Duffer’s Dabbles: Red Wings Well Represented In Olympic Final Four

Four years ago in PyeongChang, South Korea, Russia won the men’s hockey gold medal at the Olympics. However, even though NHLers weren’t participating, the Detroit Red Wings were well represented.

Firstly, former Wings star Pavel Datsyuk captained the Russian squad. Secondly, Alexey Marchenko, a Detroit defenseman from 2013-17, was also part of that gold-medal squad.

The 2022 Beijng Winter Games are down to the final four in the men’s hockey tournament. Again they are absent of current NHL players. On the other hand, no matter which of the four nations still in contention ends up enjoying a golden moment, they will do so with Red Wings content in their lineup.

Former Red Wings Olympic Contenders

For instance, Finland, led by two-time Detroit Stanley Cup champion Valtteri Filppula, will face Slovakia in one of Friday’s semifinals. Ex-Red Wings forward Tomas Jurco plays for Slovakia. The starting goalies figure to be the two netminders for the 2018-19 AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Harri Sateri should get the nod for Finland and Patrik Rybar for Slovakia.

🚨 SLOVAKIA 🇸🇰

Peter Cehlárik scores the only goal of the shootout and then
Patrik Rybár stays ON FIRE stopping Andy Miele to win it 🔥

Watch on the CBC Sports app or @cbcgem pic.twitter.com/ctJNoiSC1t

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 16, 2022

Defending champion Russia is tangling with Sweden in Friday’s other semifinal. Forward Alexander Kadeykin, a 2014 Red Wings draftee, suits up for the Russians. Mathias Brome from the 2021 Wings and fellow ex-Wing Jacob De La Rose are in the Swedish lineup.

Around The League

Detroit: Red Wings rookie forward Lucas Raymond has hit the 50-game mark and is showing no signs of slowing down. As a result, he leads all NHL rookies in scoring.

Boston: The Boston Bruins are getting quality mileage from a heavy line led by forward Charlie Coyle.

Philadelphia: Will he or won’t he go? Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux wants to win a Stanley Cup. He discusses whether he’ll be waiving his no-movement clause and agree to a trade.

Claude Giroux meets with media in PHI: "I haven't talked to Chuck yet about (trade deadline). Right now, I'm committed to this team." Makes it very clear organization is very important to him, "It's been an honour to be a Flyer for this long."

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 16, 2022

Washington: Is Buffalo Sabres forward Victor Olofsson a trade target for the Washington Capitals?

Florida: With Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad scoring goals 1:05 apart, the Florida Panthers ended up rallying for a 3-2 overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Vegas: All eyes were on Sin City on Wednesday as Jack Eichel made his season debut for the Vegas Golden Knights.