Detroit Red Wings
Two Truths and a Lie About Red Wings’ Yzerplan
Truth: This Red Wings roster should look different by the trade deadline
Marco Kasper put on a show in the Red Wings’ preseason. Many people in the media were wondering how Kasper didn’t make the opening night roster. In the preseason game against Ottawa, Kasper had two goals and nearly pulled off a hat trick in the first period. He was also solid defensively.
Albert Johansson is currently the seventh defenseman on the team. But GM Steve Yzerman has praised his capacity for adjustment and improvement in his time in the AHL. The Red Wings are keeping their top lines close to what they were last season, which leaves some room for Kasper in to appear sooner rather than later in the case of injury or if someone isn’t performing up to expectations.
Said Lalonde, “Grand Rapids is two hours away. We’ll have played 33 players by Christmas.”
Kasper is just as likely to be getting someone on the forecheck as he is to be breaking away with the puck for a one timer and his skillset makes it so that those moments often happen together.
Carter Mazur and Nate Danielson made some plays in the preseason. If they can become more physical and play a little bigger in the AHL, there won’t be a reason to keep them down. If Yzerman thinks they’re playing better than the likes of Tyler Motte (on a one-year deal) and could be dealt away for the replacement is needed in the AHL if Danielson or Mazur is called up.
Truth: Red Wings are (roughly) in same position they were in last year
The Red Wings have been steadily improving under the leadership of Steve Yzerman and coach Derek Lalonde in his second season showed that he is capable of getting this team to play effective, playoff-worthy hockey.
Said Lalonde, “I think last year, our team was about a year ahead of schedule.”
This year’s Red Wings could take drastic dip in offensive production with the departures of David Perron, Robby Fabbri, Shayne Gostisbehere and Daniel Sprong. The hope is that improved defense combined with a full season of Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane, plus the addition of Vladimir Tarasenko, will help negate some of that difference in scoring. The Red Wings should be improved on team defense as Simon Edvinsson assumes a full-time role on the blue line in the NHL alongside other free agent acquisitions. Gustafsson isn’t as explosive on the power play as Gostisbehere. However, hopefully the Red Wings won’t have to rely so much on power play scoring. The key is becoming a defensive team that comes close to moving into the top 10 in GAA.
Lie: If the Red Wings miss the playoffs, this is the Yzerplan’s last year
Yzerman has devoted more time and energy to Detroit and the Red Wings organization in the past century than probably anyone, be it as our beloved captain, or as a front office member. The recent successes of the Tigers’ and Lions’ rebuilds has, however, highlighted a seeming lack of progress for the Red Wings for Detroit fans.
Yzerman took over in 2019 with what was possibly one of the worst rosters and prospect systems in the NHL. That prospect system has now perennially been listed near the top of most outlet’s rankings. It’s highlighted at the NHL level by Lucas Raymond, Mo Seider, and now Simon Edvinsson.
However, the management of NHL talent itself has been somewhat underwhelming. Justin Holl is a massive sunk cost. Ville Husso is decent but injury-bitten, and the firing of Jeff Blashill was overdue by at least a season.
The Red Wings were edged out of the playoffs by an empty net goal last year. The expectations, internally and externally, are that they’re going to be in almost the same damn spot as last year. Yzerman has kept his cool throughout the process and the organization seems content to see things out. But if they miss the postseason again, his seat will begin to boil.