The Daily: Could Ex-Red Wings Player Fix PK?; Draft Odds

The Detroit Red Wings understood what they were losing when they said goodbye to Pius Suter as he opted to sign a free agent deal with the Vancouver Canucks.

The respected Suter for the consummate professional that he is. The Swiss standout is a versatile forward kills penalties, slides up and down the lines and is mindful of his defensive responsibilities. He is equally comfortable on a checking line or a scoring line.

But neither the Red Wings, nor the Canucks, probably would have guessed that he would become one of Vancouver’s leading goal scorers. With 22 goals this season, he is the team’s highest-scoring center. He is centering Vancouver’s top line with Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser.

This comes after four consecutive seasons of being a model of consistency by scoring 14 or 15 goals.

The Vancouver Province said Suter has been dubbed “Super Glue” for his ability to pull the team together. He has been a factor in transforming the team’s penalty kill from one of the league’s worst to No. 3 this season at 83%.

The Red Wings, with the NHL’s worst PK (69%), need someone like Suter. And, Suter is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

GM Steve Yzerman did want to re-sign him two years ago, but wanted to give him a one-year deal. Suter wanted a multi-year deal, and took two years at $1.6 million per season to join Vancouver.

If you think it’s an easy decision for Detroit to chase Suter, 28, this summer, then you are forgetting that he’s a smallish center and Detroit needs to get bigger. With Patrick Kane (if he returns) and Alex DeBrincat, the Red Wings already have smaller players in key roles. But fixing the PK has to be a critical mission

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka and forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard are playing for Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League semifinals.

The Montreal Canadiens have figured out how to rise up and win big games. The Red Wings have not figured out how to do that as their recent game against St. Louis shows.

Former Red Wings goalie Mark Laforest died at age 62. He played for Detroit in 1985-86 and 1986-87.

Red Wings Extra

According to moneypuck.com, the Red Wings have the same chance of earning the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft lottery (2.9%) as they have of qualifying for the playoffs. Going into Friday’s home game against Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. FanDuel Sports Network), the Red Wings are four points out of a playoff spot with eight games remaining.

Hockey Now Network

Colorado: Avalanche lose Jonathan Drouin to a lower body injury in win against Chicago. Colorado Avalanche.

New Jersey: While the Devils have been overrun by injuries, Luke Hughes has emerged as the Devils’ new No. 1 defenseman. New Jersey Devils

Pittsburgh: GM Kyle Dubas expects Tristan Jarry to be back with the Penguins to battle for his job next season. That’s not what some Pittsburgh fans want to see. Pittsburgh Penguins.

San Jose: Yaroslav Askarov has had a setback with his return from injury. San Jose Sharks.