Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider have rejoined the Detroit Red Wings after representing their countries at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The alternate captains expressed enthusiasm for the remainder of the regular season and reflected positively on their international experiences. Both players participated in a highly competitive men's ice hockey tournament.
DETROIT -- Lucas Raymond of Team Sweden and Moritz Seider of Team Germany returned to the Detroit Red Wings following the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, where NHL players competed internationally for the first time in 12 years.
Raymond recorded nine points, including one goal and eight assists, over five games. Seider notched two assists and led Germany in average ice time at 26:16 per game. Both players described the tournament as a strong showcase for the sport.
"It was great for the sport," Seider said. "I think we showed everyone that it’s a very fun sport to watch. And hopefully, we can make it even bigger than it is."
The duo joined Tuesday's practice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, marking Detroit's seventh session since the Olympic break and their first since returning. The team has one more practice scheduled for Wednesday before a three-game road trip beginning Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.
Seider emphasized the team's strong position in the standings. "You work all season to be in that spot, and now we’re in a great position to hopefully do some more damage along the way," he said. "I’m happy to be back, and I think we just want to take care of business."
Raymond echoed the sentiment, noting motivation from recent challenges. "We’ve had a couple of tough [months of] March here, where maybe we haven’t been playing to our standard," he said. "I feel like that’s a big motivation for us right now as well. We’re in a great spot in the standings, and we want to keep it that way."
Raymond expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly after Sweden's quarterfinal exit. He had limited interaction with Seider or captain Dylan Larkin due to the schedule but congratulated Larkin on winning gold with Team USA.
"Super pumped for him to be able to go over there and win gold," Raymond said. "That’s big time, so very happy for him."
Head coach Todd McLellan noted the practice felt normal with their return, though they are adjusting to time changes and fatigue. He expects Larkin to rejoin the group Wednesday and travel for the Ottawa game.
