The Daily: Hutchinson Could Prove Valuable to Red Wings; Soderblom’s Brother Mauled by Coyotes

Michael Hutchinson isn’t likely to ever play a regular-season game for the Detroit Red Wings. Currently, he’s on a pro tryout agreement with Detroit’s top farm club, the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

Sebastian Cossa saved 41 out of 43 shots in his season debut with the Griffins #AHL #GoGRG #LGRW pic.twitter.com/JcVXNJvczc

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) October 16, 2023

Yet, the fact of the matter is that currently, Hutchinson is playing a vital role in shaping the future of the Red Wings. With the Griffins, the journeyman veteran netminder is serving as mentor to Sebastian Cossa. A first-round pick of the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL entry draft, Cossa is earmarked as Detroit’s goalie of the future.

At the moment, that future is in Hutchinson’s hands. And it’s an opportunity that he relishes.

“My role is just to be there for him if he has any questions or anything he needs,” Hutchinson told DHN. “It’s fun working with someone that young and talented.”

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Will the return of winger Jonatan Berggren to AHL Grand Rapids help spark the Griffins moribund offense?
• Moritz Seider is leading all NHL defensemen with nine assists and the Detroit defense is topping the league’s blueline crews with 33 points.
• Monday’s loss by the Pistons prevented the Red Wings, Lions and Pistons all winning on the same day for the first time since 2000

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit will be welcoming the Florida Panthers to Little Caesars Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET) and the Red Wings have really been rolling out the welcome mat for the Panthers. Florida has won nine in a row overall against Detroit. At LCA, the Panthers are 10-1 in their last 11 visits.

Atlantic Division

Boston: When the Boston Bruins arrive to face the Red Wings on Saturday at LCA, they’ll be doing so minus D Charlie McAvoy. He’s serving a four-game NHL suspension for a head shot on Florida’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

The #NHLBruins blue line will have a different look against #LeafsForever on Thursday as Charlie McAvoy is expected to be suspended, and Matt Grzelcyk will be out 'a couple of weeks' with an upper-body injury.

More here:https://t.co/qOlNfYckYB

— Boston Hockey Now (@BOSHockeyNow) October 31, 2023

Montreal: The strong play of veteran forward Sean Monahan is causing a conundrum for the Montreal Canadiens in regards to Mohana’s future with the team.

Hockey Now Network

Pittsburgh: Can the veteran core of the Pittsburgh Penguins lead the team out of their current slump?

Philadelphia: Making the roster move, the Philadelphia Flyers are assigning goalie Felix Sandstrom to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

New Jersey: Is Vitek Vanacek ready to again usurp the role as go-to goalie for the New Jersey Devils?

Islanders: New York Islanders coach Lane Lambert was seeking to justify his reasoning for juggling his lines prior to the third period of Monday’s 4-3 OT loss to the Red Wings.

Washington: Could forward Elias Lindholm of the struggling Calgary Flames be of interest to the Washington Capitals?

Carolina: Former Carolina Hurricanes forward Paul Stastny was announcing his retirement from the NHL.

Chicago: Chicago Blackhawks goalie Arvid Soderblom, brother of Detroit prospect Elmer Soderblom, absorbed the brunt of Monday’s 8-1 loss to Arizona.

Colorado: Avalanche defensemen Cale Makar and Bowen Byram didn’t practice Tuesday and are questionable for Colorado’s Wednesday game against the St. Louis Blues.

Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights got 19 out of a possible 20 points in October. But was the month as immaculate as it sounds?

San Jose: Now that he’s retiring from the NHL, what’s next for former San Jose Sharks star Joe Thornton?