Red Wings Gear Up for Regular Season Amid Roster Battles

CHICAGO – The Detroit Red Wings will finish their 2025-26 exhibition schedule with a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Tuesday night. The teams will face off at 8 p.m. ET, with streaming options available.

Defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker emphasized the importance of building momentum as the regular season approaches. “The first two exhibition games went well…We just have to prepare one day at a time,” he said.

In their most recent game, the Red Wings lost 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit’s head coach Todd McLellan noted that a lack of sharpness contributed to the defeat. “We were both slow and sloppy,” McLellan said, referring to his team’s performance.

With just nine days until Opening Night against the Montreal Canadiens on October 9, McLellan remarked that the team’s roster is starting to take shape. He mentioned that injuries could affect final decisions on player spots and highlighted how competition among forwards and defensemen has become more intense.

This preseason has showcased several blossoming rivalries for roster spots. Bernard-Docker is among the players vying for a place on the team after joining as a free agent. He recorded eight points in 40 games last season with the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres.

“I think just knowing what you’re going to get out of me – being hard to play against and sticking to fundamentals,” Bernard-Docker commented on his style of play.

Positive performances from prospects Emmitt Finnie and Nate Danielson during recent matches have caught the attention of the coaching staff. Finnie scored and assisted in a 3-2 victory against the Blackhawks, while Danielson contributed a goal in the same game.

McLellan praised the young players, saying they had a “tremendous night” and displayed confidence as the game progressed.

Another highlight was Carter Mazur, who returned from injury to score as well. The Michigan native expressed excitement about competing and credited his offseason training for his physical readiness.

Looking ahead, McLellan focuses on improving defensive performance as the team’s Centennial season approaches. “We can’t allow that many goals,” Moritz Seider stated, stressing the need for better defensive play.

As the preseason concludes, the Red Wings aim to finalize their roster and enter the regular season prepared for challenges ahead.