Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson aims for the NHL this upcoming season

The Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker spoke with Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson regarding Danielson’s aspirations of making Detroit’s roster out of training camp and the exhibition season:

Danielson, who appeared in 28 NHL games last season, recorded two goals and five assists before being returned to the AHL. However, he suffered a stress fracture in mid-February that sidelined him for the remainder of the Griffins’ season. This time around, Danielson has his sights set on earning a spot on the Red Wings’ roster out of Training Camp. 

“For sure,” he said of his goal to make the Red Wings’ roster. “I mean, I want to come into Camp and definitely earn a spot. I mean, ultimately my goal is to be an impact player in the League this year and be someone who contributes. That’s kind of my goal for the year.”

Danielson got his first taste of NHL action with the Red Wings last season, and while he viewed the experience positively overall, he believes he can improve his ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

“I feel like there’s a lot of different things you can work on,” he said. “I think finishing is definitely something I kind of need to bear down on. I felt like last year, I lacked that at times.” 

Griffins head coach Dan Watson, who coached Detroit during the Prospects Tournament, believes Danielson is almost overly focused on his defensive responsibilities to the point where it hinders his offensive abilities. 

“His vision, the way he thinks the game, he’s very responsible, maybe sometimes too responsible,” Watson said of Danielson’s attributes. “And that sometimes can hurt you, but I just think his willingness to go to the net, his willingness to create some more offense around the net; that’s what he was asked to do last year, and he started to do that with us before he got injured. So, hopefully he’s been able to rehab himself, to feel stronger, get stronger, and have the ability to do that.”

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Red Wings’ roster is in flux as training camp approaches

MLive’s Ansar Khan asks some of the many “roster questions” facing the Detroit Red Wings heading into training camp tomorrow morning at Little Caesars Arena:

Who will fill the top two lines?

It could be as simple as keeping intact the top line for most of last season – Larkin centering Lucas Raymond and Emmitt Finnie – and having Viktor Arvidsson replace Patrick Kane, who signed with the Blackhawks, on the second line with Andrew Copp and DeBrincat. Or maybe Marco Kasper can earn the second-line center spot or a top-six wing position.

Which player has the most to prove?

Kasper needs to be the player he was the second half of his rookie season in 2024-25 (17 goals, 30 points in 42 games) instead of the one who struggled his second year (nine goals, 19 points in 81 games). Effort isn’t the issue – he skates hard and goes to the high-contact areas around the net and in the corners. It’s about executing and finishing.

Who will emerge on the third defense pairing?

The top two pairs are set with Moritz Seider-Edvinsson and Ben Chiarot-Justin Faulk. Albert Johansson has a secure hold as the left D on the third pairing. Jacob Bernard-Docker, signed to a two-year extension on March 25, has the inside track on the right side. Veteran Jacob Bryson, signed in the offseason, and prospect William Wallinder, who’s no longer waiver-exempt, will be competing for the spot. Former first-round pick Axel Sandin-Pellikka, after playing 68 games as a rookie, likely needs development time with the Grand Rapids Griffins to improve defensively.

Khan continues at length (paywall)

Red Wings’ prospect tournament afforded players the opportunity to absorb information, get a leg up on training camp

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills spoke with Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson and Red Wings prospect Carter Bear as the Red Wings’ 2026 prospect tournament concluded on Tuesday afternoon:

Watson pointed out that the players took part in a learning experience, while Bear emphasized getting a head start on training camp:

“It’s hard because you feed them so much information,” Watson said. “You want to play with some structure. You can’t just let them go out there and run around. At times it’ll look like that, which it will for all teams, but it’s more about the details, the habits they play with, see how much information guys can handle. And I thought our guys, for the most part, looking back at the last two games of video, did a good job. Were there things to clean up? Absolutely. There’s going to be mistakes. That’s what this game is all about. So, for them it’s about moving forward.”

Forward Carter Bear was one of many who pointed to the intensity over the past few days as a driving force behind prospects working hard to show what they’re capable of.

“It’s good to finally go play hockey,” Bear said. “It’s been a little while. Obviously, it’s highly competitive out there. We all want to prove something. Everyone is here for a reason, so we’re trying to set a point for it. Everyone wants to battle hard and earn respect around here.”

There’s been a lot for the youngsters to unpack, but there’s even more to prove in the days ahead.

“Everyone that gets invited here has a chance,” Bear said. “I want to prove something on my side too. So, for me, I just want to keep my head down and work my ass off. That’s all we really can do as well as playing within the systems and all that.”

Watson told Mills that the abbreviated training camp and exhibition season means that prospects have a shorter period of time with which to make an impact:

“Everyone has got to show up,” Watson said. “You don’t have a day to kind of be casual and not show up. You have got to make sure you’re on top of your game right from day one of Training Camp … And then you have a short period of time to show yourself against NHL hockey players. So, for anybody that’s looking to make the team, they better be ready to go and have that intensity from the first meeting on.”

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Tweets of note: Horcoff to speak today at 3 PM; Edvinsson deal soon?

Of note from the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker…

And the Hockey Writers’ Tony Wolak:

Allen assesses the state of play in the Dylan Larkin situation

The Detroit Red Wings have released their 2026 training camp roster and schedule, and disgruntled forward Dylan Larkin will attend camp. Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wonders what might happen over the course of said camp:

Is Larkin Staying or Going?

That’s still to be determined. All we know for sure is that he will be at training camp, he is no longer the team’s captain and he plans to discuss his future with Horcoff.

He has five more seasons remaining on his contract paying him $8.7 million per season. Larkin would be suspended without pay if wasn’t at training camp.

What we don’t know is whether Larkin is open-minded about staying with the Red Wings under a non-Steve Yzerman regime. The deterioration of their relationship undoubtedly played a role in Larkin’s trade request.

What Are Detroit’s Trade Options for Larkin?

Larkin, owning a no-trade clause, informed Detroit he would only accept a trade to Florida, Vegas or Minnesota. Only the Wild, needing a scoring center, are actively pursuing Larkin.

The snag in negotiations when Yzerman was in charge was his insistence on a proven offensive player in return. He wasn’t looking to move Larkin for draft picks or prospects.

Does Horcoff feel the same way? We don’t know yet, but it is logical to believe that he feels urgency to put an end to the team’s decade-long playoff drought. You don’t take steps to do that by adding more draft picks and prospects.

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Press release: Red Wings release their 2026 training camp roster and schedule

From the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS RELEASE 2026 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER AND SCHEDULE

  … Forty-Nine Players Hit the Ice Beginning on Sept. 17 at BELFOR Training Center …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today released their training camp roster and schedule, comprised of 49 players who will hit the ice beginning on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena.

The Red Wings will bring 28 forwards, 16 defensemen and five goaltenders to Detroit to participate in daily on-ice practices and scrimmages. The Red Wings open their four-game preseason slate with road games against the Columbus Blue Jackets (Monday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m.) and Pittsburgh Penguins (Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7:00 p.m.), followed by home games against the Buffalo Sabres (Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m.) and Blue Jackets (Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m.)

Detroit Red Wings 2026-27 Training Camp Roster

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The Athletic’s Bultman talks Wings on ‘X’s and BrO’s’

Matt Shepard of “X’s and BrO’s” spoke with Red Wings beat writer Max Bultman of The Athletic this morning, discussing the Dylan Larkin situation and the Red Wings’ decision to name Shawn Horcoff its interim GM:

A Red Wings blog