Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings are set to continue their 2025-26 preseason schedule with a home game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. The game, which starts at 7 p.m., will be available for streaming on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App. Radio coverage will be provided by the Red Wings Radio Network (WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit).

Moritz Seider spoke about the value of preseason games as players return from the offseason. “Just get right into it, get bumped around a little bit and feel the ice,” Seider said. “Overall, just try to get into game shape as much as possible. Obviously, over the summer you kind of miss those little things like being in the right spots all the time or picking up the right guy. I think those will be key things to work on and look out for in the preseason.”

Earlier this week, Detroit fielded a lineup featuring five former first-round draft picks in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena. Goaltender Sebastian Cossa made 15 saves during that game, while Emmit Finnie contributed both a go-ahead goal and an assist. Michael Brandsegg-Nygård added two assists.

Captain Dylan Larkin commented on the performance of younger team members: “They all looked good,” Larkin said. “They all looked like they can think, skate well and have the raw attributes that make someone a good hockey player.”

Head coach Todd McLellan discussed his approach to evaluating young players during exhibition games compared to regular practices. “As we get further into our career, we’re maybe more trusting of some of the younger players,” McLellan said. “We’re willing to maybe give them a little more leash and not look for perfection right off the bat. At least I feel like that – I can’t speak for all the older coaches. For me, I pay attention to them a little bit more now than I did…I feel better about paying more attention to them and still get to the, for lack of a better term, big boys. They’ll get my attention, but I look and maybe spend more time with them.”

Seider emphasized defensive improvements as key for Detroit’s success in its Centennial season: “We can’t allow that many goals,” he said. “If you want to be a playoff team, you got to find a way to stop pucks. Box outs are very important in that. You need to let the goalie see the puck. Just try to sweep around the crease and do as much work there. Avoid dangerous chances against.”

Larkin also highlighted mindset as an important factor going forward: “It’s time to put ourselves in a position that we’ve been putting ourselves in for the last few years and to stick,” he said. “And not just be satisfied with that. We got to make it and start to make noise in the playoffs.”