Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings set 2023 preseason schedule; Bedard at LCA?

Published

10 months ago

June 22, 2023

The Red Wings kick off the preseason at home against Pittsburgh on Sept. 26.

The Detroit Red Wings announced their eight-game NHL preseason schedule on Thursday, highlighted perhaps by an Oct. 1 home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Will that provide Detroit fans with their first opportunity to see Connor Bedard in an NHL uniform?

It’s probably reasonable to assume the Blackhawks will want to give Bedard as much NHL game experience as possible before the season starts. Bedard is considered a generational player, possessing the potential to be a superstar.

Detroit’s preseason slate begins with a home game against Pittsburgh on Sept. 26 at Little Caesars Arena. It continues with a home-and-home series with Washington at Capital One Arena on Sept. 28 and at Little Caesars Arena on Sept. 30.

The Red Wings and Blackhawks meet at LCA the next night, and then play at Chicago’s United Center on Oct. 3. After a trip to Pittsburgh on Oct. 4, the Red Wings conclude the preseason with back-to-back games with Toronto at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 6 and at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 7.

All games start at 7 p.m. with the exception of the game in Chicago, which is an 8:30 p.m. start.

Detroit Rookies Tested in Preseason

Of course, the Red Wings will also have rookies who are likely to play a considerable number of preseason games. GM Steve Yzerman will want to see how Marco Kasper, Carter Mazur and Albert Johansson perform before deciding whether they will make the team.

Kasper is rehabilitating from a broken kneecap, and the hope is he will be ready for the preseason. Asked how injured Red Wings Kasper, Jake Walman and Simon Edvinsson are healing, Yzerman said recently: “Yeah, they’re all tracking, the healing process is fine. No concerns at this stage.”

Edvinsson is coming back from early May shoulder surgery. The rehabilitation was projected to be four to six months. The beginning of October will be five months.