The fact that the Red Wings are 8 defensemen deep to start the 2021-2022 season is downright…different…as the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan notes in his notebook:
This will be Blashill’s seventh season coaching the Wings, but this particular roster might be his deepest overall.
Particularly on defense, where seven of the eight defensemen on the roster are proven NHL players, and the eighth — Moritz Seider — is considered one of the game’s brightest prospects.
Blashill feels that will create competition for playing time, and will be a challenge for those players not in the lineup.
“For sure we have the most depth on defense that we’ve had, probably, since I’ve been here,” Blashill said. “There’s going to be some good players who will be sitting out and they’re going to have to find a way to keep their heads above water and not let the mental strain, or lose confidence, or not play good, because it’s going to be real competitive back there.”
