Todd McLellan Media | Oct. 2, 2025
Uh yeah, Todd, these last two preseason preseason games, uh are you looking at almost a full lineup of uh just to get ready for the start? Yes and no. We still got some decisions to be made. So, uh I can’t tell you that the lineup we I can tell you the lineup we throw on the ice tonight probably isn’t going to be our starting lineup. We’re still looking at some people. We’re going to address 11 and seven tonight. So, um there’d be seven defenseman that get opportunity to play and uh may open up some ice time for some of the forwards we’re looking at as well. And then when we come home for the the game on Saturday, we’ll take a look at the lineup that may be closer to to uh to what our opening night would look like. And uh well, Bernard Docker didn’t he didn’t skate. Uh he did. He skated with the um with the other group um earlier. And don’t read in in into that at all. Um, it’s just we needed to balance out some numbers. He’ll come back with our group tomorrow. How have you seen Sed Pelica kind of progress as this preseason and camp have gone along? I think Rass has improved um as camp’s gone on uh better and better each each night, each game. Practice, it looks like he’s feeling a little more confident and comfortable. um whether it’s with us as a coaching staff, his teammates, the the level of play, the size of the the ice surface, um you know, strength and pace he’s been able to adjust to. So, I would say he’s getting better uh each and every day. And with so many veterans, like how do you kind of balance the temptation of, you know, if he plays well, wanted to give him that opportunity versus, you know, knowing what he could benefit from playing? Well, we have to look at two things. We have to look at um you know and if we leave acts out of it just generally speaking um you know who can help this team uh on opening night but also maintain that and continue it through um 82 games. And we got to look at the roster construction uh the number of roster spots that we have um where we want to be uh maybe a little deeper um you know whether it’s on the with the forwards or on the blue line. and um you know and then look at a few of the other elements who fits with who. Um so a lot goes into fielding um the opening day roster if you will. Not everybody’s going to play because 23 can’t. Uh but then it becomes fluid. Things can change real quick and um I’m sure it will. It always does. For a lot of the younger guys that haven’t had the experience on the North American sheet, how have you seen their learning curve throughout the preseason? Is it where you thought it was going to be as they progressed? Is it more steeper, longer? I guess what your thoughts on that? Um different adjustment periods for each. Um and I think it’s positional, too. Like the forwards the forwards tend to have people closing on them in the offensive zone, so you got to adjust to your, you know, your time and your your range there. uh for defenseman, you’re closing on forwards in the defensive zone. So, you got to figure that out. Um it’s not just the size of the rink, it’s how players use that that that ringside with quick give and goes. Um pace of play. Um sometimes the younger players don’t know. Um you know, I take Felino the other night maybe with Legus and Lag’s been around a little bit, but just his shimmy shake move how he he shuffled him off. He had to take a penalty on it. That’s knowing maybe some tendencies of players. Obviously, everybody knows Conor McDavid and his speed, but there’s other players that have tendencies and as you go through the league, um, you know, you can figure guys out a little bit. Pitching probably in baseball is very similar. You know, tough to face him the first time, but two or three times in, you know what he’s got and what his tendencies are. And I I think our guys are trying to figure that out a little bit. I know Simon will need a few games to get up to speed or maybe more, but what what do you see in him when he’s at his best range? Uh, you know, he’s such a good skater and long. So, range and long. Um, he’s got a a smart assertiveness to him. It’s not just random let’s go. Uh, a really smart aggressive uh player with and without the puck. So, the physicality is there, but with a puck, he can he can log it and limber it or haul it up the ice, pardon me, and and um shot, you know, if he’s if his feet are working right and and everything’s going well, he can put himself into position where he can use a pretty heavy shot. And we saw last year for the most part, he’s willing to use it. So, um you know, those are the individual skills, team skills. He should be able to fit in everywhere. should understand the structure and and uh be able to play special teams in in all the situations, but as you said, it’s going to take a little bit to get him back up to uh to par. On the subject of special teams, I know you use Gustaf one right now on that second power play, but is Simon somebody who down the road could fill that role? Oh, I think so. Yeah. Uh I think we have players coming too that could fill that role. Um you know, nothing’s set in stone. Um there’s players that have played there before and and have done a really good job whether that’s Gus or whoever and uh but sometimes um a change or maybe even going to two defenseman on a power play unit if you have u the luxury of that um then you look at that but um we’re just find trying to find some common ground with our special teams right now. Get everything back before we jump to uh maybe a new phase. Just switching to a different line. Uh, you’ve had Marco, Patrick Kane, and Alex Brinkad. That’s been your one line since camp began. What is it about that line you like? And how much is Marco the key? Because Alex and Patrick know how to play with one another, but Patrick or Marco is really Yeah, I you know, I think you you kind of answered your question with with Kane and Cat. They’re um they’re very familiar with each other. Um, you know, when in the garbage type moment, they kind of understand where each other might be and can make something out of nothing. Uh, Casp when he got there, I thought he was a a driver on that line as far as getting to the net to the blue paint to loosening pucks up on the forch check. Uh, you know, playing down low as a reliable centerman. Um, just allound driver on that line and I think he compliments them fairly well. We we hope we have a real good line there. Um, I believe we do, but the production and or lack of production, I hope it’s not that case, is is going to dictate how far uh we continue with it. It’s obviously a very high draft pick. Is it still pretty impressive how well he holds his own at such a young age? Casp. Yeah. Yeah, it is. Um, you know, you guys have all dealt with him and talked to him. He doesn’t doesn’t seem like you’re talking to a 20-year-old or 21-year-old. He seems a little bit older, more mature. Um, and his play reflects that as well. All good. Okay. Thanks,
Todd McLellan speaks with the media following Detroit’s practice on Thursday October 2, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena.
6 comments
The reason this team keeps wiping our rosters/coaches and failing is because they're trying to build on a weak foundation. Larkin is a third line center on a cup contender and certainly not captain material at all
The Wings, l'm sorry to say, look just like the past few years.
The question is, who's running the team? I feel bad for Chicago. They have to work through Blashill.
My home team, the Lighting, may make a comeback this year. My heart, however, is with the Red Wings. This rebuild is taking way too long to get done.
People are quick to forget the situation that Stevie walked into. Zero prospects, minimal NHL talent, nothing but negative luck in the draft lotto, and a fairly toxic fanbase that never learned how to lose. Rebuilds, ACTUAL rebuilds, take 5-6 years. Defenseman were our greatest need and generally they're going to take 4-5 years on their own. Simon and Mo are exceptional players and developed ahead of schedule.
Stevie has done a fantastic job drafting, and hopefully developing. We'll be seeing the results over the next 2 years, but people really should chill til then..
This is what I watch… what the coach thinks. I never watch pre season and think or hope what's going to happen. If we get a youth that stays in the lineup it's a good sign.
would have liked Todd to explain why Kasper and Cat are playing tonight but not Kane. Is he already screwing w Kane/ planning on screwing over Kane? His answer about the line here indicated he's already just waiting for any slump or issue so he can justify breaking them up. I had thought the last several months of last year had corrected his mistaken impressions of who was what and had made him understand Kane was not just a gamer but THE gamer on the team, but evidently the bias persists.
basically – as of last year, any time Kane at 5v5 is not with Larkin-Cat or Kasper-Cat, the coach is making a terrible mistake. we'll see how many terrible mistakes are made this year.