Dylan Larkin, Cam Talbot, Elmer Soderblom, Todd McLellan Practice Media | Oct 29, 2025

Dylan Larkin, Cam Talbot, Elmer Soderblom, Todd McLellan Practice Media | Oct 29, 2025

Dylan, postgame last night, you said something to me, Aussie, that you thought it was a mature third period. Can you expand on what you meant by that? Yeah, I just I I think um we didn’t put ourselves in bad situations. We stayed out of the box. Um we didn’t change our game too much. We obviously weren’t taking crazy risk and and really flooring it for offense, but um we still generated and um most importantly we didn’t give up much at at the same time. So I thought uh we just rolled the lines and and everyone was playing and um playing well gave them gave him kind of shut him out and and uh that was important important third period for our team. How much of that do you kind of attribute? You guys had two practices where you spent a ton of time defending kind of entries and back checks. It’s like how much do you attribute it last night to that? Yeah, a a lot. We we really uh put what we practiced into into the game and and um it showed. We didn’t give up much. And uh you know, I’m sure Todd would would would tell you there’s there’s probably tons of good good clips and and positive clips that uh you know, the last week or so it it with our tracking especially, it wasn’t so positive and and uh you know, I think uh he gave us you know, a little bit of a um pat on the back today that we we we took what we practiced and what we were taught to do and into the game. Dylan, for you personally, how much of your very uh impressive hot start numbers wise has come down to did you do anything else this off season or anything? No. No. Um, I had a good summer, but I think just the way the team has started and and um, you know, for me personally, the excitement playing with with Finn and and um, the moment I saw Lucas come back, the way he looked uh, like he was ready to take a take a massive jump and and um, and then playing with Finn and even App for a little bit when Ray was out. um you know just just playing with good players and and um I talked about it a little bit that the uh pressure that’s off of not having to be F1 on the for check with with Ray and Finn and App even. Um that guys can skate and and go for check and and do a little bit of the dirty work and and help get pucks and I thought we’ve been been sharing the puck really well. So, um, our whole team, there’s a lot of storylines on on good starts and, um, I was happy to see last night, everyone, uh, in the last two nights, everyone seems to be chipping in on offense, which is important for our team. Everyone getting that good feeling. So, um, it’s going to have to be from everyone this year and and, uh, I thought I think it’s a good start for our whole team. Do you think that this is kind of the culmination of maybe the past couple seasons showing how much a point or two in October may matter in April? Yeah, I mean every point matters. Um I think the next challenge for us is um with how we play, how we skate. Um we’re going to be in games and and uh where we’re at in the standings right now. It’s still very early, but um you know, teams are going to be coming for us and they’re going to bring their best against us is something that we’re not used to. So, um, when you’re at the top of the standings, you have to teams teams want to beat you and, uh, you have to be ready every night. You mentioned getting excited when you saw Lucas come back. I assume you mean like in those preseason skates. Like, what was it that you saw from him that gave you that feeling? Just the I would say the pop. Um, obviously he’s an explosive guy, but um, just his hands, his quickness. uh he seemed very dialed in and it’s something that you learn as you go go through seasons in the NHL and off seasons and I just thought that he looked ready to to take the next step and and uh um and continue, you know, put up more points and and help our team even more. He he’s a guy I mean we saw miss a couple games early this year. Like what did it mean to see him I’m sure he’s playing through it a little bit there when he comes back. does that do for you in the bench to see a guy playing through like that early in the year? Yeah, it it uh you know, it means a lot. It doesn’t go unrecognized and and um you know, he’s doing better, but uh it’s it’s still early, so you you got to be careful a little bit on on how much you push it and I think he’s very smart about it. Uh so it doesn’t go unrecognized, especially with some of the young young faces we have in our room. You said teams might be hunting you a little bit even though it’s early in the season. How do you as a leader on this team make sure your team is aware of that and doesn’t take the foot off the gas going forward? Yeah, I guess when I say that it’s it’s still early. Um I just felt like I noticed it a little bit, especially the Buffalo and and New York Islander game. Like they were ready to play against us and and it’s a different feeling and and um something you you you just have to be ready. You got to treat every game like it’s it’s a it’s a really big one and uh because it is every every every point is is big in this league and and uh you try you take points anywhere they come. Speaking of uh guys with great starts on your team first year with John Gibson, you know, I know that obviously opening night wasn’t ideal for pay you guys, but seems like he’s been on the beam ever since just what’s been like so far having him as a teammate. Yeah, what he can bring in there. Can’t say enough good things about uh him as a as a teammate and uh his demeanor is very very old school and um you know opening night didn’t didn’t go we we left him out to dry and uh we did not play well and and uh he was calm. He was he was Clark. He said he seemed a little pissed off about it and he responded and and I think he’s a gamer that uh when he gets hot it’s it’s uh you know it’s it’s really good for us and um I think he’s still just just chipping away and working on it and and last night was a a great performance out of him where he just kept everything in front of him and and uh played the puck really well, got whistles when he had to and and um you know I thought he managed the game really well for us back there. If he happens to get Friday’s game in Anaheim, what do you think that going to mean for him and and even for you know you guys playing in front of him? Yeah, I mean it’s got to mean a lot to him and and um you know I think when you put years into an organization and um you know especially years that aren’t great, there’s there’s good moments but uh there’s some tough times. It’s it’s hard. uh you’re when you’re in it, you want to be the guy to to help get that organization out of it and um you know, I think maybe he got to a point, I’m not going to put words, but he wanted a a fresh start and um I think it’d be emotional return. And uh you know I think uh as a guy that’s pretty cool, calm and collected and I think uh you know I I know he’ll be excited and and I I think it would be emotional because he put so much uh so much effort and and uh you know he cared a lot about about that organization for a long time. You get to go find some of your old spots here? Yeah, I’m going to go meet up with some uh family friends and stuff like that this afternoon. Have lunch and uh yeah, hit up one of my favorite lunch spots that I used to frequent. you’ve you’ve obviously done this plenty of times in plenty of different cities. Does it still have a kind of significance to you to play a former team or not as much? I mean, at this point, it’ be like a quarter of the league, right? So, it’s getting less and less uh um I don’t know, fun, I guess. Um but yeah, you know, it’s always fun. It’s always nice to come back to a city that you uh you got to play in and enjoy and and see some some friends and stuff like that. So, um but yeah, obviously when you you’re on as many teams as me, it’s like almost every road trip. So it loses its luster uh from time to time. We just asked Todd about it too coming back to LA and he kind of said when you have a lot of stops it’s more about the people that you meet in each city and that you get to see when you return. Just what do you appreciate about each stop that you’ve had in the NHL? I’d say exactly that as well. Um obviously teammates, coaches, people around the ring today, training staffs and stuff like that. So you get close with them. Uh whether you’re there for a year, four, 5 years, doesn’t matter. Um they’re the people that you see every single day. And then the relationships you build outside of hockey through the kids and stuff like that, other parents from school, uh sports teams and stuff like that. So, um you know, all the places um have a special place in in your heart for for so many reasons and uh you know, this place is no different. Ken, what are you seeing from Dylan this season? I mean, he’s off to a remarkable start number-wise. Yeah, I mean he’s our he’s our leader for a reason and he’s really driving the bus right now. So, um, anytime that, you know, the game’s maybe not going our way or we need a a spark or something like that, he seems to be providing it for us this year and and that’s what we expect from him. He’s got that that game-breaking ability and, you know, we’ve been seeing it a lot this year and um, he’s pulling us into the fight every night and that’s what you want from your captain and um, you can tell he’s he’s at an elite level right now. We need him to keep that up. Sal, you guys are 10 games through the season, still very early, but what have you learned about the group on the ice, off the ice? What has stood out to you from this first stretch of games? I think the resilience. I mean, uh, after that first game, uh, obviously didn’t go our way against Montreal. We we real off five in a row and then we get a couple lackluster performances, uh, after that and then we bounce right back again. So, um, you know, against St. Louis, we obviously didn’t have the start we wanted at coming back home after those two road games and then again found a way to to to grind that one out as well and then put together a couple good ones there. So, uh, the resiliency, the mental fortitude, um, right now is, uh, is, uh, is high. So, we need to continue with that that confidence that we’ve been building and, uh, continue to add those little details into our game and and get off to better starts here. Off to a good start. Um, it season, record-wise, but as a a leader, a guy who’s experienced, how do you make sure a team like this, especially with some young guys, doesn’t take their foot off the gas going forward? Yeah, I feel like we’ve talked about that a little bit. uh so far this year is just not getting too high, not getting too low. So, uh you know, you go on that five game winning streak and um you know, you can get really really high and then you hit those two road games, you can get really really low. So, it’s just kind of balancing that out and not letting them carry over from game to game. You have to kind of mentally reset after every game. Um approach it like it’s a must win every single night. Whether we’ve won five in a row or lost five in a row, we should approach the game the same way. And that’s going to be the message moving forward here and trying to keep our foot on the gas. The start to the season and to contribute offensively last night. Just what did that mean to you in terms of finding a spot in this lineup and keeping it? Yeah, of course it was nice. Uh felt like we played good the whole game, you know? Uh felt like our line was heavy playing physical uh good on the for trick. So uh yeah, just got to keep uh doing the same way. What are you guys doing right as a line when all of those things are going well? Uh, I think we just kind of trust each other and know that each each guy is going to do their work. So, and of course, we’re pretty big guys, so it’s going to be tough and heavy to play against us. So, when we do that, I think it’s uh we’re a good opponent. Defensively, what stood out to you from the way you guys played against St. Louis the other night? I think the the way we handled the third period was really good. we kind of just closed down the game. Uh didn’t uh give up anything. We just played really solid and uh I think that’s what we need to do to uh you know keep uh keep winning and uh you have to be good good defensively. So that was really good. Thought last night was one of the more physically active games I’ve seen from you. How conscious is that and what do you think the difference is of being able to tap into that? Uh I think I just uh trying to get it more and more as a habit, you know, and uh yeah, I felt good last night. uh you know once you get in early with the heavy play I think that’s going to carry on throughout the whole game. So uh I think for me it’s just u getting more and more natural to see after the practices you guys had this week it come to life the way it did and some of those moments yesterday. Well it’s it it’s rewarding um not necessarily for us as coaches but for the players. They put the time in and uh they knew they needed to work and improve in certain areas and it showed up in the game. Now, that’s one night. Uh, can we, you know, we’ve been saying this basically all year. Can we bottle it? Can we travel with it? Can we uh maintain it? And, um, you know, we’re still working hard on the starts trying to to get out of the gate better than we have been over the last few games. Um, but practice habits showed up in the game. That’s always a good sign. Todd, I mean, you saw Dylan a ton as an opposing coach now, your first full year with him, but what have you seen that he’s off to such a hot start? Well, he’s confident, but he he should be. He’s a heck of a player. You know, you think about his legs. Uh you think about his uh his ability to to get to places and read plays. He’s he’s a pretty bright bright hockey player. Um you know, and we played him with uh with a couple players that I think compliment him. Um you know, so the whole package has been there. And uh the thing about Dylan is he’s just not thinking about the uh the offensive side of the puck. He’s willing to check and and do his job against some of the best centers in the league. So, we’re we’re fortunate to have him. Is it funny, too, how something sometimes how things work out because it seems like EMTT really has been a terrific fit on that line and you might not have consult Yeah, I think you’re exactly right. Um, you know, heading into training camp, we really had no idea who was going to uh, you know, assume that role or that position. Um, we talked about a lot of different people. EMTT Finn Finny not being one of them though to tell you the truth. And um you know he the door opened up for him. He jumped through the door and he’s stayed in that position um so far. I don’t see him relinquishing it uh as long as he maintains the level of play that he that he’s had right now. And also uh just uh anything on Patrick Kus. You are at 12 forwards right? We are at uh yes we are at 12 forwards right now. Um I know Ker skating at home. I haven’t got uh an update today. In fact, I didn’t get one yesterday. Uh he won’t play tomorrow and won’t play in Anaheim. Okay. The following day. So, we’ll uh we’ll see how it goes from there. You guys are about to set off on three games and four nights here. How do you embrace the grind of a season now that things are starting to pick up? Well, it’s a must. Um you know, we don’t we really don’t have any choice but to embrace it. And we’re not the only team in the league. There’s 31 others that that have to get out on the road. they have to play uh half their season there. Uh travel becomes a factor. Back-to-back games become a factor. So uh it’s not just about the Detroit Red Wings. Everybody goes through this and the teams that are mentally strong, well equipped, they handle it uh the way they should. Um teams that are still working on it kind of fumble through it. And then there’s the others and and we certainly don’t want to be either of those last two. We’d like to be the team that handles it well. I don’t know if Lucas is back to 100% yet, but what have you thought of him and how he’s looked coming? Razer, you’re talking about um yeah, I don’t know if he would be at 100% yet either. I I think that Razer’s game has uh I just think there’s more in Razer’s game to tell you the truth. Uh there’s no sense beating around the bush. Um you know, but he was uh injured. He did come back and play beat up a little bit. um fact of life in the NHL. As we told him at training camp, you’re never going to feel any better than you are today. And it all goes downhill from there as far as uh fatigue and owies and injuries and everything else and and Razer’s living it early in the season. But there is more there. Um you know, both offensively and and battles. Um but he was beat up. Is there something to be said, I guess, for for playing through it even in October where you know, there would could be an inclination to rest, but he clearly wants to be out there. Yeah, I don’t think uh well, I can tell you he doesn’t want to rest and we don’t really want him to be resting. Um you know, what he had was uh he got the time off that he needed and now he’s very capable of playing with it. Um and uh you know, at some point you’re you’re over it and um you know, it’s it’s admirable that he’s in the lineup and he’s fighting through, but uh again, at some point you’re over it. Todd, you’ve experienced a lot as a coach. Does it still bring up any emotion to to coach in a city that you you previously coached in? Yeah, I’ve gone through it a number of times. You know, when you come back here, um I think one of the things that’s special about all these stops that I’ve had are the people. Um you know, I see the the trainers and the the media people uh from other teams and and it it means a lot. Um it’s it’s not necessarily the the location, the rank or anything like that. It’s the people and um every time you get a a stop like that uh and get to visit it, it means a lot. tied you up against John Gibson in the other opposing net many times. What’s it like to now have him in your net? Well, I’m glad he’s in our net now. Um, you know, obviously out east, if he was still in Anaheim, we’d only need to see him maybe twice, but it’s been a pleasure to see him uh practice play. Uh the calming factor factor that he has on the team uh is pretty big right now. Uh you know, some would say look at his numbers and go, “Wow, he’s not off to a good start.” Well, if anybody watched those games with our team playing in front of him, you can’t blame him on uh on a lot of it. So, um but even last night, we gave up a goal in the first 50 seconds of the game. Uh you know, he was calm, he relaxed. No big deal. I got this. And he made some saves after that that were important. Was that uh is it a sign of where he’s at in his career that say you know opening night was nobody like but that he where he’s at in his career where he’s able to park that and Oh, I think so. Yeah. And and you just move on to the next you kind of you have enough in the bank to move on. Um as you get older and you get more mature and and you’re invested in your career with a team, um you’re going to have bad days and you got to be able to move on from them. when you’re younger, you carry those days with you and you worry about them and uh you wonder what the repercussions may be in the lineup. Uh but but I think Gibby Tal was included too. Um they’re beyond that. They’ve got to get past uh bad days and they got to recover from good days too. It just doesn’t happen by accident. So uh both veterans. Would you play that?

Dylan Larkin, Cam Talbot, Elmer Soderblom, and Todd McLellan speak with the media following Detroit’s practice on Wednesday October 29, 2025.