Author: George Malik

I generally like the Free Press’s Carlos Monarrez’s “stir the pot” comments, but this morning, I think he’s gone a little daffy. Monarrez argues that Dylan Larkin’s dominant performance at the Four Nations Face-Off is in fact the justification for trading #71 to another team a year from now:

There’s a difference between Larkin and Raymond. Larkin is six years older and he’s running out of time. He only has about two or three years left in his prime.

As much as everyone wants to believe he’ll finish his career as a Red Wing, especially with six years left on his eight-year, $69.6 million extension, it might not be the best thing for his career if the Wings keep missing the playoffs.

The answer is simple, albeit hard to swallow for Wings fans: If the Wings miss the playoffs this season and the next, they should trade Larkin to a contender for his age 30 season. Because if the Wings miss the next two playoffs, that should be the end of Steve Yzerman’s tenure as general manager.

That would mean another reset, if not a complete rebuild with a new direction under a new regime and a new coaching staff that would be Larkin’s fourth.

This isn’t the optimal situation anyone wants, especially Larkin, who would have to leave the only home he’s ever known and waive his no-trade clause. But anyone who has appreciated such an underappreciated player like Larkin – and certainly Larkin himself – has to ask themselves how much longer is he willing to waste his talent and miss out on being part of the biggest moments on the game’s biggest stage?

Continued; frankly, that’s a bunch of hooey.

First, Larkin is definitely getting older, but it’s hard to imagine his skills falling off a cliff when he turns 30, especially when you look at his work ethic and ability to drive play. He’s incredibly valuable to the Red Wings as a two-way center, and even if he’s not scoring 30+ goals when he’s 32 or 33, he’s going to remain an integral part of the leadership core;

Second, as I’ve been saying all year long, Steve Yzerman is going to be the Red Wings’ general manager for as long as he wants to be the Red Wings’ general manager, and there is no way that he’s going to completely reset what he’s admitted might be a 10-to-12-year rebuild. He can always revise and edit, but you don’t rebuild from scratch and then rebuild from scratch again. That’s not a sound strategy.

Put bluntly, those things are not going to happen. Anyone and everyone can get traded, and stranger things have happened, but this is just stir-the-pot stuff.

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings forward Patrick Kane and coach Todd McLellan about the Four Nations Face-Off. While Kane would love to be in Boston this week, playing for Team USA, Kane’s played very well with the Wings of late:

“He’s reminding me a lot of the 28-, 29-, 30-year-old Patrick Kane, some of the things he’s doing,” McLellan said. “We double-shifted him down the stretch, the last 6-7 minutes (in the 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay Feb. 8), had him on different lines. He skated well. Some of the older players find ways to have legs on nights when you don’t expect them to.”

Kane spent some time in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico over the break, but he was watching the Four Nations Face-Off from afar:

“It was nice to get away,” he said. “We were by the pool, on the beach, hanging out with my kid. Just kind of enjoying the time and relaxing. My kid goes to bed at like 5 o’clock with the time change. I was rushing, putting him in bed and then going to the TV and watching the 4 Nations. The weather’s incredible down there — 75, 80, sunny every day.”

That’s a bit different from what he returned to this week.

“I like coming in and seeing that it’s not too warm here, seeing the snow on the ground and knowing that it’s still hockey season,” Kane said.

Continued

As the Red Wings continue their “mini camp” today, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Wings coach Todd McLellan’s belief that now is the time to impart as much wisdom as his charges are able to take in:

“They are not video or meeting fatigued anymore because they haven’t had it for eight days, so now’s a good time to tap them a little bit,” McLellan said. “We spent a little more time on video, stuff we had talked about but really hadn’t seen. We spent time showing them video of our team here instead of showing them maybe L.A. Kings clips to explain our points. We can now show Detroit Red Wings clips, which is a real positive. And then we took it onto the ice.”

Some NHL teams will be utilizing the four days of practice as a conditioning camp. They’ll want to ensure the players have their legs back under them.

That’s also part of the package for the Red Wings. But McLellan intends to mesh conditioning with the learning of new concepts.

“We could have just lined them up and said, ‘skate,’” McLellan explained. “We get nothing out of that. But we did do that with a lot of game-scenario situations involved. I think we got better condition and got our legs going again, but we did it with a purpose, a game purpose. We spent (Tuesday) working on offensive concepts, forecheck and entries and we’ll start working back on our end (on Wednesday). There’s going to be some special teams, faceoff scenarios we haven’t even talked about any of that since we’ve been here.”

He won’t get everything implemented.

“Not enough time,” McLellan said.

Continued; the “new coach” has a four-day (now three-day) window with which to continue implementing his systems of play. This is the time for his players to listen and learn;

Update: Here’s a little more from the Free Press’s Helene St. James:

The Red Wings’ social media team asked the Red Wings’ players what their favorite part of the Four Nations Face-Off break consisted of:

Relaxed & recharged pic.twitter.com/zyA9LbqR5Q

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 19, 2025

As I said on Twitter/X today, I’m not a big person for the “thoughts and prayers” request, but Andy, a.k.a. “WorldOfIsaac,” is going into hospice care after an incredibly long battle with cancer, and I think that it’s quite appropriate to ask for your thoughts and prayers for someone really wonderful:

Some final thoughts pic.twitter.com/KFC3FUXCXI

— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) February 18, 2025

The Detroit News’s Tony Paul wrote a superb profile of Andy:

NHL.com’s Craig Merz posted an article about the Stadium Series rink build at Ohio Stadium earlier this afternoon, and this evening, the Columbus Blue Jackets website’s Jeff Svoboda continued the narrative:

“It’s pretty awe-inspiring when you come in here, just the history of the building and the volume of people that are going to be in here,” said Mike Craig, senior director of hockey operations and facilities operations for the NHL. “You kind of look ahead a little bit to that atmosphere, and we’re very excited to be a part of that.”

Craig and fellow senior director of hockey operations and facilities operation Derek King met with the media Tuesday to show off work that’s taken place so far, and to discuss what’s to come. Around 100 people will be involved to get the venue ready for the game next Saturday night, with work taking place each day to get everything where it needs to be.

On Tuesday afternoon, workers were installing the decking on the stadium playing surface that will serve as the base layer for the rink and accompanying field design. Over the next two days, more infrastructure work will take place, including running the piping from the NHL’s Mobile Refrigeration Units outside the stadium to the ice surface that will keep it cold and ready.

Then, on Friday, things will really start to take shape with the ice surface, including the installation of the dasher boards and the start of the ice-making process. That will continue over the weekend; on Monday, the ice will be painted white, with rink lines and logos set to be places Tuesday. By next Friday, when the teams get to take the ice for practice, everything should be ready to go and the crew will use that time to fine-tune any changes that need to be made.

“Practice day for the teams is practice day for us,” King said.

Considering this is the 43rd outdoor game staged by the league since the Heritage Classic on Nov. 22, 2003 in Edmonton, the NHL has honed its methods over the past two decades.

“Since we started in 2003 and then 2008 (with the first Winter Classic), it’s progressed a long way,” Craig said. “Just like anything, we learn as we go, and we’ve learned and grown as a crew and are open to all different ideas. There’s always room for improvement, whether it’s a different addition to the truck or within our system of how we control things. We touched on the weather and how we adapt to all that. We learn from those lessons, and I think we’re in a really good spot and are really comfortable with where we are.”

Continued

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.”

The Michigan Chronicle’s Amber Ogden reports that the Red Wings had a special visitor at a Tuesday’s practice:

For 10-year-old Scott Hart, hockey has been more than just a sport it’s been a calling. What started as a childhood challenge to out-skate a figure skater at Campus Martius has quickly evolved into a relentless pursuit of his NHL dream. And today, that dream took a giant leap forward.

Scott, a rising star in the Detroit Ice Dreams hockey program, was invited to attend a Detroit Red Wings practice at Little Caesars Arena. As Scott and his parents watched from the stands, his favorite Red Wings player, forward Tyler Motte, skated onto the ice for practice. It was already surreal for Scott, but the best surprise was yet to come.

“Giving back to the community is important to me,” Motte said.

“Being from Michigan and playing for the youth hockey programs around Detroit. It means a lot as kids watch practice games that you look up to, not just players like me, but our leadership.”

Scott’s eyes widened with disbelief and excitement as Motte approached him in the stands. The following 20 minutes flew by in a whirlwind of slap shots, a special Red Wings jersey, and Saturday afternoon game tickets. After practice, Scott enjoyed an exclusive locker room tour, snapping photos and excitedly sharing the experience with his family.

Scott’s favorite thing about today, outside of meeting his favorite player, is the practice and how the Red Wings worked hard because that is what he does.

“I’m so happy to go to the game,” Scott said.

Continued

As noted earlier, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane spent part of his vacation watching the Four Nations Face-Off, and Kane and his teammates spent most of their post-practice availabilities discussing the tournament, as noted by 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield…

Last time USA and Canada met in a best-on-best tournament, in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Kane was on the ice for the Stars and Stripes. And the time before that, in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. And the time before that, in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when Sidney Crosby broke the Americans’ hearts with a golden goal in one of the greatest games in the history of hockey’s best rivalry. When USA and Canada clash again for the 4 Nations title Thursday night in Boston, Kane will be in the strange position of watching from afar.

“It’s tough,” he admitted. “You definitely want to be there and you feel like you’re missing out on some great hockey and a great opportunity, too. It is what it is. Personally, you start looking back, I mean, we missed nine years of it, right? The first four, five, six years of those nine years were some of my best hockey I’ve played in my life. So obviously you think about those opportunities that were missed, whether it was the ’18 Olympics or ’22 Olympics or not having the World Cup at all.

“But it is what it is. I had my opportunities. I was there in 2010 and lost in overtime in the Gold Medal game, 2014 we had a really good team, too, we were right there, and got to play in the 2016 World Cup, too. Obviously you want as many opportunities as possible, but you see the type of hockey this is and the excitement it brings, seems to me like it’s the best way to grow the game. It’s unfortunate it’s been nine years.”

After the 2016 World Cup — where the U.S. flamed out with an 0-3 record in group play — the NHL wouldn’t send its players to another international tournament until this one. The 4 Nations has been a smashing success, with TV ratings that match the high level of play. The USA-Canada classic was the most-watched non-Stanley Cup Final hockey telecast in six years, and the championship game might outdo it. It will certainly be on in Kane’s house.

“As much as you’re a player and you love playing the game, I’m still a fan of the game,” he said. “I’ll definitely be on my couch that night tuning in and paying attention.”

And Kane continued while speaking with Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen…

The Hockey News’s Sam Stockton reports that Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who was left off Team USA’s Four Nations Face-Off roster, missed being able to participate in international best-on-best play:

Patrick Kane has a strong claim to being the greatest American hockey player ever.  Now, as men’s international best-on-best hockey has returned in high gear with the 4 Nations Face-Off, Kane is watching as a fan, instead of representing his country on the ice.  The reason for that isn’t too complicated.  As Kane put it after today’s Red Wings practice (the team’s first since taking a week off for the international break),  “I think this year I didn’t play well enough to be picked for the team, so it’s not like I’m blaming anyone or anything besides myself.”

Still, it’s not easy for a proud and accomplished player to watch from afar, given his extended history at being in the center of the sport’s biggest moments.  “It’s tough,” Kane said Tuesday, when asked about not being part of the team representing the United States for the 4 Nations.  “I mean, you definitely want to be there and you feel like you’re missing out on some great hockey and great opportunity too. It is what it is. Personally…you start looking back, I mean we missed nine years of it, right? So, those first four, five, or six years of those nine years were some of the best hockey I’ve played in my life, so obviously you think about those opportunities that were missed.”

Of course, while Kane wanted to be playing in this event, it hasn’t stopped him from enjoying the spectacle as a fan, joking about how “[I was] in Cabo there, and it’s sunny out, and I’m sitting in the hotel room watching hockey.”

Continued