Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings have completed the first week of their 2025-26 NHL season, focusing on building a strong team identity and learning from early experiences. After an opening night 6-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the team responded with three consecutive wins, including a 4-1 victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Forward Emmitt Finnie commented on the team's approach following practice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center. “You look at the good things and try to learn from all of the mistakes that you make throughout the games,” Finnie said. “It’s a long season, so we can celebrate this a little bit. But, we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

Head coach Todd McLellan expressed satisfaction with how his players are embracing their roles and buying into a collective style of play. “Six points is six points,” McLellan said. “It really doesn’t matter where it comes from, but when we looked at what was in front of us when we were starting, we knew we’d have our work cut out for us. That doesn’t change tomorrow night. Obviously, Tampa is a very good hockey club and then Edmonton [on Sunday afternoon]…you can just keep on going. Wins aside, how we’ve been able to play a certain type of game is satisfying. Really, you can see when we don’t play that game what the results are, so we’re able to sell to the players a little bit more an identity, and they’re able to buy into it because when they’re not doing it, it’s a little ragged and we don’t quite look how we want to look.”

McLellan also highlighted contributions from both veterans and newcomers in maintaining standards and producing results. One notable player is defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who has averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game early in his NHL career.

“He played seven exhibition games,” McLellan said about Sandin-Pellikka. “We knew of Axe, of course, but we didn’t really know Axe as a player. But during those seven games, he just elevated his play to the point where we trust him here, trust him there, trust him here. He’s now 11 games into his season – that’s a pretty good load for him already in a month. During those 11, the appreciation factor for him has gone up night after night after night, so we feel comfortable.”

Other young players such as Finnie and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård are also being given increased responsibilities as they develop within the team structure.

McLellan emphasized tailoring coaching approaches based on each player's experience level: “You have to know your audience,” he said. “Water off their back, I think I’ve used this example with my two boys, like my older one and the younger one are just treated differently. The exact same accomplishment, failure or whatever it might be, they just handle it differently. We have to get to know our roster real quick so that we can address the good and the bad, but still try and help the player be effective while they’re doing it.”

As Detroit continues its centennial season campaign with upcoming matches against Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers, maintaining focus on daily improvement remains central for both coaches and players.