The Grind Line - A Detroit Red Wings Podcast

Dylan Larkin’s trade list now has 10 teams on it, and Greg and Tyler go through each one: Florida, Minnesota, Vegas, Dallas, Washington, Carolina, Utah, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, and Colorado. They sort out who has the cap space, who has the prospects Detroit would want, and why Utah looks like the best fit. Plus Jim Devellano’s “kissed and made up” comment, John Buccigross saying a deal is coming within seven to ten days, and where Simon Edvinsson stands after Shawn Horcoff met with his agent in person. Then the Seattle game. The Red Wings trail 3-0 after two periods, rally with goals from Alex DeBrincat (his 300th), Lucas Raymond and Viktor Arvidsson, and lose in a shootout. The hosts cover Daniil Tarasov’s night in net, the case for playing Nate Danielson over Michael Rasmussen, and Emmitt Finnie’s move to top-line center, a seventh-round pick who keeps getting better every game.

The Red Wings beat Ottawa with Dylan Larkin back in the lineup and no C on his jersey. Greg and Ryan break down the night: Larkin booed on every touch, then named first star after a goal and an assist, two goals from Alex DeBrincat, three assists from Lucas Raymond, Justin Faulk’s 500th point, and Emmitt Finnie dropping the gloves for the first time. They also dig into the rookies. Anton Johansson, William Wallinder, Carter Mazur, and Nate Danielson all had strong nights, and MBN keeps running through people at 14 minutes a game. Plus the 5v5 numbers behind the win and Larkin’s looser postgame interview. Second half: reports that Jeff Greenberg was the preferred GM candidate before pulling out over autonomy, Frank Seravalli on Shawn Horcoff working with “training wheels,” and what it says about Chris Ilitch’s grip on the hockey side. The hosts compare how other NHL owners run their teams, walk through what an NHL takeover would take, and talk about what fans can do while the GM search sits on pause.

Three days before puck drop and Simon Edvinsson still doesn't have a locker in the Red Wings dressing room. Greg and special guest Tyler break down the contract standoff — the reported $9-10 million ask, the bridge-deal rumors, and why locking up a 23-year-old, 6'6" defenseman shouldn't be this hard. Then the 23-man opening night roster is out. Full breakdown of the lines and pairings, the center depth problems up front, and real bright spots on defense with Anton Johansson and a goaltending tandem that looks like an actual upgrade. Second half: Jay Fresh's 2026-27 standings projection has the Red Wings near the bottom of the league, what the lineup looks like if Dylan Larkin actually suits up, and Bob Duff's report that the Larkin situation may already be past the point of reconciliation.

Shawn Horcoff gets named interim GM two months into the search, and it plays like a fallback after Chris Ilitch's first choice said no. Greg and Ryan break down what Horcoff actually confirmed about Edvinsson and DeBrincat, and how an eighteen-minute presser still managed to say almost nothing. Then Dylan Larkin sits down for his first media session since requesting a trade and gives no explanation, no confirmation that the request still stands, and a captaincy answer that rubbed both hosts the wrong way. What he said, what he dodged, and why it landed so badly. Second half: Todd McClellan's press conference, easily the most substantive of the week. Marco Kasper's shooting percentage regression explained with an Ovechkin comparison, who steps up now that Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk are gone, and the roster battle between MBN and Carter Bear heading into a shortened preseason.

The Dylan Larkin cloud still hangs over the Red Wings, but they do sign William Wallinder and, in a sad move, send Amadeus Lombardi to the New Jersey Devils.

After giving it the weekend to sink in, Jake Rivard from Octopus Thrower joins us to evaluate how Yzerman moves forward, how the Wings could come out better in the end, and what a return for Dylan Larkin might look like.

Moritz Seider places 5th in Norris voting, Wings take off at the World Championship, and the Wings' Stanley Cup Checklist dropped. What do they need to get back into the playoffs?

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard gives the Griffins life with a 4-3 OT beauty that can only be described as Datsyukian. Then Evolving Hockey drops their new contract projections. What do the Wings stand to make? Plus ridiculous Dylan Larkin rumors.