The Daily: Gold-Medalist Larkin Now Looks for Playoffs; Flyers Want Red Wings Draftee

Brady Tkachuk spent the past two weeks patting fellow U.S. Olympian Dylan Larkin on the back and Thursday night he will looking to crush him through the boards.

Welcome back to NHL competition where the U.S. brotherhood will give way to the NHL pressure to make the playoffs.

Now that Larkin has helped USA win an Olympic gold medal, his focus will be on ending the Red Wings’ nine-year playoff drought. That starts Thursday when the Red Wings play the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators. Tkachuk is usually a monstrous force when the Red Wings and Senators square off.

It will be fascinating Thursday to see how Larkin and Tkachuk react to one another.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, have 72 points with 24 games remaining. Last year, 91 points earned a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. If that standard is repeated, the Red Wings need to go 9-14-1 to get in. Some projections have 95 points required to qualify this season. That would require Detroit to go 11-12-1 to make it. The fun starts Thursday 7 p.m.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Red Wings prospects Carter Bear and Rudy Guimond have led their junior team to the top two spots in the CHL Poll. Bear’s Everett Silvertips are No. 1.

Detroit’s 1970 first-round draft pick Serge Lajeunesse has died at 75.

Ex-Red Wings player Tomas Tatar broke down in tears after Slovakia lost in bronze medal game.

Red Wings Extra

Buffalo native Patrick Kane hoped he would be on the 2026, but injuries undermined his chances. But he still celebrated the American gold medal.

“What a moment for USA Hockey,” Kane said after Monday’s practice. It’s obviously been a long time coming since 1980, and just the way the game went, it seemed like everything was kind of going Canada’s way. And Hellebuyck played great, made some great saves. Canada obviously had their opportunities and just obviously ecstatic for a lot of those guys that I know that were on the team, the Hughes brothers, obviously Larks. And just the excitement level that those guys are having is. I’m sure it’s an incredible feeling.”

Kane echoed the celebration of Larkin’s strong play.

“Just the way he played in 4 Nations (last season) and Olympics, obviously really fit into his role really well there and played some great hockey. I think that’s probably the guy I’m most happy for. Just his love and appreciation of USA Hockey. And not only that, but as a Red Wings teammate, too, and what he brings to the organization and how much he cares. I don’t think there’s anyone more deserving than him.”

Detroit’s Andrew Copp is a former Hellebuyck teammate and he had special praise for the fellow Michigan native.

“I’m glad he had his moment,” Copp said. “He’s pretty much the best American goalie ever.”

Hockey Now Digest

Florida: Urgent Panthers don’t have luxury to ease Olympians back into the NHL schedule. Florida Panthers.

Philadelphia: William James has a take on who the Flyers should target to acquire before the March 6 NHL trade deadline. Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski has the latest on Sidney Crosby’s injury status. Pittsburgh Penguins. 

San Jose: Alex Wennberg still not over the Swedes loss to USA in the Olympic quarterfinals.