Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman spoke with the Wings’ media corps today, and the Free Press’s Helene St. James took note of Yzerman’s remarks regarding the state of his significantly-changed team:
“We had needs to be addressed,” Yzerman said. “We filled an important need at center in Andrew Copp, a right-hand-shot forward in David Perron, kind of a pleasant surprise in what we consider a scoring winger in Dominik Kubalik, and adding some defensemen that we think will improve and help us on our special teams, in particular on penalty killing, and then defensively 5-on-5, as well. These are all areas we talked about in the spring that we needed to improve on. We were in position to bring in some new faces and players we think addressed some of these needs.”
The Wings will need depth as forward Robby Fabbri (ACL) and defenseman Jake Walman (shoulder) both will miss the start of the season. Copp gives the Wings the second-line pivot they’ve long needed and adds faceoff prowess that also will help both special teams. Perron is a scorer and former Stanley Cup champion, and Kubalik is only three seasons removed from scoring 30 goals. Chiarot (6 feet 3, 234 pounds) and Määttä (6-2, 210) add size to the back end. Copp (28) Määttä (27) and Kubalik (27) are in the same age range as Dylan Larkin (26 on July 30) and Tyler Bertuzzi (27), two of the core pieces of the rebuild, and Perron (34) and Chiarot (31) add experience and will help bring along the Wings’ younger players: Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson.
It’s as aggressive as Yzerman has been in four years and reflects a growing confidence.
“I think we’ve improved our team, but we have to go on the ice in September and then play in October,” Yzerman said. “I’m hoping we’re a better team. I think we’re progressing slowly in this rebuilding of the Red Wings. Are we good enough to make the playoffs next year? I don’t know. I’m hopeful that we’ll score more goals, we’ll give up fewer goals, our power play will be a little bit better, our penalty killing a little bit better. Our goals against is a little bit better, and that pushes us up higher up the standings.
“Time will tell. I’m optimistic we’re progressing, but the plan really hasn’t changed. I’m sticking with what I intended to do and keeping our younger guys and be patient with them, keep our draft picks and continue to build this way.”
