Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings are set to begin their 2025-26 preseason with a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday. The game, scheduled for a 7 p.m. start, will be available for streaming on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App. Fans can also listen via the Red Wings Radio Network (WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit).

Head coach Todd McLellan emphasized that while preseason results are not the main focus, this period is important for player evaluation and maintaining competitive standards seen during last week’s activities at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City.

“We’ve only put a few things in place,” McLellan said. “These early exhibition games, it’s all about watching the games and evaluating instincts, read and reacts. There is some structure stuff that is in place that we want to see, but we’re just going to roll lines out tonight…We’re not going to try to hide anybody. We want that exposure and want to be able to evaluate.”

During Tuesday’s morning skate, special attention was given to improving the team’s penalty kill—a point of concern from last season.

“It flat-out has to get better,” McLellan stated regarding Detroit’s penalty kill unit. “If it doesn’t get better, we’re not accomplishing any of our goals. Can it get better? Absolutely yes, it can get better. We must coach it better, get guys to understand it better and then we must react better. But there are other elements to it that have to improve. Some of it is confidence. You can’t go out there wondering if you’re going to get scored on. You have to go out there believing that you can start a penalty-killing streak.”

Forward Andrew Copp discussed his role on the penalty kill since joining Detroit before the 2022-23 season and highlighted how playing instinctively could help boost performance.

“We were a little indecisive in the previous structure and weren’t necessarily playing on our toes,” Copp said. “Then as we changed structure, we maybe even went more that way just because we were so concentrated on, ‘I need to be here, and I need to be here.’ We didn’t play the game a little bit and pressure as much as we really needed to. So, teams got extra possessions and more with the puck…Knowing the structure innately, right from camp, will be a huge help.”

The current training camp roster features 28 forwards, 17 defensemen, and six goalies—including several new additions such as Mason Appleton who joined through free agency this offseason.

Copp described Appleton's integration into the team: “Off the ice, he’s done a great job of getting to know everyone,” Copp said about Appleton. “He’s fit right in. He brings an element of speed and tenacity, especially on the forecheck. He likes playing below the goal line and around the net as opposed to trying to play up at the blue line or a perimeter game. That’s not really him. He’s direct, plays fast and tenacious.”

Appleton commented on his experience with his new teammates: “I think we’ll be able to pressure a lot,” he said.“I think the penalty kill is going to be more aggressive.And offensively,you’re going let your skill take over.We have some really dynamic players in top six.Every line looks little bit different,but at same time,you all kind have role.It’s really good skating team,and we're going play fast game.”

With final roster decisions due by October 6 at 5 p.m., Lucas Raymond expressed optimism about Detroit's prospects this year.

“It’s a good vibe,” said Raymond.“Not only players,but you could feel up Traverse City with fans everything was going around.I think everyone is really excited for this year.”