JVR returns, roster reduced to 40 one week before opener

Red Wings beat reporter Ted Kulfan takes a look at James van Riemsdyk’s return to the team on Wednesday and how the roster is shaping up before next week’s season opener against the Canadiens.

The interview guest is Jake Davis, a Wyandotte native who was just selected to be a linesman in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy from Feb. 6-22.

Here are highlights from episode 129 of The News’ OctoPulse podcast:

▶ :50: Ted Kulfan talks to James van Riemsdyk after practice

▶ 2:00: JVR expected to score 15-20 goals this year

▶ 3:40: Todd McLellan may carry eight defenseman to start season

▶ 5:30: Roster reduced to 40 players on Wednesday

▶ 6:30: Varsity Ford of Ann Arbor advertisement

▶ 7:00: Jake Davis interview

▶ 16:40: Emmitt Finnie on his fast start in camp

▶ 17:20: Finnie “a pleasant surprise” for seventh-round pick

▶ 18:30: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Nate Danielson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka updates

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Previous OctoPulse podcasts

▶ Yzerman starts Year 7; Gibson in goalie spotlight

▶ Red Wings upgrade with Gibson, Appleton, JVR

▶ Yzerman’s ‘pivotal week’ in rebuild

▶ Defiant Yzerman demands more from Wings

▶ Wings all but eliminated from playoffs in Montreal

▶ Larkin sputters to finish line; Emily Kaplan interview

OctoPulse guests in alphabetical order

▶ A: Trey Augustine, Dave Andrews, Kenny Albert, Kashawn Aitcheson

▶ B: Riley Brengman, John Bacon, Red Berenson, Matt Beniers, Scotty Bowman, Joe Bowen, Cooper Black, Phil Bourque, Jason Bukala

▶ C: Steve Coates, Leo Carlsson, Mike Cammalleri, Logan Cooley, Caley Chelios, Cole Caufield, Mitchell Clinton, Mellissa Channell-Watkins

▶ D: Nate Danielson, Dave Drinkill, Jamie Drysdale, Ken Dryden, Jake Davis

▶ E: Cole Eiserman, Simon Edvinsson, Mike Emrick, Emerson Etem

▶ F: Jordan Forgione, Everett Fitzhugh, Jim Fox, John Forslund

▶ G: Cutter Gauthier, Dylan Guenther, Jerry Green, Stu Grimson, Gerard Gallant, Liam Greentree, Bruce Garrioch

▶ H: William Horcoff, Mark Howe, Cross Hanas, Luke Hughes, Murray Howe, Milan Hejduk, Brian Hayward

▶ I: Greg Innis

▶ J: Kent Johnson

▶ K: Joakim Kemell, Mark Kirton, Megan Keller, John Kelly, Mike Keenan, Emily Kaplan

▶ L: Ryan Leonard, Nick Libett, Chaz Lucius, Brian Lawton, Pat Lafontaine, Nicklas Lidstrom, Craig Laughlin, Dave Legwand, Bill Lindsay

▶ M: Doug MacLean, Al Montoya, Tim Mayer, Wes McCauley, Dan Milstein, Max Namestnikov, Ken Morrow

▶ N: Ted Nolan, Frank Nazar, Dwayne Norris, Pat Nagle

▶ O: Mark O’Brien

▶ P: Madison Packer, Dave Poulin, Gabe Perreault, Jakub Petr, Doug Plagens, Cole Perfetti, Darren Pang, Zayne Parekh, Julie Petry

▶ R: Abby Roque, Jason Ross, Manon Rheaume, Lucas Raymond, Marco Rossi, Luc Robitaille, Marcus Ragnarsson, Sam Rosen, Daryl Reaugh

▶ S: Riley Sawchuk, Bob Stauffer, Will Smith, John Shannon, Paul Stewart, Moritz Seider, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Craig Simpson, Kirsten Simms, Mats Sundin, Brad Stuart

▶ T: Tripp Tracy, Bryan Trottier, Tim Taylor

▶ V: Rick Vaive

▶ W: Paul Woods, Shane Wright

▶ Z: Rick Zombo, Trevor Zegras

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