The Red Wings opened what is essentially a 4-day “mini training camp” on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena, as the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan noted…
[Red Wings coach Todd] McLellan wants to use these four days before the Wings host Minnesota this Saturday as a mini training camp, with an emphasis on installing more schemes and a heavy dose of conditioning. Tuesday’s practice was a copy of that plan, with an eager group of players.
“They’re excited about being back here,” McLellan said. “They are not video or meeting fatigued anymore because they haven’t had it for eight days. We were able to spend time showing them video from our time here rather than Los Angeles Kings clips (McLellan’s previous team) to show our point. We can show them Red Wings clips now, which is a positive.”
Knocking some rust off was important, said McLellan, while also being mindful of injuring groins after so much time away from the ice.
“We got better conditioned and got our legs going, but we did it with a purpose, a game purpose,” McLellan said.
There was a palpable excitement about being back. And with only 27 games left in the season and the Wings holding a playoff spot, there is plenty to play for.
“It was nice to get away,” Kane said. “You know in the back of your mind you have 27 games left and they’re huge games to get into the playoffs, so you try to leave all that here and enjoy the time away.”
And Kane continued while speaking with 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield:
For Kane, big games this season remain on the horizon. The Red Wings will return to action Saturday, occupying the second wild card spot in the East and eyeing their first playoff berth in nine years. Kane craves the feeling of anticipation before a playoff game, the nervous energy in the dressing room, “the intensity, the atmosphere from the crowd,” the euphoria of a win when the season is on the line. The three-time Cup winner has a few more thrills to chase, in the red, white and perhaps the blue.
“The rest of the year in here we have something to shoot for,” said Kane. “You’re shooting for the playoffs to have those type of feelings and play in those big games.”
