DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills spoke with Wings coach Todd McLellan about the fit-and-finish aspects of the Red Wings’ preparations for Friday’s home opener against the New York Rangers:

“It’s continuing to build and polish,” McLellan said. “I’ll take you back to the game we played (on Saturday night) against Columbus. We did like a lot of the things we did, but I thought our passing and receiving – quarterback, receiver, whatever you want to call it – was very erratic. A lot of pucks thrown in skates, pucks thrown two or three feet behind, the passing and the rhythm was off. We’ve got to get that quickly. We took today, and it was a workday for us. Wake the system up again after a long Camp and a day off. A lot of skating.”

Moritz Seider also said this about Detroit settling into a more regular practice routine now that training camp is over, and the roster has been cut down from 50+ players:

“You have eight D out there, and everyone can play on both sides in all situations,” Seider said. “Great (penalty) killers on there. Overall, I just feel it’s a very, very solid D-core. You don’t have to be afraid of putting anyone out there against the top line.”

With Detroit’s Training Camp and four-game preseason slate now complete, Seider said the energy and excitement within the group will keep building as Friday night approaches.

“Obviously, it’s great to have the locker room for yourself finally, and don’t have guys in and out all the time,” Seider said. “As much as you like seeing them, it’s nice to have a full team and kind of get down to the daily work. I thought today was a really good day. Lot of skating, a lot of good work out there. I think a step closer to Opening Night is a good day.”