igor_Larionov<\/a> This would have been Team Russia for Men’s Hockey @olympics<\/a> @nhl<\/a> #MilanoCortina2026<\/a>\u2026 pretty good goalies, eh? Too Bad we don’t get to see @ovi8<\/a> and #Demidov<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1GOIj0KDIt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rabkovsk\u00fd (@RobWorsoff) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSitting at the final and after the match, watching the benches of both teams, I felt one disappointment \u2013 that we weren\u2019t there,\u201d Larionov told Russian news agency Tass<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s like a movie without the main character.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was hard to process, because I\u2019ve played three Olympics as a player and five as a specialist. We should have been there, but we were missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

While in Milan, Larionov participated in meetings with the IIHF to discuss the Russian ban.<\/p>\n

Influx Of Red Wings Karma Boosts Leksand<\/p>\n

In the Swedish Hockey League, the dismissal of the father of a Red Wings prospect, coupled with the addition of a former Red Wings prospect and an ex-Detroit player, is resulting in a turnaround in fortune for Leksand.<\/p>\n

Tjomme Johansson, the father of Red Wings defense prospect Anton Johansson, was fired as the team\u2019s sporting director. Anton Johansson plays for Leksand. However, he\u2019s out with an injury suffered when bodychecked by Red Wings forward prospect Eddie Genborg.<\/p>\n

Leksand has gone 3-0 since the elder Johnasson departed. Recent addition Filip Larsson, once considered the goalie of the future for the Red Wings, posted a 34-save shutout of Link\u00f6ping on Tuesday. Leksand also recently moved skills coach Mattias Ritola to help behind the bench during games. Ritola played seven games for the Red Wings between 2007 and 2010.<\/p>\n

Former Red Wings Prospect Out Of Action<\/p>\n

Once a prospect in the Red Wings system who played 11 games for the Griffins, left-winger Albin Grewe has gained a reputation as the Brad Marchand of Sweden due to his ability to get under the skin of opponents. However, playing for Djugarden in an SHL game against Timra, Albin found out that what\u2019s good for the Grewe is also good for the Gander.<\/p>\n

He was injured after being cross-checked by Timra defenseman Albin Sundin.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got my shin stuck in the ice in some strange way,\u201d Grewe told Swedish Hockey News<\/a>. \u201cI must have fallen over it (the foot). And I don\u2019t even know myself, but I looked at the pictures afterwards. and it doesn\u2019t look very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Timra won the game 2-1. Detroit 2025 draftee Genborg assisted on both Timra goals.<\/p>\n

Detroit selected Grewe 66th overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft. He played 11 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins<\/a> in 2020-21.<\/p>\n

Buchelnikov Game Droned Out<\/p>\n

The KHL game between Sochi and CSKA Moscow, the team of Red Wings draftee Dmitri Buchelnikov, was suspended for an unusual reason.<\/p>\n

The game was immediately called off when Ukrainian drones were reported in the vicinity of the Sochi Arena.<\/p>\n

A beauty fitting the occasion \u2014 \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1 Daniel Sprong hits 50 points in 44th game! pic.twitter.com\/QwMIPmFf8V<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KHL (@khl_eng) February 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the KHL, former Red Wings forward Daniel Sprong picked up his 50th point of the season for Avtomobilist.<\/p>\n

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