McLellan Dices And Slices Up Red Wings Lines

Change was in the air among the club’s forward lines as the Detroit Red Wings practiced on Sunday.

Following successive losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit coach Todd McLellan didn’t merely opt to put his lines in the blender.

He put them in on the puree setting.

When he was done with his slicing and dicing, only one of the four Red Wings forward units remained intact. Andrew Copp is staying between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat.

FYI: Alex DeBrincat scored his 275th career goal, tying Jimmy Carson for the fifth-most by a Michigan-born skater in NHL history.

Mike Modano (561)
Brian Rolston (342)
Kyle Connor (302)
Doug Weight (278) pic.twitter.com/SPCD6mhZHJ

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 3, 2026

“I think Copper’s our first line right now, but I couldn’t tell you who our second, third, and fourth lines are right now,” McLellan told reporters after practice.

Beyond that trio, McLellan blew it up.

Blew it up real good.

Captain Dylan Larkin is now skating between Marco Kasper and Elmer Soderblom, who, combined this season, have played 66 games and scored five goals. Lucas Raymond, the Red Wings’ scoring leader with 44 points, is dropping to what would technically be the third line with JT Compher and James van Riemsdyk.

“I don’t know who our third line is,” McLellan said. “I have a pretty good idea.”

Red Wings Leaving Danielson Out

The fourth line is now Michael Rasmussen at center between Emmitt Finnie and Mason Appleton. And the odd man out in this new grouping is rookie center Nate Danielson.

Danielson has gone 11 games without a point and 13 games without a goal.

“Nate is going to have to produce some offense over time,” McLellan said. “He’s still figuring out the game here, and I think he’s got a tremendous toolbox.

“He’s got to put it all together.”

As much as Raymond’s 44 points lead the team, McLellan was quick to point out how rare it is these days that he’s counting goals among that point total.

“I don’t think Razor has an even strength goal since November, which is a long time now,” McLellan said.

The coach is correct. Raymond’s last five-on-five goal was tallied on November 29.

Raymond has been so quiet as of late, please come back to your old self Lucas 😭 pic.twitter.com/T44z5SiO1R

— GameGab (@GameGabDetroit) January 4, 2026

What had been Detroit’s top forward unit of Larkin, Raymond, and Finnie was carrying the club at the outset of the season. Lately, though, they’ve been carrying on as if each player were carrying around an anvil when they’re out on the ice.

“Razor and Larks, it hasn’t worked real well with Emmitt,” McLellan said. “They’re the one line that hasn’t had a lot going for them, even strength.

“They’re great players, and we’re going to need them to win, but it just hasn’t gone well lately. They’ve got to find their games, and maybe separating for a little bit will help them.”

Considering the recent outcomes, both for the team and their line, Raymond wasn’t surprised by the line shuffling.

“The last two games have been a disappointment and maybe three of the last four,” Raymond said. “So just get back to it and start winning games again.”