Dylan Larkin & Todd McLellan Practice Media | October 27, 2025

Dylan Larkin & Todd McLellan Practice Media | October 27, 2025

that seems to as as good as you’ve been at home playing on the road seems to have been an issue. I mean, yeah, it’s important to be a good road team and and I don’t think we’re a bad road team, but just uh you know, we had a tough trip and I think to start off a trip is huge. So, tomorrow night in St. those we especially held the way the the game went on on Saturday against them. They’re going to be coming for us and it’s going to going to set the tone for the trip and I hope we can uh be ready to respond and uh be ready to go tomorrow. Why do you think I mean both in Buffalo on the island and I mean even in Toronto how played so well that game. Why haven’t you guys been able to dictate the pace as good as you have been at home? I I don’t have a good answer for you. Um I think we’ve at times dictated we’ve just given up a lot and uh the last two days we’ve been working on it, working on our structure, working on uh our tracking. So I hope that we can implement that and uh and not uh not give up as many great A opportunities. Todd talked the other night after the game, but you know, was this team closer closer to the team that was the first half of the St. close game. What are some of the things that you need to build on to beat that team from the second half of that game? What do we need to do to build on? Yeah. What What do you need to continue that was working well that second half of the game? Well, I mean, we were skating and um we pinched our D, we covered, and we kept pressure. um when we pinch our D and we don’t cover, we’re giving up two ones and it’s going the other way and that’s been a big problem for us. So, uh I think when we when we we get our D down and we’re able to cover for the D, let them be aggressive. It it keeps teams on their on their heels, uh I think at times we’ve let teams be on their toes and and then build confidence and continue to be on their toes and and uh it snowballs. I like how we got right to it and we we figured it out mid game. It didn’t take us two practices to figure it out. We we came back and and u the most important thing is we found a way to win and and that’s uh that’s big for our hockey team finding a way to win just what have you learned about the resilience of this team as far as this season after you know St. Louis. Yeah. It’s early in the season and and we we have been resilient. We’ve been challenged a lot and we’ve responded. So, I like the the attitude of the group and and um it’s still early, but we we got to keep that. We can now look whenever things aren’t going our way. We were down four against St. Louis. We we have that. We showed we can do it. So we in a long season you’re going to need there’s going to be times where we’re going to be in the same position and we’re going to be like hey we we did this against St. Louis. Um so that’s very important especially early. Dylan, it’s a little bit hard to figure out the dichotomy of the team that you guys can be so good and then also just seem to have a totally different identity almost. No, I mean we’re a young team and and I mean look at the average age of our decor. We’re young and there’s going to be times where we have to learn and I think it’s important how quickly we learn and it’s still early in this season. Um we’ve been winning in different ways which is which is important and and uh figuring out on the road is is part of maturing. So, uh, I think this is a big road trip. It’s a it’s a great it’s an exciting road trip. I I can’t all of our fans that come and support us in California and, uh, you know, I hope there’s some some energy energy from them uh, with with our start and a lot of them show up like they normally do. And, um, it’s a fun trip. It’s it’s I hope uh there’s excitement from our from our young guys and from our group to to go out and play on the road on this trip. Speaking of young guys with another goal on Saturday and scoring, how great is this? Yeah, it’s a big impact and we talked about him a lot. Um can’t say enough good things about him as a person, as a player. Uh yeah, it’s it’s good. It’s it’s uh I think he’s also learning that um now people are going to be watching out for him. You got to continue to drive, continue to to push um and kind of prove it every night. So, uh he’s done it. He’s done everything um so far. I I I don’t see uh you know why he couldn’t continue to keep going. Large so much better at home than on the road so far. I mean, even the game you guys won in was um you know, thought about it a lot. Um I don’t know if there’s a real pattern to the games. Um you know, and again, I don’t know what the uh you know, what the root cause is for it yet. I don’t think we’ve figured that out. We haven’t played enough in my opinion on the road yet. Um sometimes the other team is just better. Um they were in Toronto and the goalender bailed us out. Uh the Buffalo game um you know when I went back and watched it again there were moments where we had some good opportunities. Um so that was a little more even. Um the the Islander game I guess it was it really got away on us. We couldn’t uh couldn’t reel it back in. So um we haven’t played near to our capabilities yet on the road. I can’t tell you why yet. And just uh how much more importance is there on the game tomorrow given the Blues um I’m sure are going to be wanting to answer for what happened Saturday. Well, teams are going to always want to answer. Um you know that that the way you posed that you could say boy Red Wings are going to be pissed off when they get back from from New York and they just got drilled by the Islanders. So get ready. Well, that wasn’t the case. Um I don’t think we can think of it or build it that way. Odds are they’re going to want to be real hungry. They play tonight. It’s not like it’s a back-to-back series, but I’m not too worried about what they’re thinking about or how they’re going to approach the game. I’m a little more concerned about um you know, our group and making sure they’re ready to play. Those 7-second drills earlier in practice today, was that kind of more of an emphasis on making quicker decisions with the puck? Um yes and no. Um, when you practice the power play and there’s nothing on the line, uh, it gets cute and does nothing. And if you keep practicing that way, that’s how it carries over into the game. And that’s kind of where our power plays at. When you put something on the line and there’s a little intensity added to it, u all of a sudden things change. And, um, you know, it’s not a way of tricking them into intensity. It’s something that I believe in that, you know, off a faceoff, why can’t we establish a shot within 5 to 7 seconds. Um, we used to do that here all the time. We don’t need a fancy play. We can get pucks to the net and then play off the pads. We do it five on five and it allows us to have success. Why would we change it five on four? So, that that series of of drills with um, you know, the seven and 20, we’ve done that before in the past and it creates a sense of urgency. it creates a sense of time um and having to get it done right away and they have to play fast and um they did today in practice needs to carry over. And then going back to Los Angeles, uh this is an Kopitar’s final year in the NHL. You coached him. Uh do you plan on maybe trying to catch up with him a little bit and uh do you kind of see any parallels with what you saw in him to players that you’re coaching now in Detroit? I will seek him out. That’s how much I think of him. Um, you know, he’s he’s uh an he has been and still is an incredible player. Understands the game so much from both sides of the of the puck. Understands game management. Um, zero surprise that he’s won Stanley Cups. Zero surprise that he’s won individual trophies. Um, a lot of them from the checking perspective, yet he can provide the offense. And zero surprised that he’s a captain of a team. And um you know that’s I think very highly of them. Very very highly. Um you know and as far as um our own players, I don’t want to put that I don’t want to label any of our guys. They’re their own people. Um it would be great to have uh one or two Anie Copitars on our team. Um perhaps we’ll maybe we have them. Uh maybe they will evolve, but I’m not going to put any names there. I recognize you have two games before Friday, but I might write uh about Gibson returning to Anaheim. So, do you think you’ll play Talbot in LA and then Gibson? Now, that can change. You know, we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves, but that’s what we would do. Um, in light of, you know, this is his first new organization. You’re sorting out some stuff in front of both goalies. Just how’s John’s adjustment been? Um, well, when you when you look at his overall presentation to his teammates, to his coaching staff, to the people that are around here, maybe even to to the media, I think it’s been really good. It’s it seemed seamless. I think his family’s enjoying uh the new community, his kids are having a great time. So, there’s that part of life with a new team. Uh, then there’s adjusting to coaching staff, system, goalie coach, and I think that’s going okay. Uh then there’s the part of playing the games and getting involved in practice. Drills are different. Coaches go at different paces or different tempos. So he’s adjusting to that. Um you know, I think if if we compare the the uh Islander game and the uh St. Louis game, okay, they’re similar in a lot of ways. It just they didn’t get to five. You know, like I don’t know when the last five goal deficit has been erased, but four happens every now and then. Uh three, you got a chance, two pretty good opportunity, and one, it’s anybody’s game. Uh he did a real good job the other day of of at 4 nothing making some 10 bell saves to keep us in the game. And like I said yesterday, I don’t finger him for any of the the four goals. So, yeah, his numbers don’t look like he’s been playing well, but um other than the opening night, um he’s been pretty solid. Todd, just um you know, it’s early in the season still, but just you’ve shown some resilience, the Montreal opener, the last, you know, losing streak and against St. Louis. Uh how important is resilience and what have you learned about your team so far from how they’ve, you know, responded? Well, I think Carlos, I think the the resilience thing is huge. Um the there’s just too many games throughout the year that if you don’t have uh bounce back, if you don’t have water off your back and and respond attitude, uh it can really start to pile up. And I still think we’re developing those skills. I don’t think we’re where we need to be. Uh training camp this year, we talked about wanting to be um harder physically, you know, and that’s all over the rink. It’s not necessarily banging guys through the boards. is faceoffs and that front, all that type of stuff, but also between the years being um a lot harder there mentally. And uh we’ve we’ve seen really good responses. Um we’ve seen some where it got away on us. Um when it will we’ll really value it is when it’s purely coming from the group instead of maybe the coaching staff. But until that happens, we’re prepared to push them and and we’ll continue to do that. But I think it’s starting, you can feel it. It’s starting to come. Um the guys are doing a good job. Um but the handoff has to happen at some point. When it does, then we’ll really be where we where we need to be. With uh with St. Louis saw Bennington the other night, and I know they’re playing tonight, so it might be hope for tomorrow, but either way, both of them are guys that like to when they get the chance, they like to push it, especially in that second period there. What are the things that you kind of as a coaching staff, how do you think about that and plan for that for a way the team whether it’s the goalie or the defense on the maybe specifically in that middle period of just the quick swing back up and Yeah. So I I think what you’re asking me is the goalender gets out and and wants to play it, likes to play it and has uh significant confidence with it. Yes. And and that is Bennington and Hoer. They’re both very good at it. So all of a sudden you’re adding in uh you know an extra half defenseman. and they play with two and a half defenseman. Um, you know, so one, when we uh just t attack the two DM men, we we don’t really want to give them the puck in a comfortable situation. So, why would we do that with a goalender? And we talk to our players about uh dumps or giving up the puck. You can’t always have possession. I know the analytics people would love it if we could just skate it in every time, but it doesn’t happen. You have to give up the puck. the release and the the area that you release it to and how you get it there is actually a skill. It it’s it’s a skill and we never ever think about that because we’re told don’t give up the puck anyhow. So we stress to our guys it’s a skill. Make it valuable. Um it’s hard for goalenders to handle pucks on the glass. Um it’s hard for goalenders to handle slow rims. Now that’s that’s hardly a slow rim and he’s out there and everybody’s meeting him. Um, you know, so there are some areas that if we’re going to dump it towards the net, we talk about that a little bit, but we’d prefer to keep it away from them and only play against two defenseman instead of two and a half. Is is that one of those underrated skills of a penalty killer when you think about picking forwards and guys who are going to be obviously you’re thinking about positioning and stick work and everything like that, but when you get the puck on your stick and obviously you’re trying to get it out and and out of danger that kind of the ability of where and when to place it. Is that something that comes into mind when you’re who? We spent more time in our zone the other day on the penalty kill gave a goal up uh because we didn’t get it clear. So now we’re talking about somebody other than maybe the goalender, but just just our penalty killers. We had it on our tape and and you sense um or panic a little bit more. I don’t know if that’s a good word, but you sense the danger a little bit more when you’re penalty killing. You feel rushed um to get it out. And sometimes when you’re rushed, you’re just firing right back to the Dman. They keep it in. Lo and behold, it’s in your net if you don’t get the clear. So, um, having the poise and the talent and the skill to to buy an extra second to get the job done is is important as a penalty killer. Uh, Todd, any any concern with Brit as far as playing or anything? Well, Brance is well, we’re talking about the youngest guy on our team. Uh, he had a a significant impact in exhibition season. The NHL starts and some of the the superstars are still trying to find their game. The goalenders are trying to find their way. and you get to around the the nine or 10 game mark and that’s what the real NHL is. Um, and that’s where we’re at right now. So, Brent’s it’s getting faster for him and uh he’s still doing a good job in a lot of areas. Tight game, uh, tight quarters, physical shot, still real good. Longer game, little little harder for him. Uh, but if we expect him to be uh, you know, like a a savior, as I said, um, that’s not what he’s going to be. And the big thing with him will be his confidence. We’ll try and work with him to make sure that he doesn’t give any of it back because he’s earned the right to be a very confident player. And just uh also Nick Danielson, you had said before he got hurt, he looked like he could make the team. Uh any I mean just got activated. Yeah, he did. Um I think highly of him based on what I saw at camp. I know the organization thinks highly of him. Uh he missed three and a half weeks. Uh he was able to keep his legs moving, upper body, so he worked hard on that. Um got good reports. He’s only played three periods of hockey though in the last three and a half weeks. Is uh he might have to get his feet wet a little bit more, but I I think at some point this season we’ll see Danny here and uh we’ll get a chance to evaluate him. Uh but right now um everything’s positive with the way he’s playing. Todd, I mean, nine games, relatively small sample size. When you come back, you’ll you will have played 14. Uh, we have a better kind of handle on what this team is and or is there a certain number of games uh at the start of the season where you kind of use as a gauge to determine that? at last year going into the um the break the all-star world cup whatever it was I remember saying we’re going to find who are we you know so that was February I think it was early February we’re still trying to figure out who we are um I don’t know if we can do that in nine games or 14 games or whatever um uh we’re still trying to figure that out and you can see that in our play like which team were we the other night were we the the first half or the second half team I’d like to think were the second half team, but I can’t put numbers on evaluations. What I will tell you is you said that, you know, nine games is a small sample size. That’s 11% of our season’s already gone. You know, we’ve played um I don’t know what it is. I think we have um 80% or 75% of our games are that or 25%, pardon me, of our games are already gone with the uh within our our division and we’re only nine games in. So somewhere in that range. I don’t have the perfect math, but that’s how quick opportunities disappear. Um, so small sample size, but 11% is already gone. And when we get back, we’ll be at that 15 16% range. And you know, that that starts to to paint a pretty good picture for you individually, your your stat line, your contribution to a team as an individual. You’ve played a fifth of a season already. Are you happy or unhappy? And are we happy or unhappy as a group? Um, but I still don’t know who we are yet. And are you going to go back to Gibson tomorrow? We’re going to go back to Gibson tomorrow.

Dylan Larkin and Head Coach Todd McLellan speak with the media following the Red Wings practice on Monday October 27, 2025 at the BELFOR Training Center.