Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings McLellan Still Casting For Lines
Forward units remain uncertain
With just two games to go in the NHL preseason, how are the forward lines shaping up for the Detroit Red Wings? Even at this late stage, your guess is as good as ours.
We know for certain that Marco Kasper will be skating between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat on one forward unit.
Beyond that?
Dunno.
“We still got some decisions to be made,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said on the team’s website.
Some? How about most of them?
Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond will be together. Who’s their third wheel?
Who knows?
Tonight's lineup in Toronto. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/C3LudE7raz
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 2, 2025
Emmitt Finnie has shown some jump with that twosome. Andrew Copp has also seen duty in the preseason with Larkin and Raymond. Yet as much as his defensive acumen might help the trio, how much of a detriment will his limited offensive skillset be to the group?
Will James van Riemsdyk get a shot here once his game is up to speed?
Probably.
Could Elmer Soderblom be a fit? Doubtful. He doesn’t have the pace to keep up with those two.
What about Michael Brandsegg-Nygard? He has size, physicality, and an NHL shot and release.
“We’re still looking at some people,” McLellan said.
Will Red Wings Go With a Traditional Checking Line?
McLellan has also toyed with the notion of an old-school checking line of Copp between Mason Appleton and Michael Rasmussen. That seems out of sync with the way NHL lineups are evolving. These days, most teams go three lines deep in scoring units.
Parts available to assemble a fourth line include JT Compher, Jonatan Berggren, and any of Soderblom, van Riemsdyk, or even Rasmussen. It’s unlikely that the Red Wings will keep a kid in the show for fourth-line duty.
And just like the TV listings, it’s all subject to change.
On to Toronto. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/HiHPqCrr19
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 2, 2025
“I think throughout a season, lines change so much,” DeBrincat said. “I think I’ve played with most guys in here and on a line at one point or another.”
As McLellan displayed frequently last season, he’s willing to juggle his lines at a moment’s notice if things begin to go south on game night.
“Things can change real quick, and I’m sure it will,” McLellan said. “It always does.”
All the kids could use some more development. Should they go to the AHL, can they develop properly at the NHL level or should they wait and see? They have Yzerman, McLellan and Lidstrom, who’s in town, to make those evaluations. That’s a great brain trust to lean on.
I think one of the kid forwards could make it. ASP will start the year in GR. It’s an easier adjustment to the NHL for a forward.