Red Wings share true thoughts on lengthy NHL pause
The Red Wings are getting a much-needed reprieve from the hectic schedule of what is an 82-game schedule.
There are few things more physically demanding than a full 82-game year for NHL players, who constantly put their bodies on the line night in and night out as part of the grueling schedule.
Right now, the NHL has halted action for the next 2 weeks for the 4 Nations Faceoff to be played in Montreal and Boston. The players who weren't selected to participate now have the chance to get some serious R&R.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot, who is 37, knows all about the grind and already has several years of experience under his belt.
Not only will the physical rest be key for Talbot, but also the chance for a mental reset.
It's a long year. This helps reset not only physically, but mentally as well. We have a few days of practice when we get back from the break, but there can't be any kind of letdown. We have to continue to build off what we've built up here, but I think for the most part it's getting healthy, resetting and coming back ready to go.
Head coach Todd McLellan, who has led the Red Wings to a 15-5-1 mark since being hired on December 27, appreciates the chance for his whole team to take a breather.
We can take some time to breathe. As a staff, we'll review where we've been and what we need to work on. Some of the things we saw (on Saturday in the loss to Tampa Bay) are important. Game-management skills are really hard to work on in practice because there is no score or fatigue and not a lot of line-matching. It's hard to recreate stressful situations, so game-management skills just have to keep coming through video and experience.
For us to move forward, those are going to have to improve. Having vaulted themselves right back into a playoff position, the Red Wings will need to keep their winning mentality all throughout the break.
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19 HOURS AGO | 40 ANSWERS Red Wings share true thoughts on lengthy NHL pause Do you agree with the timing of the 4 Nations Faceoff, or would you have preferred it to be before the year began like the World Cup? |
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Previously on Red Wings Insider
