Right Away, Red Wings May Not Need to Make Roster Moves

Todd McLellan didn't want to be that guy, but the Detroit Red Wings coach couldn't help himself.

He thought back to a final roster selection when he was an NHL hopeful as a player, and suffered what at the time felt like the unkindest cut of all.

"I think back to when I played, and that's a really bad thing for a coach ever to say, but I remember having that camp, and I was bitter because I thought I had a really good camp," McLellan said. "But now that I look back on it, that other guy over there had a great camp, like a really good camp. And if I was picking the team, I would have picked it the way the management team did back then, too.

"I didn't like it because I thought I played as well as I could. So maybe we'll have some of those guys in that situation."

Or maybe they won't. At least not right away.

Here's the thing: If the Red Wings don't get resolutions in the next day with scenarios involving three players, the Detroit roster may already be set.

Forward Dylan Larkin (upper-body injury) and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker (upper-body injury) are hurt. If they aren't going to be ready for Friday's regular-season opener against the New York Rangers , they'll be placed on injured reserve.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson is a restricted free agent who is still without a contract. Until he signs on the dotted line, he can't play.

Assuming those three aren't figuring in the mix, for the time being, Detroit's roster would be set. Minus Larkin, there are 13 forwards left. If Edvinsson and Bernard-Docker aren't in the mix, that leaves eight other defensemen.

Add in goalies John Gibson and Daniil Tarasov , and you've got your 23-player roster.

Englund Ready to Set Sail With The Red Wings

Perhaps the biggest surprise in all this deciphering is that no matter what, it appears that newly-acquired Andreas Englund will be staying with the Red Wings. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound journeyman NHL defenseman was claimed on waivers from the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

McLellan coached him with the Los Angeles Kings . He likes the elements that Englund can add to the roster.

"He will fit our room really well," McLellan said. "He's fit, he works hard at his game, he has played in the system that we're trying to put in, and he's physical, and he's tough, and he shepherds the group. So we like all those attributes that he'll bring in.

"When he's in the lineup, he'll give you everything he has, and when he's not in the lineup, he'll give you everything he can from the outside."

From the outside, there's a sense of finality when the opening-night roster is officially announced. In reality, the lineup is like the TV listings. It's always subject to change.

The roster must be submitted on Monday. But the Red Wings don't open the season until Friday. That's a large window of opportunity for change to occur.

3-0 ASP with a rough pass and then he's caught in no man's land #LGRW pic.twitter.com/3hvCAQrNA8 — Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 27, 2026

3-0 ASP with a rough pass and then he's caught in no man's land #LGRW pic.twitter.com/3hvCAQrNA8

Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 27, 2026

"What I can tell you is that on Monday, the roster will go out and you'll see names or whatever," McLellan said. "That could change real quick.

"There can be paper moves; there could be moves made for waiver reasons; there could be something in the hopper somewhere else where you have to buy time."

Larkin and/or Bernard-Docker may be healthy enough to play the opener. Edvinsson might sign a new contract before Friday.

When Larkin is back in the picture, one forward must be dropped. The likely candidate would be Nate Danielson . The Wings could drop Andrew Copp into Danielson's spot, with Larkin taking over as top-line center.

Danielson doesn't have to clear waivers to be assigned to the minors. Carter Mazur would, so by doing it this way, the Wings could buy time to figure out whether Mazur isn't worth risking on the waiver wire.

On defense, when Edvinsson and Bernard-Docker are back, two rearguards must depart. Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Anton Johansson wouldn't require waivers for reassignment. William Wallinder and Englund would.

As much as the Red Wings have liked Anton Johansson's work this preseason, he looked a bit overwhelmed in Saturday's game. Facing a full NHL roster of Columbus Blue Jackets , some warts began to show in Johansson's game.

1-0 Anton has to read this better. Coyle moves to the back post ya gotta box that out or get his stick or stop the pass #LGRW pic.twitter.com/G2Yx23QzPP — Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 26, 2026

1-0 Anton has to read this better. Coyle moves to the back post ya gotta box that out or get his stick or stop the pass #LGRW pic.twitter.com/G2Yx23QzPP

Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 26, 2026

"You could see how for Anton, the game changed a little bit," McLellan said. "There are some bigger, faster, more experienced or intelligent players.

"They know angles better; they know when to jump and when to strip, and so he'll have to get used to that."

What does it all mean? That there are still some tough decisions ahead for the Red Wings.

They may not have to be made by Monday, but judgment day is coming fast for some players.