Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat, Todd McLellan Post Game @ CGY | Dec. 10, 2025

Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat, Todd McLellan Post Game @ CGY | Dec. 10, 2025

You guys pull out a win at least one, but then they make a push late. How do you assess the overall performance tonight? Uh, I mean, I guess win’s a win, stacking wins at this point. Um, this point of the year, you’re never going to turn down two points. Our process standard needs to be a hell of a lot better, though. Um, you know, after the first 10 minutes, we like stopped skating. We We weren’t really We didn’t have much ozone pressure. We kind of got some rushes and scored, but uh just our execution coming out of our zone, not good. Is that what you saw the first 10 minutes you guys jump out to that good lead? Yeah, I mean we got on the for check. I mean we were we were on our toes and maybe we thought it was going to be an easy night after you scored two, three, you know, early like that. And so um that can happen but just our our uh attention to detail, our intensity over the puck. Uh our just basic tape to take tape to tape execution was was not there. So um we’re not in the business of of being mad about wins, but we’re we have a higher standard than that. And um we’re going to need to show it tomorrow night. Your line was really productive tonight. What was clicking and working for you guys? Well, I think we’re just reading off each other really well. I think uh kind of going to open spaces. Um you know, Cad’s putting the puck in the net. Great pass he made to Axe, too. You know, we’re all controlling the puck and just supporting each other and just uh I think there’s a growing chemistry there. Ask me what a still points four straight scores tonight. Just what do you see in his offensive game? I think he’s got confidence. He’s got a great shot and he can he can move the puck. So, um, you know, the more reps he gets, the better it’ll be. And, um, you know, I think if he can, you know, execute at that level, uh, breaking the puck out and throughout the whole game, he’s going to be a very, very dangerous player in this league. What makes Alex break out so dangerous? Uh, I think his ability to just get the puck off in any situation. I think, uh, you know, you could put it in his feet, put on his backand. Um, you know, he could be carrying it and he just finds way to get pucks through and, um, and and his one-time obviously is is a lead. So, um, goes to the right areas, very, very smart player. And I think what I didn’t realize is how hard he works on the puck and, um, hounding the puck. And so, I think that’s, um, given him more opportunities, and obviously he’s got all the skill in the world to to put pucks away. And very, very smart player. K, how would you judge tonight’s performance? Obviously coming out with two points, but I’m sure some areas there in the third that you guys want to clean up going into tomorrow. Yeah, definitely some stuff to clean up, but um, you know, overall, we put ourselves in a good position to to win that game. And um you know obviously not ideal to give up three in the third but um you know that’s the way way it goes and like I said it’s um we had four up on the board and usually that wins a game. So um I think we can we can clean up a little bit in our Dzone. Um you know cut off some things earlier than than we were and um I think we’ll spend more time in the in the Ozone if if we do that. Todd’s only December but given how tight everything is, how important is it to string three wins together in points on six straight? Uh yeah, very important I think especially on the road um if you can go on a road trip and um you know take advantage. I mean it’s not easy to win on the road. So we’re doing a good job right now and um hope to get another one tomorrow. When a team is kind of pushing like that late in the third, what are some of the keys to just settling things down? Um yeah, I think not panicking with the puck too much. I think we’re had had the lead for a reason and um you know when you panic you just throw it away give them more opportunity to play offense and um you know I think that’s something we can tighten up in our game is um you know one goes in it’s not the end of the world we got to figure out how to um you know be patient with the game and and play in the ozone. I think uh we needed some more time in the third period in the Ozone and um you know I think we’ll be fine but um that’s one thing we we definitely need to to clean up. On your first goal uh with that pass from Kane, did you know he was coming to you like that? Yeah. Yeah, I’ve seen that one a couple times. So um you know I think when you’re playing with him, you always got to be ready and um you know him holding it on his backand like that I think you know he sees me over there. So um you know I’m definitely ready to shoot that. Next Dean Pel now has points in four night. What do you see in his offensive game? Yeah, he’s great. I think in the ozone he moves so well and um very smart with the puck. So, um you know, when you’re playing out there with him, it’s it’s nice to get him get him the puck up there and he can make some plays and um you know, he moves really well. So, um you know, it’s fun to play with him. Alex, there’s so much buzz about the Olympics now. We’re hearing about it every day. How much of a motivator is that for you? Um yeah, I mean obviously I want to make that team, but um you know, something you try to keep out keep out of your mind. I think um you know right now we’re focused on winning here and um you know not so much that I think they’re going to make those decisions and um you know there’s nothing I can do about that. So no no point to to dwell on it and and um you know worry about it. Looking back on your body work this year, you happy with how you’re auditioning it so to speak? Yeah, I think um you know become a lot better in the Dzone and and staying hard on pucks and obviously that’s something I’m always working on. But um yeah, I feel good about my game right now. I feel confident and um you know it’s nice to get some wins as a team and and feel good as a group. Todd, you guys whether they’re a late pusher and then they’re in the third. How do you assess tonight’s win? Well, we’re really happy that we got points. Obviously, when you’re on the road and and um you know, playing in these buildings, it’s not an easy thing. Uh but I certainly wouldn’t classify that as our a game even when we were up four nothing and um some of our game management skills came into question again. Uh, good thing they give you was shot, especially down the stretch, but um, you know, you’re up four nothing and you got 10 minutes left on the power play and you get real sloppy. Um, we throw a puck blindly out of the corner in the offensive zone, trigger offense the other way. Even with 20 seconds left, we’re really not managing the game that well. So, um, again, I’ll say it, we’re really happy we won that game. We need the points. Uh, but we’ve got some things to polish up and I don’t think we’re skating well right now. We’re we’re not skating the way our team can skate. So, um get some rest tonight and hopefully the legs come tomorrow. I’d have to imagine you’d be happy with the start from tonight, that two goal first period. You talked about that this morning, the importance of that. Well, they’re they’re a very scrappy team. Um and they play, you know, we’ve done some pre-couting. They play better, I think, with the lead and um it was important for us to get it. They play a a very aggressive pinch game and we were lucky enough to get the pucks behind him a few times and capitalize on it. So, um, you know, even in the first they hemmed us in a little bit with their pinch. Uh, we eventually had to break them down and and we were lucky enough to line bring that that line got you going tonight. They were very very good the whole night. They were really good. Um, you know, usually our best both offensively and defensively. I thought Andrew Cop perhaps played his best game of the season and uh Cat and Kane are are uh very good with each other. So the the three of them had a grade a night in my opinion. Alex is on pays for careerh highs in goals and points right now. What’s what makes him so dangerous to bring? Oh de Brinkat. Well, you talk about offense, but I’ll go to his competitiveness. Um he’s a hungry uh feisty player that competes every night. Doesn’t matter where we play, whether it’s three and three, five games in five nights if he had to, he’d give you everything he had. And then his uh his shot is um is a weapon. Uh the ability he has to connect with Patrick Kane is is also something that’s really important for both of them. Um and he’s having a hell of a year. We’re we’re uh really happy for him. Is that the kind of game that could make a difference for the American team should he get selected in February? Well, you know what? You’re there’s going to be a lot of questions and Billy Garren and uh Doug Armstrong and and the international teams, they have a tough job. There’s so many good players in our game right now. Uh would I like to see Alex Brinkcat there? Do I think he deserves to be there? Yes. But there’s a lot of players out there and um unfortunately I don’t have to make those decisions. How big was it for Sandine Pelica to get another goal to bring you up team? Um well that was again that was a big goal early in the game. Um you know his confidence seems to be going up which is a real good thing. Um tough for a smallalish young defenseman to come into the league and learn on the fly. We’ve got a ton of confidence in him and he seems to get to be getting better every night. Lurin shows off his speed and his goal, but then also at the end to prevent that icing call for to keep time running. I guess the way that he plays, how does he drive things for this group? Well, your leader has to be uh a driver. Um, you know, not every night, but he has to be there most nights and he’s proven to do that uh time and time again this year. They

Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat and Todd McLellan speak with the media following Detroit’s 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday December 10, 2025.