The Red Wings keep hearing the same phrase for a reason: “outside noise” has become part of the conversation around this team, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
Andrew Copp was the first to put it plainly last season. “We have to find a way to not let it weigh on us," he said. "We have to find a way to free ourselves up; as soon as you let the outside noise and you guys start to impact what we're doing in here, that's when issues start to happen.”
Chris Ilitch echoed the same idea in his interview with Bob Wojonowski. “I think a lot of it is just talking heads.
To be frank, inside the organization, things are operating perfectly well. It’s a bit of amusement to hear and look at some of that stuff."
And now Todd McLellan has added his voice to the pile. “The outside noise through the summer and everything else that’s gone on, they’ve done a good job focusing on what they can control, and that’s the hockey part of it," McLellan began.
“And in my experience the last two weeks, that’s mostly true. You can certainly feel an awkwardness in the air at times, but the Red Wings’ players have been diligent this preseason.”
That awkwardness is hard to miss. The players have shown up, worked through camp and played preseason games. The front office situation, though, has only fueled more frustration.
Simon Edvinsson is still unsigned. The search for a new GM has basically gone nowhere. Fans are tired of waiting, and with good reason.
The most baffling part is how little progress there’s been publicly. The Red Wings promoted Shawn Horcoff to the general manager role two years ago, and since then his only move has been claiming Calgary Flames defenseman Andreas Englund off waivers. That leaves plenty of room for questions, especially with Edvinsson arriving at camp without a contract and still working through practice despite the obvious injury risk.
He’s also been left without a locker in the dressing room, and the only update has been a thin statement from Horcoff.
Even so, the locker room seems to understand where things stand. “We all have Simon’s back,” fellow defenseman Moritz Seider said, “but also we know it’s a hard situation for [interim GM Shawn Horcoff], as well.
It’s obviously his first deal. I think it will be done eventually.
I think we just have high hopes and a good mood. Just got to remind everyone that we’re all in the same team in the end, and I think it will be worked out.”
There’s still a chance the deal gets done before opening night. But with puck drop only three days away, there’s a lot that has to happen before Edvinsson finally has his contract.
Until then, the Red Wings are going to keep hearing about the “outside noise.”
In Other News...
Red Wings Just Sent A Clear Opening Night Message To Fans
The Red Wings used practice to sketch out what their opening night group could look like, and the look was noticeably different from the one fans might have expected. Several young players were slotted into meaningful spots, the forward lines were reshuffled, and Daniil Tarasov took the net in place of John Gibson as Detroit continued to sort through its roster decisions before the opener.
What stood out just as much was who was not out there in that projected setup. Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson were absent from the lineup the team worked with, leaving the club with a few prominent questions still hanging as it heads toward Fridays cutdown deadline and a season opener against the New York Rangers. For a group still trying to settle its roles, the message from practice was clear enough: nothing is locked in yet. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Blue Line Suddenly Carries A Bigger Question Than Fans Expected
The Red Wings blue line got a little more crowded this week when Andreas Englund arrived off waivers, and the move adds another layer to a defense corps already trying to sort out roles and development timelines. For a team that has spent plenty of time balancing present-day depth with long-term upside, adding a veteran defenseman into the mix creates one more decision point for a staff that is still trying to map out the back end.
The timing matters because the competition does not stop with the established names. Younger defenders such as Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Anton Johansson are still part of the picture, and Detroit has made no secret of wanting to handle its prospects carefully while giving the roster enough stability. Englunds presence may simply be about insurance for now, but it also hints at how much is still unsettled as the Wings continue building their blue line. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Face Growing Pressure In Dylan Larkin Trade Talks
Trade chatter around Dylan Larkin has started to pick up as the Red Wings navigate a market that is getting busier by the day. Around the league, teams are making moves and kicking tires in all the usual places, with Columbus set to add Carson Soucy on the strength of his camp showing and coach Rick Bowness already speaking highly of his play. Elsewhere, the Blue Jackets interest in fortifying their blue line and the broader swirl of talks involving players like Kirill Marchenko and Kirby Dach only adds to the sense that front offices are working the phones early and often.
For Detroit, the noise is more pointed because Larkin remains a centerpiece talent and a player other clubs clearly want to pry loose. The Red Wings have drawn interest from multiple teams, and the current market has only made those talks more complicated as the pressure builds to sort through serious offers without moving too quickly. With so many clubs circling and the discussion still active, this is one of those situations that can shift fast once the right team decides to push harder. [Read more 🡒]