Month: September 2026

Video link: CBS Detroit reports from training camp, where coach McLellan praises DeBrincat’s leadership

I can’t embed this, but CBS Detroit posted a 1:11 report from training camp, and the report spotlights Alex DeBrincat’s remarks regarding remaining in Detroit, and coach Todd McLellan’s praise for DeBrincat’s off-ice leadership skills.

Coach McLellan pointed out that DeBrincat’s become a bit of a social manager as well:

“Also, away from the rink, with all that’s gone on, and around us, he’s been one of the guys that stepped up, and arranged things for teammates, and made sure that everything’s taken care of for guys, so, some real good leadership qualities there.”

Alex DeBrincat believes that the Red Wings can build off last season’s positives, and says that he understands Dylan Larkin’s situation

The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau took note of the comments made by Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat on the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour earlier this month, as made to THN’s Michael Traikos, regarding several topics of interest. DeBrincat suggested that the Red Wings’ previous season wasn’t as dire as it appeared to be…

“We can get our minds set and get confident again and learn from our mistakes last year,” DeBrincat said. “I think that’s really the biggest thing. We made too many mistakes late in the season, and it ended up costing us. But the first 60, 75 percent of the season was really good. We were right at the top there, and we just, you know, fell off a cliff. So try to get back that confidence side of the game and hopefully not go through that same lull.”

And DeBrincat, who asked for a trade out of Ottawa, offered sympathetic commentary regarding Dylan Larkin’s situation:

Continue reading Alex DeBrincat believes that the Red Wings can build off last season’s positives, and says that he understands Dylan Larkin’s situation

Alex DeBrincat wants to be ‘part of the solution’ in Detroit, and the feeling is mutual for coach McLellan

Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat put to rest rumors that he may “want out” from the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon, telling the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan and the rest of the assembled media that DeBrincat, who can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, plans on staying right here in Detroit:

“I’ve said it before, I love playing here,” DeBrincat said as the Wings concluded a third day of training camp practices. “But all of that is kind of put to the side right now. I’m focused on the season and getting the new systems and all that stuff, and meeting new guys, and just playing well. I want to get off to strong start and the rest will take care of itself, and we’ll see what happens.”

The Wings have missed the playoffs the last 10 consecutive seasons, but DeBrincat wants to “be part of the solution here and get back to the glory days and be a big part of that. I take a lot of pride playing for the Red Wings and putting that jersey on every night. Everyone in this room takes a lot of pride and has respect wearing that crest. It’s a privilege and something I don’t take care lightly.”

DeBrincat tied a career high last season, scoring 41 goals for a third time in his career. With salaries exploding around the NHL as the salary cap consistently rises each summer, DeBrincat is likely to earn a contract well past $10 million per season (currently has an annual average value of $7.875 million).

DeBrincat told Kulfan that he understood why negotiations with the Red Wings stalled while the team settled on Shawn Horcoff as Yzerman’s interim replacement…

“We kind of knew once all that happened (Yzerman’s transition in the front office), we knew it was something probably either of the sides wanted to do (contract negotiation) without anyone there,” DeBrincat said. “We’ll see what happens.”

And DeBrincat had this to say about Patrick Kane’s decision to head back to Chicago:

Continue reading Alex DeBrincat wants to be ‘part of the solution’ in Detroit, and the feeling is mutual for coach McLellan

Andrew Copp may be the Red Wings’ #1 center (for now)

According to MLive’s Ansar Khan, Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin remains out for an indefinite period of time due to his upper-body injury. As such, it’s entirely possible, if not probable, that the Wings will start the 2026-2027 season with Andrew Copp centering the Wings’ top line, with Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond on Copp’s wings:

“I don’t know when Dylan’s going to be back; I don’t know how quickly he’ll get up to speed,” coach Todd McLellan said on Saturday. “So that’s Copper spot for now and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Copp centered a productive second line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane for much of last season. Kane signed with the Blackhawks. Now Copp is centering DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond.

“Obviously, different types of players, righty, lefty, but I think those two have a chemistry for sure,” Copp said. “I think Cat and I have a chemistry. Ray and I haven’t played as much together, so trying to figure out exactly where each other are all going to be.

“Obviously, I need to be around the net, winning battles below the goal line, driving through the middle, especially on entries, and kicking out, giving them time and space. But I’ve got to be available, too, as the one lefty on the line without Kaner hanging out on the side.

“I think we’ve kind of had some ups and downs throughout the first few days. A couple things that almost clicked, that I think can work if we get a little bit more time together. And then we got to produce right away. Hopefully with the preseason games, we find a little bit of a groove and some confidence going into the regular season.”

Continued (paywall)

Tweet of note: HSJ breaks down the Red Wings’ exhibition game goaltending rotation

This Tweet from the Free Press’s Helene St. James breaks down the Red Wings’ goaltending rotation for the team’s 4 exhibition games:

That’s what cutting the exhibition season in half does to you…it cuts down prospects’ ability to make an impact.

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan wants his team to become harder to play against

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan told MLive’s Ansar Khan that he’s emphasizing an increase in team toughness, seeking to hone an edge to the Red Wings’ play that will make the team more difficult to play against:

“Our team has to harden up a little bit,” McLellan said this week during training camp. “It has to get harder in front of the net. We have to try to push them to become that.”

He wants a heavier and harder forecheck.

“If we’re able to go back and win pucks along the boards and play in areas that aren’t comfortable and do it better than we have in the past, we spend less time in our zone,” McLellan said. “If we’re better around our net, heavier, firmer, and going after the puck, we spend less time in our zone. We have to be harder, and we’re going to ask the players to do that.”

Coach McLellan told Khan that the departures of Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk, and David Perron mean that the team can add a physical edge to through its new personnel:

Continue reading Red Wings coach Todd McLellan wants his team to become harder to play against

Video: Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Copp and coach McLellan speak to the media after the 3rd day of the Red Wings’ 2026 training camp

The Red Wings posted a 26-minute clip of Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, center Andrew Copp and coach Todd McLellan speaking with the media today at Little Caesars Arena:

Video link: Alex DeBrincat discusses his desire to remain a Red Wing, Patrick Kane, Dylan Larkin and ‘puck luck’

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a 3:31 video of Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat stating that he wants to remain a Red Wing, though contract negotiations are less important right now than preparing for the regular season…

He addresses Patrick Kane’s departure from a professional perspective as compared to the Red Wings’ additions, wishing Kane well…

DeBrincat tells MLive’s Ansar Khan that he’s not concerned about when his contract will get worked out, that he’s worried about preparing for the regular season, and when it happens, it will happen…

He tells the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan that Larkin is a great player and great teammate who he will welcome back when Larkin is healthy…

Then DeBrincat speaks with St. James about his superb performance over the course of the 2025-2026 season…which DeBrincat partially credits to “puck luck” and hard work.

Roughly translated: Moritz Seider discusses several topics with NHL.com/de

Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider spoke with NHL.com/de’s Oliver Jensen recently, addressing the Red Wings’ attempts to become a tougher, sharper team, Dylan Larkin’s trade request, and his status as a “veteran” over the course of a medium-sized interview:

Seider on Detroit: “Something special can happen here”

The German defenseman talks about Dylan Larkin’s trade request and about the goal of making the playoffs

The Detroit Red Wings look back on an eventful summer. The franchise has a new interim general manager in Shawn Horcoff, and and there was the trade request from Dylan Larkin. But now the preseason has begun, so their focus should be back on hockey.

“I think Todd McLellan put it just right. At the start of training camp, he said we just have to win every single day. That’s how we approach the situation,” said Moritz Seider. “Both yesterday and today, there was a lot of pace, a good physical intensity and a certain urgency early on. These are the very things he mentioned.”

The situation around Larkin, who participates in the preseason despite his request, assesses Seider calmly: “I believe that of course that everyone is happy that he is here. There is not much more to say about it. He is still under contract and is here in training camp. That’s a good sign for me. Everything else isn’t up to me and is not up for discussion. I just see it as an opportunity to be a better hockey team with him.”

Continue reading Roughly translated: Moritz Seider discusses several topics with NHL.com/de

The new CBA’s condensed preseason adds urgency to the Red Wings’ training camp

The NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement tightened up rules regarding training camp–no more skating tests, fitness testing and 3-hour limit in terms of on-activities for players each day–and the exhibition season has been cut in half, from 2 weeks (and 8 games in case of the Red Wings) to just 1 week and 4 games played.

The Red Wings are aware of the fact that a condensed training camp and a shorter preseason mean that the team has to build cohesion and fundamentals in short order, as coach Todd McLellan told DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills:

“Our first two days of Camp have been a refresher course for the players who were in the organization last year,” Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said on Friday afternoon. “Not only here, but in Grand Rapids. There are some other things that we’re going to change, but we talked about this in the summer: There’s not enough time to revamp your whole game or do everything completely different. We have to pick, and will pick, certain areas that we’re going to focus on and spend a little more time on, but time is of the essence… That early urgency, the ability to pick things up to find your own rhythm as a player, is really important.”

Detroit’s Training Camp roster this fall features 49 players, including 28 forwards, 16 defensemen and five goaltenders. Through the first few practices and scrimmages, McLellan has been impressed by how the group looks on the ice.

“I’m watching them play and the pace has been really good,” McLellan said. “There’s been some physicality. Their ability to get through drills doesn’t drop off. So, what used to be a four-week Training Camp, even more than that [back] in the day, and it was all about skating and conditioning… We have to be aware of that, but it’s more about timing and comfort with linemates, systematic changes so they can capture that before they have to go play.”

Mills focuses on Red Wings trade acquisition Keegan Kolesar as a mini player profile, noting that the physical bottom-six forward hopes to make a change in the Wings’ physicality…

Continue reading The new CBA’s condensed preseason adds urgency to the Red Wings’ training camp