Of Red Wings-related note this evening:
- The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan offered assessments of each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams‘ free agency doings (or the lack thereof), and here’s what he has to say about the home team:
► Detroit: GM Steve Yzerman addressed every need the Wings had, and the lineup is significantly deeper than it was a few weeks ago. Trading for goaltender Ville Husso also looks like a shrewd move right now.
2. The Hockey News’s Stan Fischler made a slate of observations regarding the free agency moves around the NHL, and those preceding July 13th, and here are his Red Wings-related takes:
Department of So-Nice: Jeff Blashill winding up on his feet behind the Bolts bench as Jon Cooper’s aide is a case of justice triumphs.
…
If the Red Wings make the playoffs for a change it’ll be because of the goaltending; specifically Ville Husso; no more, no less.
Another reason to just love Red Wings rookie coach Derek Lalonde. He comes from Brasher Falls, N.Y.
Brasher Falls — as far north as you can get in New York State — is so small that at the last census, its population soared to 669!
Finally, the Toronto Star’s Chris Johnston reminds us that a key member of the Red Wings’ leadership corps this past season is still an unrestricted free agent:
Sam Gagner, Detroit Red Wings
Centre
Age: 32
2021-22 cap hit: $850,000
2021 stats: 13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points in 81 games
The veteran forward is just 33 games from reaching 1,000 in his career. He’s a fourth-line option nowadays, but comes with intangibles in the manner Darren Helm and Andrew Cogliano provided during the Avalanche’s championship run this spring.
I don’t know if there’s room on the Wings’ roster for Gagner unless he’s willing to take a part-time role.
