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‘Getting better between the ears’

The Athletic’s Max Bultman discusses the resumption of scrimmaging on the first day of the Red Wings’ 2025 training camp:

“For a Day 1 scrimmage, I thought that it was very tight-checking and intense,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “I think Todd set the tone with that, and his opening meeting.”

Based on the schedule, it won’t be the only one, with scrimmages on the docket each day in Traverse City before the Red Wings head to Grand Rapids for the Red-White game.

McLellan said his thinking with going right into the scrimmages stemmed from getting the players ready for their first preseason game Tuesday, but added, “We’re also evaluating them on how they can play.” His pre-camp message at the team’s meeting Wednesday centered on how important camp was for the group, and the need to take advantage of it. He also stopped practice to correct players and plays while it was ongoing, not letting bad habits or missed reads go unchecked.

The team surged under McLellan when he arrived the day after Christmas last season, winning seven straight games after the head coach’s first practice to revive their season. Detroit ultimately fell short of the playoffs for the ninth straight season, though, in part due to a miserable showing in March, after the 4 Nations break.

For a group that has struggled to stop the bleeding in recent years, it was no surprise to hear McLellan emphasize the need to get better “between the ears” as well. That type of re-wiring may take some time, but hearing it emphasized on Day 1 speaks to its importance for Detroit’s season.

“That comes from us,” McLellan said. “They’re going to read off our body language and our demeanor. It comes from leadership. It comes from practice. We can put them in stressful situations and then push them, and if we see signs of them rolling over — and I mean that professionally, they don’t quit — but maybe letting up a little bit, we’ll push them even more. There’s going to be times in the game where they verbally got to get jolted because you can feel it coming. And we’ve got to grow out of it. It’s not an easy thing to do. But we will.”

Continued (paywall)

On scrimmaging, Elmer Soderblom’s opportunity, James van Riemsdyk’s absence and Guralnick’s gallery

Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

  1. The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that the Wings’ players enjoyed the return of scrimmaging hockey…

The difference was noticeable on the first day, as coach Todd McLellan furthered his imprint on the Detroit Red Wings.

Divided into two main squads, NHL regulars and prospects scrimmaged for more than an hour on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Centre Ice Arena; one squad had a 45-minute practice beforehand, and the other, afterwards. It made for a change from the practice-heavy schedule run by former coach Derek Lalonde, and players loved it.

“I really enjoyed the format – it’s new to me, the scrimmaging every day,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “It was good to be back competing. There were some nerves early but guys settled in and I thought it went well.”

Continue reading On scrimmaging, Elmer Soderblom’s opportunity, James van Riemsdyk’s absence and Guralnick’s gallery

NHL’s relaxed dress code ‘doesn’t suit’ Alex DeBrincat

The Score’s John Matisz asked players participating in the NHL/NHLPA Media Tour to weigh in regarding rule changes under next year’s CBA, and Alex DeBrincat offered a quick quip regarding the relaxed dress code:

Easing the dress code was another rule change the union pushed hard for during CBA negotiations. According to the memorandum of understanding, “players are required to dress in a manner that is consistent with contemporary fashion norms,” but are otherwise free to wear whatever. Effective immediately, teams can’t propose or enforce a game-day suit policy.

Athletes are creatures of habit, and habits die hard. “Basically, my whole life, when you get ready for a game, you put on a suit. I think that helps with my mentality going into the game,” Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat said.

Continued

Thread post: Tweets from the first day of Red Wings training camp

The Detroit Red Wings took to the ice at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City for their first day of training camp on Thursday morning. Here are various Tweets from today’s practices and scrimmages, as well as the usual social media “stuff.”

This post will be updated throughout the day:

Updated at 10:21 AM:

Continue reading Thread post: Tweets from the first day of Red Wings training camp

Press release: Grand Rapids Griffins announce that Red & White Game has sold out

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

RED & WHITE GAME AT VAN ANDEL ARENA SOLD OUT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings’ 2025 Red & White Game presented by Corewell Health at Van Andel Arena this Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. is officially sold out.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Red Wings back to Grand Rapids, and our fans’ anticipation to witness this game is off the charts,” said Grand Rapids Griffins president Tim Gortsema. “This event is a wonderful way to kick off our 30th anniversary season, which will generate lots of memories along the way. Our fans’ passion for the Red Wings runs deep, and this game will be a fitting ‘thank you’ to them as our affiliation with Detroit enters its 24th season. We cannot wait to see and hear all 10,834 fans on Sunday.”

Fans without tickets can watch the game on WXSP-TV across West Michigan or watch the live stream on DetroitRedWings.com or the Red Wings’ app.

The game format, which is subject to change, will consist of two 20-minute, stop-time periods with a full intermission. Following the second period, which may include scheduled power-play and penalty kill segments, a dry scrape of the ice surface will precede a shootout featuring a select number of players from both the Red and White teams.

Roughly translated: Moritz Seider discusses whether German Olympic gold or a Stanley Cup win might be more difficult

Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and several other German-born NHL’ers were asked by NHL.com/de’s Alexander Gammel whether it will be more difficult for the German national team to win an Olympic gold medal, or whether it will be harder to win a Stanley Cup, and here’s what Seider had to say:

Seider: “Never say never”

German defenseman Moritz Seider is a little more optimistic about his chances of winning the Stanley Cup. He’s also not a favorite with the Detroit Red Wings, but the team is already a step further forward than Chicago in terms of its development, and it allowed to feel like it can earn a place in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It is probably more difficult for us to get Olympic gold,” Seider suggested. “Just because I come from Germany. One should never say never. However, I believe that it is also more than difficult enough to win the Cup. The odds are probably similar. This will be interesting to pursue this further.”

Despite their outsider role, the self-image of some traditionally smaller ice hockey nations, including Germany, has changed significantly. Not too long ago, a World Championship game against Canada, Sweden, the USA or Finland was almost hopeless, and it was a success if you didn’t lose too big. In the meantime, however, there are also victories against the big opponents. The hope of the fairy tale of Milan lives on.

“The expectations of the fans are certainly there,” said Seider. “But I think you have to be realistic, and see the whole thing with a reasonable perspective. Yes, we will have the best German team of all time on the ice. But that’s the same with the others. The Canadians, Americans, Swedes, Finns and even the Swiss will probably have twice as many NHL players as we have. Yes, it is possible to win a medal, but it’s unlikely. In these situations you simply have to live and enjoy it at the moment. You just have to love the whole story and enjoy your moment at the Olympic Games.”

The answer to the question of which title is more difficult to reach depends very much on the situation of the player you ask. His teammate Lucas Raymond, for example, sees things differently. No wonder, because as a Swede, the chances of the gold medal are much better.

“It’s probably harder to win the Stanley Cup because so many more teams are fighting for it,” Raymond suspects. “The Olympics are only every four years, so that’s not easy either, but the competition is just not as difficult as in the NHL, with 32 teams.”

Regarding Patrick Kane’s ‘last dance’ with Team USA

Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin discusses the “strategies” being utilized by NHL players who were left off Team USA’s World Cup of Hockey team as they attempt to crack the Americans’ Olympic roster, and he offered a short comment from Red Wings forward Patrick Kane:

The Last Dance strategy

Given the fierce competition for spots on Canada and USA, the odds of a greybeard reversing time after not making the 4 Nations squad are slim. But they aren’t zero in the mind of players like Patrick Kane, who did, notably, receive an invite to Team USA’s summer camp. Particularly for the Americans, who so often have played for the gold but fallen short in the best-on-best era, adding an all-time clutch player to the dressing room isn’t the worst idea. But if Kane is to make it, he believes it will come down to how he’s playing rather than how he played as a younger man. Hall of Fame career aside: can he maintain the elevated play he showed with the Detroit Red Wings late last season after they switched coaches from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan?

“It would be a great opportunity,” Kane said. “I’ve said all along I don’t want to be chosen just for what I’ve done in the past. I’d love to be a guy that gets off to a great start, gets picked for the team and can help in any way possible once you get there.”

Continued; I do hope that Kane makes it, even as a 13th forward.

Training camp morning power rankings

The preseason hasn’t even started, but Bleacher Report’s Lyle Fitzsimmons already issues a set of power rankings this morning:

23. Detroit Red Wings

The arrival of goalie John Gibson via trade with Anaheim creates a sound tandem alongside Cam Talbot and gives GM Steve Yzerman some much needed hope after nine years below the playoff cutline. “Overall, I think we’re a little bit better,” he said. “How many points does that translate to in the season? We’re going to find out.”

Continued; the Wings will find themselves ranked behind Montreal and Ottawa until the team leapfrogs those organizations in the standings.