The Athletic’s Max Bultman offers a set of observations regarding the Red Wings’ training camp this morning.
Bultman discusses the Red Wings’ early lines, Viktor Arvidsson’s “fit” with his new employer, the play of William Wallinder and Anton Johansson, the opportunity for Nate Danielson to make the team, and Detroit’s desire to increase their even-strength scoring:
The Red Wings are surely hoping [Viktor] Arvidsson will help with five-on-five scoring, which has been a glaring weakness in recent seasons. Last season, Detroit ranked 30th in the league with just 2.13 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Meanwhile, 42 of Arvidsson’s 54 points last season came at five-on-five, which would have been second on the Red Wings, behind only Alex DeBrincat.
To that end, it was good to see plenty of scoring in the first scrimmage Thursday. In that first 50-minute session, DeBrincat scored two goals (and, to my eyes, has been the most noticeable forward thus far), Finnie scored on a redirect at the net, forwards Wilmer Skoog and Théo Rochette got on the scoreboard, defensemen Justin Faulk, Ronnie Attard and Shai Buium all had tallies (though Buium’s may have been tipped), and Moritz Seider scored a game-winner on a blast from the point before shushing the opposing bench.
That said, neither side of the split-squad scrimmage managed a five-on-five goal Friday. The lone tallies were a Dominik Shine penalty shot and an Andrew Copp empty-netter. So, it’s fair to say that figuring out ways to score consistently at even strength remains a priority for this group.
It won’t be easy, but it’s one of the most obvious places the Red Wings will need to improve in 2026-27. And McLellan is well aware of that.
“I wish I could say it’s as simple as, like, ‘Let’s play a little heavier … along the boards, around the net front, screens, tip-ins, deflections,’” McLellan said. “It’s not. It’s not that simple; it’s not that easy. We are a good entry team. We aren’t as strong forechecking, so that has to blossom a little bit more.”
A better forecheck would lead to more (and longer) offensive-zone possessions, and McLellan noted the “energy trade-off” between time spent defending and time with possession. He also highlighted the positioning of players, alluded to encouraging top players such as Lucas Raymond to shoot more, and spoke of his desire to boost players’ confidence — especially younger players.
Continued at length (paywall)
