Month: September 2025

Prospect round-up: 9 shots for Kiiskinen and a game misconduct for Svrcek

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen finished at -1 with 9 shots in 18:16 played as HPK Hameenlinna lost 6-0 to Lukko;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Charlie Forslund wasn’t in Mora IK’s lineup as they lost 2-1 in a shootout to former Red Wings prospect Liam Dower Nilsson’s IF Bjorkloven.

And in the Swedish J20 league, Michal Svrcek got 5-and-a-game for a nasty hit in Brynas IF’s 3-1 win over MoDo Hockey. Per Red Wings Prospects on Twitter:

Coach McLellan says the Wings’ lines will keep changing as training camp, exhibition season continue

The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that the Red Wings’ lineup remains in flux on the second day of training camp:

While parrying questions about possible line combinations, [Red Wings coach Todd] McLellan said to expect them to be “all over the map. We’re just going to keep experimenting with different people in different places until we find something we like.”

Part of the experimentation is driven by the absences of forward James van Riemsdyk (family) and defenseman Simon Edvinsson (lower-body injury), but McLellan revealed a desire to know who plays where isn’t limited to members of the media.

“I would caution everybody: Don’t read into the lines,” McLellan said. “My son called me yesterday and said, you’re starting so-and-so and I said, ‘What do you mean I’m starting so-and-so with so-and-so.’ He goes, well, it’s all over the news, the lines are going to be like this. And I’m going Cale, no.

“We’re moving people around. I think we have to give the younger players every opportunity to experience being on a line with some veterans, and see how that goes. But please don’t read into the lines and good luck guessing, because I don’t even know what we’re doing tomorrow, yet.”

McLellan did sound hopeful Edvinsson will be available before the end of the month, saying, “It’s not overly serious. I hope he’s playing maybe the last exhibition game and game one of the regular season.”

McLellan also conceded he might want to get a look at Edvinsson paired with free-agent signee Travis Hamonic. “You’d have a lefty-righty, so there’s a really good chance that could happen. But it’s too early to get into that.”

Also: Some fatigue has set in:

“We had some goals set in regards to structure [today] and I believe we got that accomplished,” McLellan said. “Day 2 tends to be a little more ragged than Day 1. After Day 1, you feel it. You get up early and you have to go do it all over again.”

Press release: Red Wings post preseason broadcast schedule

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS, FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK AND AUDACY ANNOUNCE 2025-26 PRESEASON BROADCAST SCHEDULE

  … 2025 Red & White Game and Select Preseason Games Will be Streamed Live on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings, in conjunction with FanDuel Sports Network and Audacy, today announced the Red Wings local television, streaming and radio schedules for the 2025-26 preseason. This schedule is subject to change.

The 2025 Red & White Game will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3:00 p.m. at Van Andel Arena, home of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Fans can watch the sold-out game on WXSP-TV across West Michigan or watch the live stream on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App. Please note that all games on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App will only be available to fans in Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

FanDuel Sports Network continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing three preseason contests, beginning with a road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m.) FanDuel Sports Network will also carry home games against the Penguins (Monday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m.) and Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m.)

Additionally, all four preseason home games will air on the Detroit Red Wings Radio Network. WWJ Newsradio 950 will cover preseason games against the Chicago Blackhawks (Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m.) and Buffalo Sabres (Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m.), while 97.1 The Ticket will air preseason matchups against the Penguins (Monday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m.) and Maple Leafs (Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m.)

Training camp weekend fundraising

Okay, training camp is underway, and I’m putting in 12-to-14-hour days as a result. If you’re willing to lend a financial hand to defray the expenses of the website and support the time I’m putting in, that would be wonderful.

Aunt Annie and I are obviously trying to pay the bills, too, so there’s that…But these four days of training camp are a tremendous grind, and I’m hoping that you’re receiving content that’s worth your support.

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As always, I thank you for your time and your readership.

Continue reading Training camp weekend fundraising

Kane, DeBrincat praise coach McLellan’s coaching style

The Hockey News’s Ryan Kennedy spoke with Red Wings forwards Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat during the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, and they discussed the players’ trust in Red Wings coach Todd McLellan:

With NHL training camps open, hope springs eternal, and the Motor City is not immune. Last year, GM Steve Yzerman dismissed coach Derek Lalonde after a 13-17-4 start, replacing him with veteran bench boss Todd McLellan. Detroit went 26-18-4 the rest of the way, which, hypothetically, means they could have been a playoff team had they played at that pace all year. Coming into this season, Detroit’s stars are excited about what a full year of McLellan could mean for their fortunes.

“I played a lot better under him when we made the switch,” said future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane. “The team started playing more aggressive and playing better. As you get older you want to win, and I think we can do that there. That’s the goal, to get into the playoffs. We really feel we’re on the verge, and we should do it this year.”

The Detroit job brings McLellan‘s NHL journey full circle. His first gig in the league was as an assistant coach with the Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup under Mike Babcock. After that, he got the head coaching job in San Jose, where he guided the Sharks to back-to-back conference finals. Most recently, he was in Los Angeles, where his Kings ran into Connor McDavid and the Oilers twice in a row (before that, he coached McDavid himself in Edmonton).

And while he hasn’t even been in Detroit for a whole season yet, the Red Wings have faith in McLellan.

“Todd really preaches details a lot,” said right winger Alex DeBrincat. “You can make mistakes, but if you work hard, you’re gonna be on his good side. He wants 100 percent out of everyone at all times. He’ll hold you accountable for mistakes, so don’t do it again.”

Explaining the methods behind certain strategies is also a strength, DeBrincat noted.

“Some guys don’t like dumping the puck in, but if a certain play calls for it, he’s going to tell you what happens next that can really improve the team game,” he said. “He thinks the game really well, which is fun to be a part of. You’re not just skating around and getting nothing accomplished. He’s got a plan for you.”

Continued

It comes down to defense

Bleacher Report’s Sara Civian offers a single prediction for each and every NHL team for the 2025-2026 season this morning:

Detroit Red Wings

Prediction: The situation on defense makes or breaks Detroit’s playoff hopes.

The Reason Why: The Red Wings desperately need an upgraded defense, and they didn’t do much to drastically improve the situation in the offseason (which was fair because the market was so weak). Will the young players who stepped it up in the second half last season fully break out and solve this problem? Will Steve Yzerman outsource with a trade? One of these scenarios has to happen.

Continued; it’s going to take a combination of young players stepping up and an import or two to truly address the Wings defense’s shortcomings.