Todd McLellan heads into his first training camp as Detroit Red Wings head coach having had 48 games to get acclimated to the roster and having used many line combinations.<\/p>\n
They have a few new pieces, but for the most part, it\u2019s just a matter of plugging a couple of holes to set the season-opening lines. Barring injuries or unexpected turns, the pairings once again figure to be Dylan Larkin-Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat-Patrick Kane and Andrew Copp-Michael Rasmussen.<\/p>\n
Camp and the preseason will determine who will join these pairs. The others will form the fourth line.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a projection of what the Red Wings\u2019 lines might look like to start the season (left wing-center-right wing):<\/p>\n
First line: Lucas Raymond-Dylan Larkin-Jonatan Berggren<\/p>\n
Finding a regular linemate for Larkin and Raymond will be among McLellan\u2019s preseason priorities. He\u2019s used Marco Kasper and Elmer Soderblom there at times, but ideally Jonatan Berggren would be the guy due to his offensive abilities. Berggren has had a short leash, and he\u2019s not a good fit in the bottom six, so this could be his last chance to show he\u2019s top-six material. Larkin, coming off his fourth consecutive 30-goal season, and Raymond, coming off a career-high 80 points, are a natural fit together.<\/p>\n
Second line: Alex DeBrincat-Marco Kasper-Patrick Kane<\/p>\n
Kasper blossomed the second half of his rookie season under McLellan (17 goals, 30 points in his final 42 games) and should pick up where he left off. He was a good fit on the wing with Larkin and Raymond, but his future is at center, and he fills the second-line spot that\u2019s been troublesome. Kane also flourished in McLellan\u2019s more up-tempo offensive system, with 16 goals and 45 points in his final 42 games. DeBrincat\u2019s 39 goals were the most he\u2019s scored since 2021-22 with Chicago and the most by a Red Wing since Marian Hossa in 2008-09 (40).<\/p>\n
Third line: Michael Rasmussen-Andrew Copp-James van Riemsdyk<\/p>\n
Copp and Rasmussen, with their size and forechecking ability, are a natural fit together at even strength and on the penalty kill. The team missed Copp following his season-ending shoulder injury on Feb. 22. It might have affected Rasmussen, whose performance declined (from 33 points in 2023-24 to 21 and from plus-8 to minus-12). The veteran van Riemsdyk\u2019s net-front presence might land him on the top line, but he can play up and down the lineup and provide secondary scoring.<\/p>\n
Fourth line: Elmer Soderblom-J.T. Compher-Mason Appleton<\/p>\n
The 6-8 Soderblom wasn\u2019t out of place when used on the top line, so that\u2019s an option. He missed 10 of the final 14 games with a nagging injury. Compher had a disappointing season with 11 goals and 32 points after producing 19 goals and 48 points his first season in Detroit. He\u2019s out of place as a fourth-line center, but where else is he going to play? The Red Wings invested a good sum in Appleton (two years, $2.9 million average annual value), who is coming off a 10-goal, 22-point season, and he\u2019s another player who\u2019s not a natural fourth-liner.<\/p>\n
Extras: None. Chances are, the Red Wings will not carry an extra forward who is waiver-exempt, preferring he play regularly in Grand Rapids. They have eight NHL defensemen, so they might start the season with two spare D-men and a 22-man roster.<\/p>\n
Will miss the cut: Carter Mazur, Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard.<\/p>\n
Mazur is close and might make the season-opening roster if there\u2019s an injury, but if everyone is healthy, who\u2019s he going to replace in that top 12? He\u2019s not going to hang around as the 13th forward when he\u2019s still waiver-exempt. Having suffered a season-ending elbow injury during his NHL debut on March 6, the club might prefer that Mazur spend some time in Grand Rapids to transition back. Former first-round picks Danielson, gearing for his second AHL season, and Brandsegg-Nygard, headed into his first full AHL season, might get an opportunity at some point in 2025-26 but the numbers are stacked against them at the start.<\/p>\n
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