Four Nations Face-Off left Lucas Raymond wanting more

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with Lucas Raymond about both his experiences during the Four Nations Face-Off and his hopes to participate in the Winter Olympics in 2026:

“It makes you want [the Olympics] more,” Raymond said. “We got a small taste of it here, and just the intensity of the short tournament like this, with four games, and you take the Olympics and the same players will be there, it’ll be an unreal tournament. Everyone knows what’s at stake.”

Raymond, 22, felt he grew as a player while participating in the tournament.

“Not only the games, but just being around the guys,” Raymond said. “It feels like there’s 23 leaders in every locker room, so it’s fun to see everyone manage their games and guys speaking up.”

Raymond was excited for his linemate, Larkin, who evolved from a fourth-line player in the USA opening game, to being a top-six forward in the championship game, scoring the eventual game-winning goal against Canada in the round-robin. Larkin was expected to arrive back in Detroit Friday and will play Saturday as the Wings host Minnesota (12:30 p.m./ABC/97.1).

“Seeing how he played, it’s unreal to watch,” Raymond said. “He played great, but it’s nothing surprising. I see Dylan every day and I play with him, but to see him on the big stage, he was probably one of the best players in the tournament and definitely on his team. I’m happy for him.”

Raymond’s level of play at 4 Nations didn’t surprise coach Todd McLellan.

“His game that we see here on a regular basis transferred to that type of environment, and any time that happens, that’s a real good thing,” McLellan said. “Sometimes players go and try to do too much, or they’re afraid of the stage and they don’t want to make mistakes, so they shrivel up. That wasn’t him at all.”

Continued

The Red Wings held a hockey clinic for Special Olympics Michigan athletes today

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills reports that the Red Wings and a corporate partner held a hockey clinic for Special Olympics athletes on the concourse at Little Caesars Arena today:

Thanks to the Detroit Red Wings and Gallagher, 100 local Special Olympics Michigan poly hockey athletes participated in a hockey skills clinic led by Alex DeBrincat, J.T. Compher, Albert Johansson, Justin Holl, Tyler Motte, Erik Gustafsson, Marco Kasper and goalie Cam Talbot.

“It’s a lot of fun,” DeBrincat said. “You come out here, see everyone having fun and playing hockey. You’re getting back to the basics of shooting, passing and all that stuff so it’s great to be around these guys.”

Special Olympics Michigan has been part of the Special Olympics movement since its start in 1968. Guided by an important mission to provide year-round sports training and related programming for individuals with disabilities, Special Olympics Michigan helps athletes achieve their dreams with the support of volunteers, coaches, family members and staff.

“Sports play such a prominent role in our lives and obviously our careers,” Motte said. “Hockey means a lot to us, so just to be able to give back in a way that we know how. This group really enjoyed their time playing hockey today, and just a cool experience for us to be on a different side of things by looking at a different perspective. Just give some happiness, hope and a little bit of fun.”

For Michigan natives DeBrincat (Farmington Hills) and Motte (St. Clair), taking time out of their afternoons to assist the state-based non-profit organization was truly meaningful.

“It’s important to get out in the community,” DeBrincat said. “Very special. At my station, [the poly hockey players] were trying to score goals. They were ripping pucks.”

Continued; WXYZ posted a video of the event:

Larkin endorses the Four Nations Face-Off as ‘exceeding expectations’

Scott Burnside posted an article for NHLPA.com in which he surveyed Four Nations Face-Off participants regarding their impressions of their experiences at the tournament, and you won’t be surprised to find that Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin praised the event:

“I knew it was going to be intense, but it definitely has exceeded my expectations. I think for everyone it has,” said American forward Dylan Larkin. “It’s just been from start to finish, from practice, to hanging out with the guys, to the games, it’s just been so much fun being around the rink and so much excitement for our sport, I just think it’s been a home run for the league and for hockey in general.”

No longer will fans and players have to wonder when they will get another chance.

For the U.S., whose motto throughout 4 Nations had been “This is our time”, they won’t have to ruminate too long over the stinging championship loss. Indeed, players are already counting down the days to Italy.

Continued; here’s hoping that we see another Four Nations Face-Off in a couple of years, and in the interim…

I hope that Larkin can bring some of that excitement back with him to the team he captains on a daily basis.

Press release: Red Wings teaming up with ‘SANA,’ ‘KILOH + CO.” on Saturday and Sunday

I’m not a fancy fashionable person. At 47, I buy most of my t-shirts from Teefury, and I actually don’t own many Red Wings items these days. But you might want to know about this press release from the Red Wings about their partnership with two local fashion brands during Saturday and Sunday’s games against the Minnesota Wild and Anaheim Ducks, respectively.

This is basically free advertising, but what the hell, it’s for local companies.

Red Wings Collaborate with SANA Detroit and Kiloh + Co. in Return of Local Designer Series

Following a successful partnership with SANA Detroit and Kiloh + Co. during the 2023-24 season, the Detroit Red Wings are excited to work with both local companies again in the return of the Red Wings’ local designer series. The collaborations include a special ticket package and exclusive merchandise line for fans

When the Red Wings host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, Feb. 23, fans can purchase a special SANA ticket package which will include a game ticket, a limited-edition SANA/Red Wings T-shirt and early access to Little Caesars Arena for the exclusive SANA pop-up that night.

Following the 3:30 p.m. early access window for SANA ticket package purchasers, all fans who enter the arena that night will have access to the pop-up once doors open to the public at 4:30 p.m. Puck drop is slated for 6 p.m.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings teaming up with ‘SANA,’ ‘KILOH + CO.” on Saturday and Sunday

Friday notebooks: Raymond and McLellan reflect on Four Nations experience, momentum going forward

Lucas Raymond returned to the Red Wings’ ranks on Friday morning at Little Caesars Arena, and he reflected upon his Four Nations Face-Off experience while speaking with the Free Press’s Helene St. James…

“It was a lot of fun with a lot of great players,” Raymond said. “I think it exceeded everyone’s expectations — fans and us players. The intensity, the high pace of hockey that was played — that was a lot of fun to play in. The first game against Canada is probably one of the coolest games I’ve played in, if not the coolest, with everything going on and then all the skill on the ice.”

Raymond tied (with Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson) for a team-leading three points in three games.

“His game that we see here on a regular basis transferred to that type of environment, and any time that happens, that’s a good thing,” McLellan said. “Sometimes players go and try and do too much, or they’re afraid of the stage and they don’t want to make mistakes and they shrivel up. That wasn’t him at all. He skated, he shot the puck, he competed hard — all the things he would normally do here.”

The Wings (28-22-5) have 27 games left to shore up a playoff spot — they’re in the East’s second wild-card spot, a point behind the Ottawa Senators and five points out of third place in the Atlantic Division — and having just experienced such a high level of play, Raymond is eager for more.

“It was an unreal experience, but at the same time, it’s really nice to be back and just being with the guys again,” Raymond said. “Getting to put on the winged wheel, it’s nice to be back. I think I’m even more excited for what is to come now.”

St. James also posted a short video of Raymond speaking with the media…

Continue reading Friday notebooks: Raymond and McLellan reflect on Four Nations experience, momentum going forward

Video: Lucas Raymond and coach Todd McLellan speak with the media after Friday’s practice

The Red Wings concluded their mini camp on Friday at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, ahead of a 3-games-in-4-nights stretch which begins with a Saturday matinee against the Minnesota Wild (12:30 PM EST start on ABC/97.1 FM).

Lucas Raymond rejoined the team after competing for Sweden at the Four Nations Face-Off, but coach Todd McLellan very purposefully gave Dylan Larkin the day off after #71 participated in the Four Nations Final on Thursday night.

After practice, McLellan told MLive’s Ansar Khan that Larkin will play against Minnesota on Saturday…

And Lucas Raymond was the player who held a media scrum after practice:

Regarding Dylan Larkin’s Olympic case

The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, Arpon Basu, Fluto Shinzawa and Michael Russo offered observations on each of the Four Nations Face-Off teams with the 2026 Olympics just a year away, and here’s what they had to say about Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin and Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy:

Larkin, Boldy solidify their spots

Dylan Larkin and Matt Boldy scored the winning goals against Finland and Canada (the first game), respectively, and were as consistent as they come in the tournament.

Boldy got better and better as the tournament went — and got to the dirty areas, which has been the biggest criticism of him in the playoffs for the Minnesota Wild. The World Juniors gold medalist from 2021 was a threat in each game. It was vindication after some criticized U.S. general manager Bill Guerin for putting him on the team, saying it was favoritism for a player Guerin also manages as Wild GM.

Larkin, meanwhile, could be in line for an elevated role in the Olympics.

The Red Wings captain started as a fourth-line winger, accepted that role and ended up as third-line center between J.T. Miller and Boldy. When Matthew Tkachuk left the final, Larkin showed how handy he is by popping up to the top six.

He’ll just keep getting more responsibility because he’s so fast and versatile.

Continued (paywall); it turns out that Larkin is more than just a star player–he’s also a Swiss Army Knife, endlessly adaptable.

Tweets from Friday’s practice: Raymond returns as mini camp draws to a close

The Detroit Red Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center this morning.

Today is the last day of the Red Wings’ “mini camp,” which the team hopes will prepare them for the stretch run schedule.

Said schedule begins with a tough 3-games-in-4-nights stretch against Minnesota on Saturday, Anaheim on Sunday, and at Minnesota on Tuesday. The Red Wings then host the Columbus Blue Jackets next Thursday, and play in the Stadium Series game a week from Saturday.

Not surprisingly, Lucas Raymond rejoined his Red Wings teammates, but Dylan Larkin sat out practice, as coach Todd McLellan indicated on Thursday:

Continue reading Tweets from Friday’s practice: Raymond returns as mini camp draws to a close

A new episode of the Flying Octopus podcast, and articles from THW’s Wolak and Little

The latest episode of the Flying Octopus podcast is out this morning…

And the Hockey Writers’ Tony Wolak discusses the keys to the Red Wings’ playoff push this morning…

Red Wings’ Focus Areas 

Part of a strong finish is addressing organizational weaknesses. And for the Red Wings, there are three that stand out: 

  1. Five-on-five offense
  2. Penalty kill
  3. Defensive depth

You can make the case that others should be included here, but, in my opinion, these are the three main deficiencies at the moment. 

Despite a general resurgence under McLellan, Detroit’s five-on-five offense is still a work in progress. At even-strength, their 2.14 goals-for per 60 (GF/60), 24.46 scoring chances-for per 60 (SCF/60), and 10.18 high-danger chances-for per 60 (HDCF/60) since the coaching change all sit in the bottom-half of the league. 

Likewise, their penalty kill has been better, but not by much. Detroit’s 71.8 kill percentage under McLellan ranks 26th in the NHL. That said, if you only focus on the last 10 games, their 80 percent kill rate is respectable. Still, you can’t assume that the issue is resolved completely.

And finally, the Red Wings don’t have much depth beyond their top two defensive pairs. Erik Gustafsson and Justin Holl have been fine on the third pairing. But beyond them, there’s only William Lagesson, at least until Jeff Petry returns in April. An injury to the top four could be devastating.

It’s absolutely critical that the Red Wings address these three problem areas down the stretch. Doing so will make the race to 92 points that much easier.

Wolak continues…

And the Hockey Writers’ Devin Little shared his impressions of the Four Nations Face-Off:

Continue reading A new episode of the Flying Octopus podcast, and articles from THW’s Wolak and Little