The smell of fresh ice in September is different. It’s not the mid-season grind smell or the desperate "we need a wildcard spot" smell. It’s hope. Honestly, for Detroit fans, that hope usually centers on a single afternoon at the end of training camp. The Red Wings Red and White game isn’t just a glorified practice, though some cynical folks might tell you otherwise. It's the first time you see the lines Steve Yzerman spent all summer obsessing over actually skate together.
In 2025, things felt a bit more special. The team packed up from their usual Traverse City haunt and hauled the whole operation down to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. It was the first time they’d held the showcase there since 2011. The place was packed. 10,834 people showed up just to watch teammates hit each other. You’ve got to love Michigan hockey fans. They sold the place out.
What Really Happened at the Red Wings Red and White Game
If you missed the 2025 edition, Team White took it 3-2. But the score is basically irrelevant. You’re looking for chemistry. You're looking to see if the young guys are actually ready to steal a veteran’s job.
Alex DeBrincat didn’t waste any time. Just three minutes in, he took a feed from Patrick Kane and absolutely ripped one over Cam Talbot’s shoulder. It’s that "Showtime" connection everyone talks about. When those two are clicking, the offensive zone looks like a power play even at even strength.
Then you had Elmer Söderblom. The man is a giant—6'8" and 246 pounds. He scored twice for Team White. One was a five-hole shot on Talbot from the slot; the other was a beautiful feed from Amadeus Lombardi. Söderblom is one of those players who makes you realize how much size matters when you can actually move your feet.
Team Red tried to make a game of it. Jonatan Berggren stuffed one past John Gibson after a slick no-look pass from William Lagesson. Later, Emmitt Finnie—a name a lot of casual fans might not know yet—sniped a shot over the blocker of Michal Postava. It kept things interesting, but White held on.
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The Shootout "Bonus"
One thing the Red Wings always do that’s kinda cool: they finish with a shootout regardless of the score. It’s for the fans. It’s also for the coaches to see who has the hands when the pressure is on a single skater.
- Marco Kasper showed why he’s a top prospect with a clinical finish.
- Andrew Copp and Amadeus Lombardi also found the back of the net for White.
- For Team Red, Lucas Raymond and Berggren scored, but it wasn't enough to "win" the skills portion.
Why We Should Care About a Scrimmage
You might think, "It’s just an exhibition." You'd be wrong. For guys like Lombardi or Kasper, this is the final audition before the preseason roster cuts start happening for real.
New head coach Todd McLellan—who took over in late 2024—used this game to set a tone. The checking was tight. It was intense. This wasn't the "don't touch the star players" atmosphere you see in some NHL camps. These guys were fighting for ice time.
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The Grand Rapids Connection
Moving the game to Van Andel was a genius move. Grand Rapids is the home of the Griffins, Detroit's AHL affiliate. Most of the guys on the ice on Sunday will be playing in that exact building come October. It bridges the gap between the NHL stars like Dylan Larkin and the prospects who are just one injury call-up away from the big show.
Seeing Larkin and Seider play in front of the West Michigan crowd serves as a "thank you" to the fans who support the farm team all year. Plus, it gives the prospects a taste of what a sold-out NHL-caliber crowd feels like.
The Standouts Who Grabbed the Spotlight
Aside from the big names, a few players really popped during the Red Wings Red and White game.
- Amadeus Lombardi: He finished with two assists and a shootout goal. His vision is high-level. He’s not the biggest guy on the ice, but he plays with a twitchiness that’s hard to defend.
- Elmer Söderblom: Scoring twice is a statement. He’s spent time in Grand Rapids working on his skating, and it showed. He looked more coordinated and harder to knock off the puck than in previous years.
- Nate Danielson: He didn't end up on the scoresheet, but his 200-foot game is pro-ready. He wins draws, he’s always in the right spot defensively, and he plays with a maturity that belies his age.
Key Takeaways for the Upcoming Season
So, what does this actually tell us about the 2025-26 Red Wings?
First off, the goaltending battle is going to be a headache for the coaching staff—in a good way. With Cam Talbot, John Gibson (acquired via trade from Anaheim), and the younger guys like Sebastian Cossa pushing from below, nobody’s job is safe. Gibson looked solid despite the goals he gave up, and Talbot still has that veteran poise.
Secondly, the "Kane-DeBrincat" factor is the engine. If they stay healthy, Detroit has a top-six that can compete with anyone in the Atlantic Division. The depth scoring is where the question marks remain. Can guys like Berggren or Söderblom provide 15-20 goals from the bottom six? That’s what will determine if this team makes the playoffs or just misses out again.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on following the team this year, here's how to use what we saw in the Red and White game:
- Watch the waiver wire: With so much talent in camp, some decent players are going to get cut. Detroit has a logjam at forward.
- Track the Power Play units: McLellan was experimenting with different looks during the scrimmage. Pay attention to who is playing the "bumper" spot in the preseason.
- Keep an eye on Grand Rapids: A lot of the standouts from Sunday will start the year in the AHL. If the Red Wings struggle in November, those are the first names you'll hear for a call-up.
Training camp is over. The preseason against Chicago is next. The Red Wings Red and White game gave us the blueprint—now we just have to see if the team can build the house.