Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, Todd McLellan Media | Sept. 24, 2025

Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, Todd McLellan Media | Sept. 24, 2025

Well, I guess to start, uh, how was your summer and did was there anything you worked on specifically to get ready for the season? Um, obviously you just want to maintain a good uh a good form um work on some things, skating, shooting, all all the little things. And um overall, I’m happy um where I am right now. And um now it’s just about the uh the exciting part. Starts the preseason, get into some games, into some rhythm, and go from there. In terms of the preseason for a guy like yourself who’s got some years under his belt, what do you try to gain out of these next few weeks here? Uh just get right into it, get bumped around a little bit. Um just feel the ice. Um and then overall just try to get in game shape as much as possible. Obviously over the summer you kind of miss those little things, stopping on pucks and being in the right spots all the time, picking up the right guy. And um I think those will be key key things to work on and kind of look out for in the preseason. I didn’t think I got the chance to talk in Traverse City about the first full camp under Todd. How did the tone, tempo, how did everything going up there? I thought it was great. Um we got together as a team. We we uh really did we were really detailed and got a lot out of the scrimmages. I think that’s something that I may have surprised a lot of people, but I thought it was really good and just kind of just gets you right into the game shape even more. In terms of getting back into the game shape, the preseason’s a good time to do that. What are some of the other key fundamental parts of the game that the defense in particular is looking to work on? Uh just we can’t allow that many goals. Um if you want to be a playoff team, uh you got to find a way to stop pucks. Um box outs uh are vitally important in that. let the goalie see the puck and just try to sweep around the crease and um do as much work there to kind of um yeah avoid danger dangerous chances against there’s a good mix of veteran and young guys in this room. How has everyone been jelling off the ice as well? Uh I think that’s why everyone loves drivers. I mean you’re kind of forced to almost sit on top of each other for a full week and it’s what we did. It’s what we like and got together played some golf. Some guys went fishing and um I think we had a really good time and bonded for sure. Thanks, Mo. Awesome. Appreciate it, man. Play play with pace and don’t be afraid to make mistakes as long as you’re playing hard and playing fast. I think when you’re playing fast, um mistakes are going to happen in a in a game. I think that uh if you make them while you’re moving fast and you’re you recover, you’re able to recover quicker. So, there is truth to that. You don’t want to go out there and be throwing the puck all over the place, but um you know, you cover up a lot of mistakes with with skating ability and and uh you know, it’s the other guys reading and skating and and and covering for you as well. So, yeah. He’s also talked about game management and such such he was critical of that at times last year. How do you how do you get better at that? Yeah, I mean I think that’s was a big factor for our team last year and and um I think being mentally stronger, we’ve talked a lot about that through camp, being harder, mentally harder uh harder to play against. Um it’s uh it’s something that I don’t quite have an answer to. I I I really hope that as the season goes on, we build confidence and in in games like that watching these kids play the way they are. I mean, do you tell them anything in particular kind of like just keep going and trying because like in your first camp, I mean, you weren’t really I mean, it wasn’t a positive you were going to make the team in that season. I mean, what do you tell I mean, do they just it’s up to them to just show the coaches they deserve a spat basically or? Yeah. Um, it’s probably the same way when when I had my first camp and and made the team is you got to put yourself in a position where we can’t not have that player, you know, and and you got to that’s why Todd Steve said you got Yeah, you’re going to get 20 minutes. You got to earn it, you know. I can’t think of what the exact terminology, but it’s uh you know, make it hard for them to say no, right? So, um you know, all these kids are good. It’s still early in camp and uh we played one preseason game, so um I’m on the side. I guess camp was structured different, but Andy Mey was my line made my first red white game and we were like minus four and I wasn’t too happy about it. He said, “You’re not going to make the the team in the red white game. It’s at all. It’s all about preseason games. So, I’ve always stuck true to that because it was true for me and and uh this camp is a little bit different because we scrimmage a lot, but um you know, I I we played one preseason game. It’s it’s early and and uh the positive thing. They all look they all look good. They all look like they can think and and skate well and have the the raw attributes that make make someone a good hockey player. Speaking of your rookie season, that was the last time that this team made the playoffs yesterday basically flat out said, “We have to make it this series.” Everything like the rookie. Yeah, I mean, I would think every all 32 teams in training camp right now have that mentality. Um, if you don’t, there’s there’s an issue. You know, I think coming in the state of where we’re at as a team where some of these guys like Lucas Raymond Moider haven’t made the playoffs in their career, they’re way too good of players for that. Um, it’s time to to uh put ourselves in a position that we’ve we’ve been putting ourselves in the last few years and and to to stick and and not just be satisfied with that. Um, we got to make it and start to make noise in the playoffs. So yeah, um Copper said that, but I feel it’s every all 32 teams are are are hopeful to make the playoffs and and that’s why seems like uh there’s almost like a try out for the spot line with Lucas. So he’s moving different guys in and out of their is there any particular like message or or anything guys you just want to see that the third line may as far as how to play I mean, I guess yeah, any anytime you play with someone you want. Um, you know, especially for Lucas and I, I think we we haven’t we haven’t had someone that’s played there in a little bit that’s been a solid linemate. Um, you know, I think, uh, someone that would compliment us well is someone that can can dig pucks and and keep up with us. Um but but digging pucks and and getting getting it in our hands and and then getting open and being able to to finish uh would be the ideal linemate. The ideal linemate uh may not be be there. You know, we may never find a uh uh that’s just the way it goes, you know, with a team and um so having the perfect line may is what I’m trying to say. It may never happen. So, um, we we’ve been enjoying, uh, we enjoy playing with Elmer. Uh, we enjoy playing with with EMTT. He’s he’s brought nice speed. So, um, you know, there’s there’s a lot of great options, which is good for our team. Are you intrigued to see what James Van Room may if he gets a look there presumably what he’ll bring with his skill set uh, on your line? Yeah, JVR’s got a great skill set for that. He’s he’s around the net a lot. Um, he’s good on the boards. Um, you know, I think he’s smart enough to know that uh he’s never been a a burner as a skater, but he he uh he knows how to get up and down on the ice. He know he’s efficient with with his skating and and positioning and and uh you know, he’s got great hands. So, um yeah, there’s, like I said, there’s great options up and down the lineup and and that’s a good good problem to have. Sounded like a lot of emphasis again on pace out there in practice today and not being afraid. How do you make sure players really integrate that and like you keep saying, not being afraid of making a mistake? Um, it’s it’s not easy. I think if you’ve been around for a while, um, and you air, you’re comfortable. You don’t feel like you’re that your lifeline is gone. Um, if you’re I remember trying out on teams. I I just didn’t want to make mistakes cuz I didn’t want to get recognized for it. But somebody had to give me permission to do it and and tell me it was okay and then teach me and and we try and advance that way. So that’s that’s how I approach it. Make mistakes. We’ll we’ll figure it out. We’ll fix things. Uh you know, and encourage uh the young guys not to worry about it. But it’s it’s not easy. Some some players just play reserved and they they’re afraid to error and others they’re okay. I I think of Patrick Kane, Pavatuk, those type of players, they made mistakes. They really felt bad for the team and letting them down, but they didn’t back them off one bit. They went and made the same play the next night. But they’ve earned that um that belt, I guess, or that that notch in their their belt that that allows them to do it. The they have enough credibility that that they can overcome it. And just uh Dylan was talking about what he and Lucas want in that third line mate. I know you’ve had some different guys go in there. Are you intrigued to see what Remsteike might be able to do there? And is there just I know he’s excused for good reason, but is there any update on him? Um no update at this point. Um you know, I’m excited about just seeing him period. Uh but again, he’s got more important things to take care of right now than than what we’re doing here and he has our full support. Um it’s going a little bit longer than we thought, but that’s okay. Uh we’ve got some catchup work to do with him once he gets here. Uh but we’ll work hard with him and I know he’ll work hard with us and we’ll get him get him up to speed. Do I I I would like to see him up there. Um you know, he’s a big man with real good hands. He knows that he has to go to the paint and uh does a lot of scoring in and around that area. Um he’s played against uh all the top players in the league in all different scenarios whether it was uh top line or fourth line. Um and you don’t play for as long as you did without a a good hockey mind as well as a good training regimen. Like you you have to be uh fairly fit, fairly strong. So I’m counting on that to uh to play a long time and we’ll get them up to speed. Uh you’ve had uh uh Soderblam and uh now Finny uh getting looks on that line with Raymond and Larkin. Uh I imagine you’re going to look for uh get a couple other guys in there and get a look at them. Is there any particular skill set that you’re looking for to to match with those two or you still kind of in that process of determining what what’s the best fit? Yeah, like you know Elmer, what does Elmer do? Elmer’s big. He’s got a a real good reach. He’s got some size. he’s willing to go to the net, but he also has finishing ability. So, that’s always a, you know, we have a lot of those other guys with those attributes on our team, but maybe don’t quite finish like uh like Albert does. Um or Elmo, pardon me. Then we’ve got um um you take Finny for example, the pace and the tenacity and the hunt to keep plays alive may complement those two. Um, we could put cop up there and his size and his smart should move him around and he should be able to take care of them defensively a little bit if they need that that type of help. So, there’s a lot of different um thought processes or variables that go into it. Um, you know, we’ve played exactly 60 minutes so far and I couldn’t give you the answer to probably the most asked question I get and um we’ve got a lot of hockey left so we’ll figure it out. Is there something with kind of follow up on that with Dylan and Lucas? Is there something to they are pretty responsible defensively that you are able to open those options up where it’s not some guys where you have to I have to have a guy who can cover for them and things like Yeah, for the most part they they are responsible defensively. They’re willing to to play the full 200 foot game. Um and that that allows u a wider variety of players that could go up and play. you could maybe play a higher risk player up there because they should be able to uh to take care of him. And it’s interesting because we’re always talking about, you know, who could we put up there to help? Uh I sometimes think of it different. I I’m thinking of who who are Razer and and Lark’s willing to help. You know, if we put a kid up there, are they willing to to pull this young guy along? Whether it’s Vinnie Maze or whoever put him up there, are they willing to to turn him into a player? We can’t just look at it from their benefit. Um, so there there’s a couple angles to it for you when you look at at Marco. What’s kind of the next step for him? Yeah, for Casper. Um, just steady growth. Um, he he came a long way last year. Um, his confidence should be in a real good spot. Um, this this is the tough time for him because expectations are quite high. His for himself, us for him, teammates, fans. um and he’ll have to learn to deal with that pressure and I think he’ll do a good job of it. But just steady progress and um in all areas he plays the whole ice surface. He plays with some some uh you know he’s ferocious at times if you will and we need to keep seeing that. Uh but steady progress. When you look back at last season when you when you guys came in in late December is he was he kind of what kind of read did you have on him when he first arrived versus what he came what he became working with you guys? Um, you know, this is it’s that’s a hard question to answer without and I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus, staff or anybody like that. That’s that’s that’s not what I’m here to do. Um, I think he was a little little bit in between just with usage and and what he was going to be. Even we started that way because we really didn’t know him. um we just kind of picked the team up from where it was and then saw some things in him. Um opportunity presented itself and he took advantage of it and he didn’t give his position on that wing back. He did the things he needed to do night after night and we started to recognize it more and rewarded him more and the more that happened, the more he gave, the more he got. Um so it was a really good storm if you will, the perfect storm. Um then when he went into the middle um he went back to playing his game there and continued to do those things. So when teammates sometimes ask for a certain player, I’m not saying that they’re knocking on my door saying, “Hey, we want,” but every now and there’s just a subtle hint that you can pick up. Um that’s a pretty good sign. And and we were getting that about Casp. Does Albert Johansson look a little more filled out to you this year? And if so, what could that do for him? Um he does and um he’s a battler. He’s he’s in everything. Um so just a little more weight and uh and being harder to knock off pucks or vice versa, him leaning into somebody’s probably going to help him. Um you know, the test will be can he keep it on throughout the year. it gets it’s it’s taxing and uh but right now he is that the play that I think stuck with me from him from last season was him making a play on McDavid going back and when when you see a guy can do that like how excited do you get and how much do you I guess how do you kind of coax that out of him regularly? Well, he um I thought we saw it regularly. it just really stood out because 97 can make some guys look really um incapable. Uh but but Albert handled that situation well. He handled it well in a lot of other scenarios and situations too. So uh we gained confidence in him as a little like Cass. We we gave him something. He responded. We our confidence went up. His confidence went up and it just kept growing too. So he’s in the same boat as Casp is steady progress. Don’t give anything back. um it’s too hard to go back and get it again and so don’t give anything back and steady progress. It seemed like there was a moment earlier in today’s practice where you encouraged Elmer to move his feet more. Is that kind of an element of his game that you feel maybe still needs a bit of filling out so to speak? Yeah. I I think when sometimes when El when Elmo’s um playing the game and he’s not thinking, he does move his feet. Um in practice when we’re working on specific moments or situations, I think he thinks it a little bit so it slows him down. Like I’m not too worried about his feet in a in a game situation. Uh but I’m just trying to push him in practice. He that moment he was thinking and probably am I in the right spot? Am I in the wrong spot? Um and he didn’t skate. So, I just caught him there and just a gentle reminder. But I don’t think his skating’s uh bad. But I think if he if he does chug into people and push, there’s a big load to handle. So feet moving is a good thing for him. He also spoke about needing JT Confer to kind of more carry the play when he’s on the ice rather than, I think you said, kind of get caught up in it as one of the only regulars in the lineup last night. What did you think of his performance? I thought he did exactly as you said right off the bat. He he carried the play. We didn’t start that game real well. Um, you know, we were a little bit hesitant and I thought the game turned a little bit. He he picked the puck up down on this end and he slung a puck to the net and Bergie went to the net and we almost scored and and the bench came to life. So to me that showed he found a way to trigger our team and he was in front of it. He forcheed well. He wasn’t always F3. Uh sometimes he was first on the puck. Those are things that we look for from him. If he’s always the last guy into the zone, well then that’s not good. Not the way he skates. If he’s always uh the last guy to leave our zone, that’s not good because the way he skates and how he thinks we need him up in the rush and he was that last night. As you’ve evolved as a coach when it comes to evaluating the younger players, how have you viewed elements of that evaluation process differently, if at all, or has it been more of the same themes as you’ve gone on in your career? No, I think it um it differs a little bit. I think as we get further into our career, we we’re maybe more trusting of some of the younger players, give willing to give them a little more leash and and uh not look for perfection right off the bat. Um at least I feel like that. I I can’t speak for all the the older coaches, but um you know, for me it was that um you know, I pay attention to them a little bit more now than I did uh I leave Detroit, I go to San Jose. and paying attention to Marlo and Thornton and Boille and all those type of guys and Logan Couture probably didn’t get the attention that he needed. Now I can I feel better about paying more attention to them and still get to the for lack of a better term the big boys. I’ll they’ll get my attention but I pay I I look and maybe spend more time with them maybe more patient. I I think so. I hope so. Do you pay any attention to the this time of year you you see read all these predictions? Do you take a gander at them? And if you do, do you bring it up to the it’s like, hey, maybe um use it as a chip on your shoulder for the guys or whatnot? Well, I I if if you’re predicted to win the cup, you’re probably downplaying it. And if you’re predict predicted to end up with the first overall pick, um you know, it’s us against the world. and somewhere in between there you can find a theme and and use it or not use it. Um you know we uh you all of you do a really good job and I know that’s not when you pick teams it’s not just sleeping at night and throwing darts. You you follow the game and you do a really good job and that’s that’s what you have to do. But uh I respect you for that but I’m really not looking at it and I’m not counting on it. Um either way whether we’re going to win the cup or or get the first pick overall I’m not counting on it. We we have to go and play every night and I’m really not using it either to tell you the truth. Oh, you brought up Bergen. Big year for him this year too. Kind of you mentioned a Costa the other day in some ways for him too. It’s big year for a lot of people. Um Bergie’s established himself as a full-time NHLER now. And um it’s time to graduate and take take the next step. Um there’s some things he does naturally does well. there’s other things we need from him to to pick up a notch. Um, and if we see that and we continue to see it all over the rink, not just in on the offensive side, uh, then we’ll be real happy. Good. Yeah. Have a good day.

Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, and Todd McLellan speak with the media following Red Wings practice on Wednesday September 24, 2025.