The Detroit Red Wings returned to practice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center on Tuesday after the NHL Olympic break, with several key players still competing at the Winter Games in Milano Cortina. Captain Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Moritz Seider remain overseas representing their countries, while the rest of the roster began preparations for the final stretch of the season.
Detroit head coach Todd McLellan described the team’s first session back as expectedly uneven but productive. “While [the team has] been away, they just haven’t skated or handled pucks at that pace,” McLellan said. “So, a little bit ragged but as expected. I thought their commitment to practice was real good. They stuck with it, and when they weren’t feeling the best, they pushed their way through it. A good starting day.”
McLellan and his staff are treating this period as a mini-training camp ahead of a demanding schedule: 24 games in 48 days beginning next Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. He noted that Detroit benefits from having most of its players available during this break: “In some sense, maybe we’re one of the luckier teams because we only have three athletes there and the majority of our team is here so we can run practice with generally a full slate of lines and pairs,” he said. “But if you compare this to Training Camp itself, we’re not running 55 guys through three different sessions and starting from scratch. We’re just trying to re-establish our game, both physically, mentally, timing, feel.”
Players returned from various destinations after time off during the break. Defenseman Ben Chiarot spent time in Florida with his family and appreciated the chance to recover from injuries sustained over five months of play: “It’s great, but more so body-wise, getting your body back to a baseline and healing up injuries,” Chiarot said. “January and February are kind of the dog days of the season when your body is beat up and you haven’t seen the sun in a while. So, to get down, see some sun, be able to relax and heal up your body is welcomed, especially for an older player like myself.”
James van Riemsdyk also valued his time off but followed teammates’ Olympic performances when possible: “I was able to watch some of the games,” van Riemsdyk said. “I had my hands full with my family and kids though, so a little bit hit and miss being able to check out all of it. This is obviously the time that’s the most exciting now.”
McLellan spoke about enjoying Olympic coverage beyond hockey: “It’s going to be an exciting week for everybody to watch [the men’s hockey tournament], but the other sports have been spectacular too,” he said. “You don’t realize how skilled and talented these athletes are and what they do. They train for four years to go and skate for under a minute in a speed-skating race. That’s commitment. The things they can do on those skis and skates is remarkable.”
The break also allowed defenseman Simon Edvinsson extra recovery time after missing games due to injury since January 21; McLellan expects him ready for action soon: “We missed him,” McLellan said about Edvinsson’s return after recording 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 48 games this season. “You could see our play wasn’t as strong, in my opinion, as when we had him in the lineup. Not just due to him being out, but other factors.”
As Detroit competes in a tight Atlantic Division race—with every club above .500—McLellan stressed urgency entering playoff contention: “You’re getting closer to the finish line, but in a marathon, Mile 1 is the same as Mile 26,” he said. “You value it a little bit different…These points are just as valuable as Game 82…It gets more intense. Everything gets tighter…There’s no more time…so that creates a real sense of urgency not just for our team but for every team that’s battling.”
The Red Wings were established in 1926 and represent Detroit by playing home games downtown at Little Caesars Arena (official website). As one of hockey’s Original Six franchises (official website), Detroit has won 11 Stanley Cup championships (official website)—the most among American-based NHL teams—and holds a legacy as one of league’s top-performing organizations (official website).
