Two Things: Praise for Gerard Gallant and a bit about Dan Renouf

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. This is more of an essay than an article, but I dig it, so: the Free Press’s Phoebe Wall Howard penned a case for Detroit sports fans to root for coach Gerard Gallant’s Vegas Golden Knights:

Gerard Gallant is a head coach leading a shiny new team from a town known for hookers and blow, not pro sports. He put together an island of misfit toys in the desert and directed it at the Stanley Cup. Some of them  were little-known or injured or traded athletes who ignored ridicule and stayed focused.

Then they beat 500-1 odds and made the finals. Bookies admit now they made a bad call.

All my money is on the Vegas Golden Knights. Not because I think they’ll win (they trail the Washington Capitals, 3-1, in the best-of-seven series). Because I want them to win.

During these Stanley Cup finals, the Golden Knights represent my hometown. I live next to Joe Louis Arena, where Gerard Gallant played. I grew up going to games in the now-vacant arena. I see skateboarders on steps slated for demolition, not crowds.

Hollywood couldn’t write this script. Gerard Gallant did.

Wall Howard continues…

2. And DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji examined the 2017-18 campaign of a defenseman who’s gotten lost in the shuffle in Grand Rapids Griffins blueliner Dan Renouf:

Quotable: “It was his second year with us. Dan Renouf is a steady Eddie type defenseman. When you don’t notice him, he’s playing his best. He’s good on the penalty kill, sticks up for his teammates, which can fill that role. He needs to work on his skating speed and also his shot. He’s not slow by any means but if he gains that extra step and can be consistent with it, that could really help him.” — Todd Nelson, former Grand Rapids Griffins coach

Renouf could yet be a Red Wings prospect as opposed to a farmhand if he does indeed improve his skating.