As the NHL pauses for the Olympic break and the Opening Ceremonies officially usher in the Games, first time Olympian Dylan Larkin already knows one thing about what’s coming next. The Detroit Red Wings captain knows the moment isn’t about pageantry or spectacle, it’s about what happens once the puck drops. Every decision matters, every move carries weight. That's the nature of international hockey, especially when we're talking about the powerhouse teams of Canada and USA.
I was able to chat with Larkin earlier this week and I asked him if he felt the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament from last February was a preview of what is to come in Milan. "It was a great preview," Larkin said, "the intensity, and the speed, and, you know, the talent on display. It was just incredible. Just to be on the ice and to feel the intensity was special. I'll always always remember that, the first time playing best-on-best in a Team USA jersey, that was that was some of the best hockey I've ever been a part of in terms of speed and skill. Just really, really, really fun."
Unlike the upcoming Olympics, the 4 Nations tournament had, you guessed it, four nations competing for gold. With the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland all competing, the tournament offered a glimpse into what best-on-best hockey actually looks like in real time. Not wide open dominance. No margin-for-error hockey. Elite players making plays with barely any room to breathe.
“It really comes down to the smallest margins,” Larkin said. “Every play is so important, and every goal matters.”
That idea, that Olympic games are decided more by details than star power, is one Larkin expects to define the tournament in Milan. While the 4 Nations field featured traditional powerhouses, the Olympics will bring more depth, even more parity, and even fewer second chances.
And sometimes, those margins come down to a single moment.
During his first trip to the Games, Larkin has partnered with Charmin Ultra Strong as part of the brand’s “Power Play” campaign, with Charmin serving as the official toilet paper of Team USA. For a first-time Olympian, it’s been a way for him to embrace the moment while preparing for competition on the sport’s biggest stage. Larkin, a noted Charmin man, says, “Charmin’s weave design actually reminds me of hockey’s three-man weave — everything has to work together seamlessly. When you trust the system, you can move with confidence from start to finish.”
One second, one play, one goal will make the difference
“Look at the final game,” Larkin said. “It just came down to one shot. We had our chances, we didn’t score. Canada got their chance and they scored and won the tournament.”
That sequence stuck with him. At this level, opportunities are rare, and missed chances don’t come with guarantees. Momentum doesn’t wait, games don’t loosen up, and opponents don't cut you slack if you're having a bad day.
And that is what makes the Olympics special. “You put the Olympic rings on anything and it just ups the level and the importance,” Larkin said. “It’s such a dream. Every young hockey player dreams of playing in the Olympics.”
If the 4 Nations Face-Off was any indication, Olympic hockey won’t be about dominance or blowouts. It will be about surviving the margins, and making sure that when the moment arrives, there’s no hesitation.