Red Wings know ‘time is of the essence’ as they use 2026 Training Camp to prepare for upcoming season

DETROIT -- As a result of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Detroit Red Wings’ 2026 Training Camp – like those across the NHL – is compressed, speeding up the timeline to finalize a 23-man roster and ensure everyone is on the same page before the New York Rangers visit Little Caesars Arena for Opening Night on Oct. 2.  

“Our first two days of Camp have been a refresher course for the players who were in the organization last year,” Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said on Friday afternoon. “Not only here, but in Grand Rapids. There are some other things that we’re going to change, but we talked about this in the summer: There’s not enough time to revamp your whole game or do everything completely different. We have to pick, and will pick, certain areas that we’re going to focus on and spend a little more time on, but time is of the essence… That early urgency, the ability to pick things up to find your own rhythm as a player, is really important.”

Detroit’s Training Camp roster this fall features 49 players, including 28 forwards, 16 defensemen and five goaltenders. Through the first few practices and scrimmages, McLellan has been impressed by how the group looks on the ice.

“I’m watching them play and the pace has been really good,” McLellan said. “There’s been some physicality. Their ability to get through drills doesn’t drop off. So, what used to be a four-week Training Camp, even more than that [back] in the day, and it was all about skating and conditioning… We have to be aware of that, but it’s more about timing and comfort with linemates, systematic changes so they can capture that before they have to go play.”

Every single Training Camp practice and rep carry weight, and Simon Edvinsson has been participating only in drills despite the 23-year-old blueliner – as of Saturday morning – still being a restricted free agent.

“I think I would be stressed if I was back in Sweden now and I saw everybody else practicing, but I feel pretty good,” Edvinsson said. “I feel like I’m in good shape, probably the best shape I’ve been in my life. And I’m here. I’m practicing with the team. I’m on a PTO now, actually. But no, I’m not stressed at all. Not right now.”

Just as essential as preparing for battle, though, is knowing who you’re going into battle with. Take Keegan Kolesar, for example. Acquired by the Red Wings in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights this summer, the 29-year-old forward said he’s settling in quickly with his new teammates.

“A really welcoming group in here that’s made my life pretty easy,” Kolesar said. “A lot of questions for them, and they’re sticking with me and giving me answers – no matter how many I ask or how annoying it may seem.”

Only three players have recorded more hits than Kolesar (1,415) since the beginning of the 2020-21 season, with the 6-foot-2, 216-pound forward establishing himself as one of the NHL’s most physical competitors. Injecting Kolesar’s skillset and experience – he helped Vegas win the Stanley Cup in 2023  – will go a long way toward helping the Red Wings become tougher to play against, according to Marco Kasper.

“Getting guys like Keegs, who knows how to win and win in the playoffs, here is important,” Kasper said. “We talk about getting mentally and physically stronger, I think it’s important to go out there and get the body ready for games. A short Training Camp. We talk about getting stronger, that involves hitting, battling… Just trying to work on that in practice but also execute in games.”

Moritz Seider agrees that building toughness during Training Camp matters, but he sees that process as more than just physical play.

“It’s such a big span where you can talk about toughness and stuff like that,” Seider said. “I think it starts with coming ready and being prepared mentally. I think that’s toughness too. And I think those little things we’re doing a really good job of. I don’t think we’re skating much harder or playing more physical on the ice than the years prior. I think everybody is really engaged and we just really want to get off to a good start.”