Detroit Red Wings
· 2026-06-24
The Detroit Red Wings are breaking with a nearly three-decade tradition by choosing to stay home for training camp.
The team will not travel to Traverse City this September, instead opting to hold camp at Little Caesars Arena.
The decision comes as a result of the NHL's new preseason format, which reduces the number of exhibition games from eight to four.
The cost savings of holding camp at home are significant, with the team saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Wings will host a four-team prospect tournament from September 12-15, featuring prospects from the Wings, Blue Jackets, Penguins, and Dallas Stars.
The regular season schedule is expected to be released in July, with ticket sale information for the preseason and regular season to be announced at a later date.
The Wings' preseason schedule includes games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres.
The team's decision to hold training camp at home is a one-year decision, with the possibility of returning to Traverse City in the future.
The Wings have been holding development camps at Little Caesars Arena for several years, and the facility's built-in practice facility and multiple locker rooms make it an ideal location for training camp.
Former coach Scotty Bowman initially brought the team to Traverse City in 1997, and the tradition had continued yearly except during labor disputes and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The change in tradition may come as a surprise to some, but the team is looking forward to the benefits of holding camp at home.
The Wings' preseason schedule kicks off on September 21 with a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The team will then face the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 22, followed by home games against the Buffalo Sabres and Blue Jackets.