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Video: Red Wings’ John Gibson, Moritz Seider, J.T. Compher and coach Todd McLellan speak after Wednesday’s practice

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The Detroit Red Wings returned to practice on Wednesday after a day off, skating at the BELFOR Training Center as their interim lines began to take shape.

Dylan Larkin was deemed to be “day-to-day” with his upper-body injury;

Simon Edvinsson remains in Sweden, where he’s working out with Frolunda HC until his contract is inked, and Edvinsson’s agent, Peter Werner, gave Expressen’s Adam Johansson and Mattias Persson a succinct answer as to what’s going on contract-wise: “We are not speculating about ongoing negotiations.”

Coach McLellan told the Free Press’s Helene St. James that the Red Wings are engaging in some team-building activities away from the rink…

Here’s the Wings’ 20-minute-long locker room video, which includes comments from John Gibson, Moritz Seider, J.T. Compher and coach Todd McLellan:

Wednesday’s post-practice Tweets: Dylan Larkin’s now day-to-day for the Red Wings…

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The Detroit Red Wings practiced on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, and Dylan Larkin earned some “reps” on an even-strength line and power play unit as he attempts to recover from an upper-body injury.

Ahead of the Wings’ home opener against the Rangers on Friday (6:30 PM EDT start on TNT), the team is skating without Simon Edvinsson, who’s returned home to practice with Frolunda HC as his agents attempt to negotiate a long-term contract with Detroit.

After practice, it was business as usual ahead of the home opener, even for Larkin…

Who is now “day-to-day” with his upper-body injury:

Audio link: Mason Appleton speaks with Matt Sheppard of ‘X’s And Bros’

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Red Wings forward Mason Appleton gave an 18-minute interview to Matt Sheppard of “X’s And Bros” this morning, and you can scroll down and listen to it at the following media player. I’m sorry that I can’t embed the interview, but the web player is a little fidgety.

Tweets from Wednesday’s practice: Red Wings shuffle D pairs without Edvinsson; Larkin skating as an ‘extra’ ahead of Friday’s home opener

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Updated 4x at 12:01 PM: The Detroit Red Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center ahead of Friday’s home opener vs. the New York Rangers (6:30 PM EDT start on TNT)…

If you missed it, both Expressen and Aftonbladet confirmed that Edvinsson has returned to Gothenburg, Sweden to practice with Frolunda HC of the SHL…

Meanwhile…

Continue reading Tweets from Wednesday’s practice: Red Wings shuffle D pairs without Edvinsson; Larkin skating as an ‘extra’ ahead of Friday’s home opener →

Shapiro weighs in on the downfall of the Yzerplan

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The multi-talented Sean Shapiro of EliteProspects/DLLS Stars/Shap Shots offers a theory as to where the Detroit Red Wings’ problems began over the course of the Yzerplan this morning, via his Shap Shots Substack blog.

According to Shapiro, the noticeably absent Chris Ilitch hasn’t helped, but not having an assistant GM who challenged Yzerman, such as Julien Brisebois in Tampa Bay, afforded Yzerman too much autonomy to stick with his gut and make his own decisions:

In Tampa, BriseBois pushed and internally battled Yzerman. As one source put it, BriseBois wasn’t afraid to battle Yzerman and that attitude led to mutual respect, where the Lightning GM had a right-hand man he trusted to protect him and advise him. Yzerman never had that in Detroit.

Yzerman arrived as a larger-than-life figure, someone who’s playing career overshadowed anything and everyone in the organization, and with so many former players, that Yzerman captained, on staff, no one ever challenged the general manager.

Yzerman didn’t ask for advice, and he tried to do so many things himself. It’s too big of a job for one person, and without someone on staff, like he had in BriseBois in Tampa, pushing and challenging for a bigger piece of the pie, Yzerman was basically acting alone in many factors.

One agent told me that when Yzerman was in Tampa, there was mutual respect for contract negotiations between both Yzerman and BriseBois. In Detroit, the agent said he never spoke to anyone other than Yzerman, no matter how big or small the deal was.

In fact, Yzerman’s demeanor and downfall in Detroit, is something I’ve been told that other GMs have taken notice of and learned lessons from. Mathieu Darche, the New York Islanders GM, for example, hired Evan Gold, one source said, because he wanted an assistant GM that wasn’t afraid to push him and challenge him.

Continued (paywall) with some interesting takes on Chris Ilitch and his unwillingness to do interviews…

Wyshynski weighs in on the Red Wings’ ‘mess’

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ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski predicts the “order of finish” for each and every one of the NHL’s 4 divisions, and he’s particularly harsh upon the Red Wings’ 2026-2027 season outlook:

Detroit is a mess. Captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade … and as punishment Detroit made him continue to play for the Red Wings with fewer responsibilities, taking away the captaincy. They’re grinding 23-year-old defenseman Simon Edvinsson in a contract negotiation. Worst of all, the franchise had to finally admit the “Yzerplan” was a failure, as franchise icon Steve Yzerman left the general manager’s office after seven playoff-less seasons.

The Red Wings have a few reasons for hope, such as defenseman Moritz Seider, winger Lucas Raymond and a prospect pool that’s filling up but without any franchise-level talents.

In the long term, maybe the plan is hoping the Hughes brothers all want to play close to their Michigan roots when Jack is a free agent in 2030. In the short term, there’s speculation about who’s leaving next after Larkin is dealt, and does his name rhyme with “Alex DeBrincat?”

Continued; the Wings are a mess right now, but not all is lost yet.

Roughly translated: Frolunda HC’s players are happy to practice with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson

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As previously noted, Expressen reported that Simon Edvinsson is back in Sweden practicing with HC Frolunda in Gothenburg, as confirmed by TSN…

And first reported by Goteborgs-Posten’s Andreas III Johnssonen…

And Edvinsson did share some comments with Aftonbladet’s Henrik Lundgren:

“I would have liked to raffle his salary.”

GOTHENBURG. Simon Edvinsson is back in Gothenburg when the situation is locked with Detroit.

The Frölunda players would of course like to see him return.

“I would have liked to start lining up for his salary. But we’re probably too few guys on the team,” Nicklas Lasu said, laughing.

He went out at Frölunda’ practice. Not only because the 199-centimeter tall hill is half-a-head taller than most others, but also because he had to pick up what was available in the practice clothing pile in Frölundaborg. With white sweater, red shorts and white pants, Simon Edvinsson was a mix of most things.

“It’s great to have him here. He looks great, ready to play hockey. I understand that it is frustrating for him when it is difficult to negotiate, especially now that the real games are getting started. But it’s great that he wants to be here, good for us also that he’s involved and spars,” says Frölunda captain Max Friberg.

Edvinsson himself did not want to talk about his situation, but was happy to train with his old team.

“It’s really good speed for them. They are unbeaten.”

When asked how long he stays, he was silent.

‘”We’ll see.”

Continue reading Roughly translated: Frolunda HC’s players are happy to practice with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson →