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Coach McLellan on Carter Mazur and James van Riemsdyk’s ‘spots’ in the lineup

The Hockey News’s Jake Whitaker posted a set of shorter articles, first discussing Red Wings coach Todd McLellan’s take on 23-year-old Carter Mazur’s relative health and potential role on the team…

“The [added] weight observation is certainly there,” McLellan said. “He looks heavier, stronger. Hopefully, that helps him protect his frame. He’s had some serious injuries that have kept him out of hockey for a real long time, and we do think he can bring an element of tenacity to the club, that ‘hunt’ mentality that we’re really preaching.”

“We’ve seen that here in the first two scrimmages, and it’s still really early, but I’m anxious to see him throughout exhibition season,” McLellan continued. “We’re hoping for health for his well-being, and him being able to take his game to another level.” 

As far as whether or not Mazur is able to convince the Red Wings coaching staff and management team headed up by general manager Steve Yzerman that he deserves to be in the Opening Night lineup on Oct. 9 has yet to play itself out. 

“Is that going to be with us, or with the club below us? I couldn’t tell you that right now, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on him,” McLellan vowed. 

And Whitaker also discusses coach McLellan’s take on James van Riemsdyk’s relative place in the lineup, or the lack thereof, as JVR deals with a family matter back home in Minnesota:

“When JVR gets back to camp, whether it’s going to be here tomorrow, the Red & White game, or back in Detroit, we’ll get him caught up on things,” McLellan said. “He’s a seasoned veteran, he’s played multiple different systems in the League….he’s a smart guy. We’ll be able to catch him up to the pace of the team. I’ll be his legs and his timing and all that type of stuff that’ll have to come back, but it’ll come.”

As far as final line combinations as Opening Night approaches, McLellan cautioned fans not to read too much into them, as they’re subject to change at a moment’s notice.

“We’re moving people around. I think we have to give the younger players every opportunity to experience being on a line with some veterans, and see how that goes,” he said. “But please don’t read into the lines and good luck guessing, because I don’t even know what we’re doing tomorrow, yet.”

Finding ‘the guy’ in goal

Red Wings goaltender John Gibson earned the majority of Friday’s press focus, and The Athletic’s Max Bultman was no exception this evening. Bultman wonders whether Gibson can be the Red Wings’ #1 goaltender, or, at least, that he can stabilize Detroit’s crease alongside Cam Talbot:

Goaltending can be fickle and deceiving, even in large sample sizes, let alone a couple of September scrimmages. However, after two days of split-squad action, John Gibson, Detroit’s newest netminder, has looked impressive.

“He’s made some incredible saves in these scrimmages so far,” Patrick Kane said. “It seems like he’s coming in focused, ready to kind of take on a big load for us and be the true No. 1 that maybe we’ve been missing the past couple years. I think it was a great addition by the organization and management. Obviously (Cam Talbot) was great for us last year, too, we have all the confidence in the world in him, but that’s a great one-two punch for us.”

That “one-two punch” line is key because head coach Todd McLellan certainly isn’t setting a hierarchy this early.

“I don’t know who our starter is,” McLellan said Thursday, and in 2025, that sentiment is much less common than it once was.

Coach McLellan’s being serious–he’s not certain whether he’s going to go with Gibson, Talbot, or both goaltenders yet, and that’s the point of it all:

As Kane alluded to, Gibson has already made some impressive saves in Detroit’s scrimmages. Twice on Friday, he victimized Jonatan Berggren with spectacular saves in penalty shot/shootout situations. One was from the seat of his pants, getting a piece of the shot with his arm, then came an even more impressive one later on, kicking up his leg pads to keep out the puck.

In fact, Gibson didn’t let anything in at five-on-five Friday, giving up just a penalty shot goal to Elmer Söderblom and shootout tallies to Dylan Larkin and Nate Danielson. Keep in mind that’s in one period of scrimmage action, but even in limited action, it would be hard to ask for better so far.

So, yes, maybe Gibson will eventually grab the reins and be “the guy” in net. He’s done it before.

Realistically, though, Gibson doesn’t even need to threaten 55 or 60 starts to be a tremendous boost to the Red Wings. As both Kane and McLellan alluded to, Cam Talbot is still very much in the picture, and Gibson’s arrival should help him, too.

Continued (paywall)

Gibson’s getting into the mix

Updated at 5:49 PM: Earlier this afternoon, the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted an article about new Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, and MLive’s Ansar Khan noted that Gibson’s been somewhat pleasantly surprised by his new team’s speed and cohesion:

“I think there’s a really good mix of players,” Gibson said Friday from Traverse City. “You got the skilled forwards, smaller guys, you got some big power forwards, you got speed, you got size. The D, you got skill, size. Definitely get up and down the ice. You could tell the first two days are putting an emphasis on quickness. Todd goes to the board, and as soon as he’s done explaining, the drill starts. You can definitely see that everybody wants to play with a high tempo. One of the things I’ve noticed is they’re holding everybody (accountable), making sure everybody’s ready and not just moving slow around the ice or getting to the back of the line.”

As far as a goalie is concerned, Gibson said, “It’s making sure you’re on the same page with the D for the playing the puck, the calls, what to expect, block shots and the penalty kill. Other than that, I just got to be in the net and stop the puck.”

Gibson, 31, figures to be in the net a lot, perhaps for 50-plus games, which he’s done six times in his career. He played only 29 games last season (11-11-2, 2.73 goals-against average, .912 save percentage) due to multiple injuries and the emergence of young Lukas Dostal, the reason the Ducks traded him to the Red Wings on June 28 for goalie Petr Mrazek and second- (2027) and fourth-round (2026) picks.

Gibson, 31, still considers himself a workhorse. He partners with Cam Talbot, 38.

“I train all season, off-season, in the summer to make sure I’m in the best shape to play as many games as possible,” Gibson said. “I feel like in the past, when I can kind of get in a groove is when I’m playing games, but obviously nothing’s given. You got to earn everything.”

Continued (paywall);

Update: Here’s a little more from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:

Continue reading Gibson’s getting into the mix

Kulfan’s notebook: Patrick Kane’s enthusiasm shines through in season 19

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a fine notebook article today, discussing Patrick Kane’s status as a still-enthusiastic rink rat, Sebastian Cossa’s important season ahead, Simon Edvinsson’s injury status and Carter Mazur’s added bulk.

Kulfan notes that Kane will soon be only a year younger than Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar, who’s calling it a career after this season. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan coached Kopitar, and he sees a spark in Kane every time he comes to the rink:

At age 36 (37 on Nov. 19), Kane is in his 19th NHL training camp. Kane is getting older, but any sort of end doesn’t appear close. Not even close.

“You always look to the person as he’s arriving at the rink,” McLellan said. “You see his body language and the spark in his eyes, and is it becoming real hard, or work? Or does he still have that kid-like demeanor? In my opinion, he still has that kid-like demeanor.”

Kane continues to be a rink rat, spending as much time on the ice as he can. The passion toward the game isn’t disappearing.

“He could play forever,” McLellan said. “He still loves the game. Nineteen years is a long time. They know when it’s time (to end). I don’t think he’s close to that, so good for him.”

Kane himself says that he’s still excited to get going after an offseason that afforded him the ability to train normally:

Continue reading Kulfan’s notebook: Patrick Kane’s enthusiasm shines through in season 19

John Gibson’s motivated to make the most of his fresh start in Detroit

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a profile of 32-year-old goaltender John Gibson, who’s s motivated to prove his critics wrong after losing his job to Lukas Dostal last season:

“Maybe a little bit,” Gibson said. “But I’m just leaving that in the past and excited for a fresh start here, and hopefully get this team back to the playoffs. That’s my focus. What happened there (Anaheim) is in the past.”

Gibson, 32, saw injuries cut into his playing time last season. But in 29 appearances, Gibson had an 11-11-2 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. It was his best season in the last few years, and gave the Wings plenty of reason to acquire Gibson in a trade for goaltender Petr Mrazek and draft picks. The trade appears to have excited the locker room.

“I believe it does,” coach Todd McLellan said. “I have sensed around the group — I haven’t asked directly — but they’re real excited about having him here and feel he could be a difference-maker. Gibby’s effect on our team has been real positive.”

Gibson arrived in the Detroit area with his family, from his native Pittsburgh, approximately two weeks ago. He was involved in some informal skates at Belfor Training Center and has gotten to know new teammates.

But the time in training camp is proving to be extremely beneficial in terms of strengthening relationships and learning how the Wings operate on the ice.

“For me it’s just getting to know everybody,” Gibson said. “Know their tendencies and getting on the same page. I’ve been here for a bit and had two weeks of captain’s skates, so just getting to know everybody, and now it’s putting the details together and making sure we’re on the same page to start the season strong.”

Continued

Prospect round-up: 9 shots for Kiiskinen and a game misconduct for Svrcek

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen finished at -1 with 9 shots in 18:16 played as HPK Hameenlinna lost 6-0 to Lukko;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Charlie Forslund wasn’t in Mora IK’s lineup as they lost 2-1 in a shootout to former Red Wings prospect Liam Dower Nilsson’s IF Bjorkloven.

And in the Swedish J20 league, Michal Svrcek got 5-and-a-game for a nasty hit in Brynas IF’s 3-1 win over MoDo Hockey. Per Red Wings Prospects on Twitter:

Coach McLellan says the Wings’ lines will keep changing as training camp, exhibition season continue

The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that the Red Wings’ lineup remains in flux on the second day of training camp:

While parrying questions about possible line combinations, [Red Wings coach Todd] McLellan said to expect them to be “all over the map. We’re just going to keep experimenting with different people in different places until we find something we like.”

Part of the experimentation is driven by the absences of forward James van Riemsdyk (family) and defenseman Simon Edvinsson (lower-body injury), but McLellan revealed a desire to know who plays where isn’t limited to members of the media.

“I would caution everybody: Don’t read into the lines,” McLellan said. “My son called me yesterday and said, you’re starting so-and-so and I said, ‘What do you mean I’m starting so-and-so with so-and-so.’ He goes, well, it’s all over the news, the lines are going to be like this. And I’m going Cale, no.

“We’re moving people around. I think we have to give the younger players every opportunity to experience being on a line with some veterans, and see how that goes. But please don’t read into the lines and good luck guessing, because I don’t even know what we’re doing tomorrow, yet.”

McLellan did sound hopeful Edvinsson will be available before the end of the month, saying, “It’s not overly serious. I hope he’s playing maybe the last exhibition game and game one of the regular season.”

McLellan also conceded he might want to get a look at Edvinsson paired with free-agent signee Travis Hamonic. “You’d have a lefty-righty, so there’s a really good chance that could happen. But it’s too early to get into that.”

Also: Some fatigue has set in:

“We had some goals set in regards to structure [today] and I believe we got that accomplished,” McLellan said. “Day 2 tends to be a little more ragged than Day 1. After Day 1, you feel it. You get up early and you have to go do it all over again.”

Press release: Red Wings post preseason broadcast schedule

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS, FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK AND AUDACY ANNOUNCE 2025-26 PRESEASON BROADCAST SCHEDULE

  … 2025 Red & White Game and Select Preseason Games Will be Streamed Live on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings, in conjunction with FanDuel Sports Network and Audacy, today announced the Red Wings local television, streaming and radio schedules for the 2025-26 preseason. This schedule is subject to change.

The 2025 Red & White Game will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3:00 p.m. at Van Andel Arena, home of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Fans can watch the sold-out game on WXSP-TV across West Michigan or watch the live stream on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App. Please note that all games on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App will only be available to fans in Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

FanDuel Sports Network continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing three preseason contests, beginning with a road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m.) FanDuel Sports Network will also carry home games against the Penguins (Monday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m.) and Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m.)

Additionally, all four preseason home games will air on the Detroit Red Wings Radio Network. WWJ Newsradio 950 will cover preseason games against the Chicago Blackhawks (Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m.) and Buffalo Sabres (Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m.), while 97.1 The Ticket will air preseason matchups against the Penguins (Monday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m.) and Maple Leafs (Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m.)