What Lalonde Really Thinks About Cossa, Tarasenko and The Tigers

Here are interesting answers Red Wings Coach Derek Lalonde gave to specific questions about players and subjects that didn’t fit in any of the Detroit Hockey Now stories this week:

When you get a new player like Vladimir Tarasenko, how long does it take you to get an understanding of his game. How long do you need to appreciate how his process works, to recognize when he’s on top of his game and when he’s not?

Lalonde: “It takes a little bit. You’re obviously a little more sure of a veteran player that you’ve seen around the league. So much exposure. You see these players, so you kind of get a feel of his type of game, but it takes some time to experience it day in and day out. So even Vlad, I appreciate he made a couple team-first plays, if you will tonight. Obviously he’s the guy you want goals from and I think it’s a positive that he scored (Friday).”

Copp Line

What’s the value of having a consistent line like the Michael Rasmussen-Andrew Copp-Christian Fischer trio?

Lalonde: “I’ve been a little more comfortable of keeping some guys together, that project as a line and that’s certainly one of them. And I think there’s a comfort level with that group and I think there’s an identity that they formed towards the end of last year. So I think not only a comfort from me with them, I think there’s a comfort between the three of them.”

Do they have another level they can reach?

Lalonde: “I hope so. We’ll see going forward. Certainly hope so. I think their offense is going to be honest offense, which I like, but I think you can create offense by playing the right way. When they’re out there they do a lot of the right things, manage pucks, forecheck properly, get on top, create turnovers. They can create some offense.”

Cossa Evaluation

Sebastian Cossa, 22, isn’t necessarily trying out for the Detroit roster this training camp, but he’s on the way. What do you want him to take away from this training camp?

Lalonde: “Experience. Looks. We’ll get him in for a period again (Saturday against Pittsburgh). I think it’s important to get these games. I go back to last year. He played a third period in Washington and played well so I thought that was valuable for him. So I just I think the process can’t practice goalie drills and then game looks I think are very valuable for them. So more than anything just valuable experience. Same high compete. Stay consistent with this game. We’ll see with some of those younger guys, you’re looking for that consistency, they do it on one night, you know, they’ve had a really good camp. You know, the consistency of doing it night in and night out. And that’ll be our goal for him tonight, him and (William) Wallinder. They’ve had good camps.”

What’s the most impressive aspect of the Detroit Tigers’ late surge to earn wildcard playoff berth?

Lalonde: “We watched the Williamsport Little League game. Very inspiring. We were invested. We watched the game, fun game I recall, they came back and won. But I also recall, correct me if I’m wrong. At that time, I believe I heard the announcer say they had a 5% chance to make the playoffs. And this wasn’t six months ago, four months ago. This was a mid season. I think it’s amazing. It’s just the lesson on believability is pretty neat that it’s the Tigers and it’s Detroit, but certainly a lesson on believability. Watching that group I left took an afternoon nap right in the office. Between everything yesterday, I fell asleep, it was three nothing. I woke up 14-3. So pretty cool to watch. But I think, you know, the believability is pretty inspiring for anyone. Pretty cool to see.”