Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings returned to practice at Little Caesars Arena's BELFOR Training Center on Monday, preparing for a challenging week. They are set to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday and Utah Hockey Club on Thursday before traveling to face the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals on Friday.

With significant points at stake, head coach Todd McLellan emphasized the importance of maintaining focus amid the distractions of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, which is set for Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

"I think what has happened in our world is we try to magnify moments or days, and the media outlets want to capture," McLellan stated. "There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s great for our game and to promote it, but we’re dealing with families, lives and that type of stuff. A lot of that stuff can be so far from the truth…We have other things to focus on. We have a big week ahead of us coming off a weekend when we didn’t get any points."

Detroit finds itself in a familiar position as last season, holding one of two Wild-Card spots in the Eastern Conference. However, this time they are more aware of what it takes to advance beyond game No. 82.

"We’ll have to wait and see, but I think the experience that last year gave a lot of us is big," said Lucas Raymond. "Just shows the importance of every game and every point."

Raymond also noted that staying focused amidst current events is "easy to do because it’s a lot of fun." He added, "These are the games that are fun to play... It means a lot every game, especially the position we are in."

Goalie Cam Talbot brings his own perspective as someone who wasn't with Detroit last season but has experienced both highs and lows while competing for playoff spots throughout his NHL career.

"When you’re in it, the highs can get high," Talbot remarked. "Then you lose a couple, and you can get too low... Whether it’s a win or a loss, it’s about focusing on the next game and how we can keep pushing forward."

The Red Wings have encountered several challenges this season already. McLellan acknowledged their overall good response but admitted there is room for improvement in managing game dynamics.

"A lot of ups and downs can happen between minute one and minute 60," McLellan explained. "I think we can manage that better... Some of it is experience, learning how to win and just mistakes."