MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses the battle for spots on the Red Wings’ roster this morning, noting that several players may be injured, complicating the coaching and management staffs’ decision-making processes:
The only [roster] decisions are at forward, and they could be impacted by injuries. Blashill said nobody other than Jakub Vrana (shoulder surgery, out four months) has been ruled for the opener, but they will know more Monday at practice.
Michael Rasmussen and Givani Smith have been dealing with what Blashill described as day-to-day injuries. Dylan Larkin, Robby Fabbri, Adam Erne and Vladislav Namestnikov also did not play Saturday, preventing the team from having a “dress rehearsal” in the exhibition finale.
“We don’t know who’s going to be available and who’s not,” Blashill said. “We’re taking it day by day. We’ll make (roster) decisions when we have to make decisions and not before that.”
The Red Wings might be inclined to sign veteran right wing Bobby Ryan, in camp on a tryout. He had two goals and two assists in six games and could slot into the top six with his offensive ability as Vrana’s replacement. Ryan’s right-handed shot and leadership ability also would be assets.
The Red Wings have several young players pushing for job, mostly notably former first-round picks Joe Veleno and Lucas Raymond, who are waiver-exempt, and Taro Hirose, who is not waiver-exempt.
Continued; along those lines, the Free Press’s Helene St. James also posted an article this morning which discusses the players she believes will make the Wings’ final roster:
Lucas Raymond skewed towards Grand Rapids when camp began, but the 19-year-old looked so good when exhibition season began he garnered discussion that he belongs in Detroit. He wasn’t quite as good the past couple games, but then he played six times in 11 days, after a week of practices at camp. Overall, Raymond, a first-round pick from 2020, has looked poised the puck, and held his own against veteran NHLers. He is vulnerable in a numbers crunch because he can be assigned to the minors without waivers, but on the whole he looks like he’ll make the Wings better.
Bobby Ryan has shown he belongs. The Wings extended a tryout invitation the week training camp began, when they knew Bertuzzi’s refusal to get vaccinated for COVID-19 would jeopardize his availability to play in Canada. Ryan, 34, played for the Wings last season — he brings size and savvy, shoots right, and is an excellent role model.
Adam Erne, Sam Gagner, Vladislav Namestnikov, Michael Rasmussen and Givani Smith are among the group slated to form the bottom six. Mitchell Stephens, acquired in July for a sixth-round draft pick, has the inside track to center the fourth line. He plays hard, and brings a physical dimension.
Rasmussen and Smith are banged up — as are other, undisclosed players. (Namestnikov would seem to be in that group, since he hasn’t played since Oct. 3.) Depending on what the injured reserve situation is, there could be a spot for Joe Veleno. Like Raymond, he’s waiver-exempt.
Continued (paywall); when the team is healthy, I believe that Raymond and Veleno will be in Grand Rapids, possibly for most of the NHL and AHL seasons. What do you think will happen?
