{"id":449955,"date":"2026-02-07T05:32:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T05:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/449955\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T05:32:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T05:32:11","slug":"red-wings-embracing-positives-of-break-detroit-hockey-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/449955\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Embracing Positives of Break \/ Detroit Hockey Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Make no mistake about it \u2013 last year, the Detroit<\/a> Red Wings were broken by the break. Detroit entered the 15-day break in the NHL schedule for the 4 Nations Face-Off, sitting eighth overall in the Eastern Conference standings.<\/p>\n

Upon getting back into action, the Red Wings went 3-7-1, watching their playoff hopes evaporate.<\/p>\n

A year later, entering a 22-day pause in their schedule for the Olympics, the Red Wings are determined not to let history repeat itself.<\/p>\n

That being the case, coach Todd McLellan<\/a> didn\u2019t send his team off to their rest with a history lesson.<\/p>\n

Todd McLellan discussed Utah\u2019s fast-paced style and how his team responded in last night\u2019s game. \ud83d\udd0a#LGRW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JykNOG8vjY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve heard me enough for the first five months of the season,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cThey sure don\u2019t need to hear me now when they\u2019re on their break.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen they get back on the 17th, we\u2019ll pick up where we left off.\u201d<\/p>\n

While admitting that he\u2019s looking forward to the chance to take a breath during the midst of what\u2019s been a grinding slate of games, Detroit forward Andrew Copp<\/a> isn\u2019t planning to park himself on the couch and chill.<\/p>\n

ANDREW COPP FINISHES IT OFF ON FEDOROV NIGHT!! \ud83d\udea8 pic.twitter.com\/LzmwcCXk82<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSome guys will, I\u2019m sure, maybe if they\u2019re more banged up, take a little bit more time,\u201d Copp said. \u201cThey\u2019ll do a few workouts on their own or wherever they go. Some guys might skate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s kind of just up to the individual to see what you need. I think everyone knows the stakes, so I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s going on a two-week-long bender in Vegas. But yeah, it\u2019ll be on everyone to take care of themselves and come back ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Different Type of Break For Some Red Wings<\/p>\n

There won\u2019t be a shutdown for Detroit players Dylan Larkin (USA), Lucas Raymond<\/a> (Sweden), and Moritz Seider (Germany). They\u2019re all off to Italy to play in the Winter Olympics. However, even Red Wings captain Larkin recognizes the value of the break for the team as a whole.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve played a lot of hockey, and you get bumps and bruises and illness,\u201d Larkin said. \u201cYou\u2019re going through it. So it is coming at a good time, and I think it\u2019s going to be huge for our team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The break will also be different for veteran Detroit forward Patrick Kane<\/a>. The last two times the NHL paused for the Olympics, Kane was an Olympian. This time, he\u2019s not.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess you try to rest your body as much as possible,\u201d Kane said. \u201cWe still have like nine or 10 days of practice when we come back, so there\u2019ll be time to get ourselves ready. But I think especially for me, with just the little kind of fluky injuries I\u2019ve dealt with this year, it\u2019s trying to make sure everything\u2019s 100% when I\u2019m coming back from the break.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding A Balance Between Rest And Rust<\/p>\n

How much and how often to work out or skate before returning to formal workouts is up to players to determine on an individual basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably not for the first little bit, but I think I\u2019ll probably be on the ice a few times before we get back, just to kind of get yourself ready,\u201d Kane said.<\/p>\n

Situated third in the Atlantic Division and seven points clear of ninth spot in the East, the Red Wings are better positioned to weather any sort of post-break blues. That they haven\u2019t gone consecutive games without a point since late November is a testament to the consistency of the Red Wings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we put ourselves in a real good spot,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve worked really hard as a team. Every player that\u2019s been in the lineup has given us something on any given night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve set ourselves up to have a good mini training camp coming out of the break, and then we control what happens to our hockey club from there on. And really, that\u2019s all you can ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n

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