Typical 20 year old.
That’s what Travis Hamonic had to say when he heard Axel Sandin-Pellikka reveal how he plans to spend his time away from the rink during the Detroit Red Wings’ upcoming trip. It’s the longest stretch of the season, starting Thursday, Dec. 4 at the Columbus Blue Jackets. From there, it’s off to Seattle on Saturday to face the Kraken, then to Vancouver on Monday to face the Canucks, followed by the Calgary Flames on Dec. 10 and the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 11. With a day off in Chicago on December 12th, the Wings will play the Blackhawks in Chicago on the 12th.
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It’s a non-stop schedule, but there’s also flight and hotel time in between, which means something needs to be done.
“I’m currently re-watching series I’ve watched before; Blue Mountain State,” Sandin-Pelica said. “It’s a comedy about a college football team that likes to drink. “
The Wings (14-11-2) ended a four-game winless skid with a 5-4 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, and they’re feeling a little more relaxed on the trip. The Bruins fought back in the third period, but the Wings set the stage for victory with a strong first period that included a goal from James van Riemsdyk.
“It feels good to contribute, to contribute and to win,” van Riemsdyk said Wednesday. “It’s a good team game and a good recipe for us. If we can find consistency in our game, then our mentality is really good. If we can find a lot of that, I think we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
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The Eastern Conference, especially the Wings’ Atlantic Division, is so competitive that after the Wings’ win on Tuesday night, they’re temporarily in second place.
More: Detroit Red Wings ‘at least got a win’ as they learned more lessons
“I think every coach in the league will tell you, right now we don’t look at the standings because you go from No. 1 to No. 7 in one night without even playing, so it really doesn’t matter,” Todd McClellan said. “The best bonding trip is a winning trip. No matter where you go.”
The Wings went 4-0 across Canada West and Seattle last season under McClellan and will sweep Canada West in 2022-23 under then-coach Derek Lalonde.
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When asked how the coaching staff uses their free time on the road, McClellan laughed and said, “Well, we need a break, so we need a soft bed.”
Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) celebrates a goal during the third period against the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.
Not so the players, who sounded enthusiastic about their 11-day trip to the city. It’s the club’s longest trip since 2021, but that was during a pandemic-shortened 56-game season with mini-series between teams to reduce travel.
“I had my iPad with me,” Sandin-Pellikka said. “Besides, you go have dinner with the kids.”
Van Riemsdyk enjoys watching Netflix’s “The Beast in Mee,” but prefers to go outside.
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“A lot of times I want to find a place on the road to go to a sauna or something,” he said. “I love doing it. So I’m going to bring some people with me to do it.
“Usually it’s a sauna, watching some shows and then finding a nice place to have dinner or something like that. Pretty basic and simple. I’m sure most people are pretty similar to that.”
Van Riemsdyk, 36, described himself as having “a decent Rolodex” after more than 16 seasons in the NHL. “I feel like they’re everywhere,” he said. “So, it’s something I enjoy doing.”
John Gibson, like offseason addition van Riemsdyk, spent his career with the Anaheim Ducks and is used to long trips. When teams from the West Coast travel to the East, they try to hit as many teams as possible.
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“In the beginning, I think I had 17 days,” he said. “Most of the time, you do like two or three trips to the East Coast, so you’re doing six or seven games, so nothing out of the ordinary. I just had to find a new show to watch.”
Please contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Learn more about the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings say best way to bond over long road trip is to win a lot
