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It appears that the Red Wings will start Cam Talbot against the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/Sportsnet Ontario/TVA Sports/97.1 FM) and that Ben Chiarot and Simon Edvinsson will return from their upper-body injuries. The Hockey News’s David Alter offers updates from the Maple Leafs’ morning skate:

As the Leafs get ready for a full skate here, Chris Tanev is on the ice. Missed last game despite taking warmups with a lower-body injury. @BodogCA

— David Alter (@dalter) December 27, 2024

Full skate is underway and Auston Matthews is NOT taking part. He has missed the last couple of games after aggravating an upper-body injury.

— David Alter (@dalter) December 27, 2024

Continue reading On the Leafs’ side

WXYZ’s Brad Galli posted a quick clip of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference from earlier this morning…

And he posted a clip of Todd McLellan doing some on-ice teaching:

Also:

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is sticking to his plan of building a core, and then building around it. He said again it takes patience.

“If you have a better way, you're free to share it with me, okay?" pic.twitter.com/8Xp3yS1LZp

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 27, 2024

Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, forward Patrick Kane and captain Dylan Larkin spoke with the media today after the morning skate. Here are some Tweets of note ahead of tonight’s match-up with Toronto (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/Sportsnet Ontario/TVA Sports/97.1 FM):

Dylan Larkin: “Where we’re at, it’s been a frustrating start to the season.”

The Red Wings captain said you “never want to see it happen,” and he likes Derek Lalonde. He added something probably needed to happen. pic.twitter.com/VA5Tt26oNK

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 27, 2024

“It felt like something needed to happen and now we move forward. We had a great first day with Todd.” – Dylan Larkin on the coaching change. #LGRW

— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 27, 2024

Larkin says: the change will be a good thing for our team…#Detroit #RedWings pic.twitter.com/ZXhjuTNydd

— WoodyFOX2 (@Fox2Woody) December 27, 2024

Kane says: McClellan is going to be a demanding coach and that's good!#Detroit #RedWings pic.twitter.com/vxeFZGFAvr

— WoodyFOX2 (@Fox2Woody) December 27, 2024

Stoney asking if it was a "sense of relief" with coaching change.
Larkin: "I don't think it's a sense of relief when someone loses their job." Cont'd: "We need to get that back (good play), and whatever happens the rest of the season…need the competitiveness back." #LGRW

— Ryan 🇺🇸 (@rdryan33) December 27, 2024

Continue reading Tweets of note from the Seider/Larkin/Kane presser

New Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan spoke with the media ahead of tonight’s match-up with the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/Sportsnet Ontario/TVA Sports/97.1 FM). McLellan addressed his hiring and the developments at Detroit’s morning skate.

Here are some Tweets of note from McLellan’s presser:

Todd McLellan says he and longtime assistant Trent Yawney can’t just come in and wave a magic wand: “We just don’t have time. But what we’ve asked the players to do is play harder, play faster and play a little bit smarter.” Also notes improve of improving the spirit ASAP. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/3DJFQYh1TL

— Rachel Hopmayer (@rachelhopmayer) December 27, 2024

Coach McLellan speaking on coaching for the Wings, “the task or process in front of us is intense, but it’s doable.” #LGRW

— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 27, 2024

McClellan says: we must improve the SPIRIT of the team… the team CAN play harder…#Detroit #RedWings pic.twitter.com/TSwjmc4tXw

— WoodyFOX2 (@Fox2Woody) December 27, 2024

Todd McLellan said he asked the Red Wings to play smarter, harder, and faster — and to improve the spirit of the team.

He said there is no magic wand right away, so tonight they’ll “play hockey.” pic.twitter.com/MkX8mr0dtm

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 27, 2024

"I was bored as hell sitting at home." — new #redwings head coach Todd McLellan.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 27, 2024

Continue reading Tweets of note from Todd McLellan’s introductory presser

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted an initial reaction to Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s morning press conference:

The Red Wings weren’t playing as well as expected, and general manager Steve Yzerman felt it was time to do something.

And Yzerman did Thursday, replacing coach Derek Lalonde with Todd McLellan, who will be behind the bench Friday when the Wings face Toronto.

“As our season started and has progressed to today you start to think about how do you improve your team and get going in the direction we want to, or playing the way we want to,” Yzerman said Friday during a press conference before the morning skate. “The first option is player personnel to move things around. Then as we get closer to yesterday, you start to think you might have to make a change here.

“Our team isn’t performing to what my expectations are, whether anyone agrees with that or not. The players aren’t playing to each of their expectations collectively and we are where we are and we’re playing the way we are and the decision comes at some point.”

The Wings are stuck in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, only two points above last place. They are eight points from a playoff spot.

“Ultimately you need good players to have a good tea and a coach needs good players,” Yzerman said. ” Just watching our team play, the spirit and zap and watching our coaching staff, everyone is frustrated. You can see it in the players’ faces.”

Continued

Per the Detroit Red Wings…

The Detroit Red Wings host the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/Sportsnet Ontario/97.1 FM), and the Wings engaged in their first morning skate under Todd McLellan today:

Todd McLellan running his first morning skate as coach of the Red Wings. Team plays Maple Leafs tonight. pic.twitter.com/YO7N7gSVms

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 27, 2024

New #RedWings coach Todd McLellan at the morning skate before Wings host Toronto (7, ⁦@FanDuelSN_DET⁩) pic.twitter.com/ptDezWsapa

— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 27, 2024

Simon Edvinsson and Ben Chiarot both on the ice. They’ve been dealing with upper body injuries. pic.twitter.com/nyr2PNawtB

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 27, 2024

Todd McClellan is here pic.twitter.com/mIobnl1G2f

— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) December 27, 2024

Continue reading Red Wings-Maple Leafs morning skate Tweets: Edvinsson, Chiarot taking part in ‘morning practice’

Of note from Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference discussing the firing of Derek Lalonde and hiring of Todd McLellan:

Yzerman says he can’t give an exact date or time but the gradual decline this season pushed him to make a coaching change. “Our team isn’t performing what my expectations are, whether anybody agrees with that or not … our players aren’t playing to their individual expectations”

— Rachel Hopmayer (@rachelhopmayer) December 27, 2024

“Everyone’s frustrated. It’s not like anyone’s not trying to win,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said. “You could sense it.”

He felt like after the Toronto game, this was the time to move on from Derek Lalonde. pic.twitter.com/LbnyLuFFuU

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 27, 2024

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman speaking about the coaching change. He said the team isn’t performing up to his expectations. Why? The players aren’t performing up to his expectations individually. “Everyone’s frustrated.”

— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) December 27, 2024

Steve Yzerman was asked if the Red Wings are good enough.

“For what? To win the Cup? No,” he said. Yzerman believed this team could be a Wild Card team. pic.twitter.com/ZvG88Mw8S9

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 27, 2024

Yzerman on the current roster: “My expectation at the start of the year if everything went well … I think with this group we could compete for a wild card spot.” #LGRW

— Rachel Hopmayer (@rachelhopmayer) December 27, 2024

Continue reading Tweets of note from Steve Yzerman’s press conference

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will speak with the media regarding the Red Wings’ coaching changes today at 10 AM:

From FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit:

Holy Jumpin! It’s Mickey Redmond’s birthday! 🎉

Happy birthday, Mick! pic.twitter.com/XyJOzvjuqE

— FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) December 27, 2024

Happy Birthday, Mick! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/j3IcMMn1XO

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 27, 2024

Update:

45 years ago today ON THIS DAY in hockey history (December 27, 1979):

It's opening night at Joe Louis Arena as the @DetroitRedWings play their 1st game at their new arena but lose 3-2 to the Blues pic.twitter.com/ob7GJMjI3v

— Vintage Hockey Showcase (@hockey_vintage) December 27, 2024