Month: July 2022

While I’ve been gone, Detroit Hockey Now has been conducting something of an audit of the Red Wings’ developmental system, and today, Kevin Allen discusses the team’s “forgotten prospect,” 22-year-old defenseman Jared McIsaac.

The restricted free agent defenseman has recovered from shoulder surgeries on both shoulders, and the 6’1,” 192-pound defender projects as a solid #4 defenseman with a bit of a physical flair:

After playing just 39 games over two seasons, McIsaac played 70 games this season. Call it a “catch-up” season.”

“Being healthy is a huge step,”  McIsaac said earlier this season. “Continuing with the consistency in my game. It’s not going to be smooth sailing the whole way. That’s something I’ve realized over the past couple years…especially with everything that’s happened. I think just trying to stay focused, not getting too high or too low. Just being consistent in all aspects of my game.”

He projects to be a dependable two-way defenseman, the kind of player coaches always appreciate. McIsaac takes pride in being a full service D man.

“It’s just a part of my game,” McIsaac ” If it’s not the power play, it’s penalty kills. If it’s not penalty kills, then it’s power plays. So, it’s pretty nice to be able to play both ends of the rink and they put a big emphasis on my defensive game. They let me build that game up before a little bit of the special teams. I think my defensive game has come a long way this year. There’s still a little bit of ways to go before that’s all tidied up and whatnot. But I think it’s come a long way as far as that goes. Learning the pro game, too–what works and what doesn’t.”

Continued; McIsaac has gotten lost in the shuffle of what is a very deep group of Detroit defensive prospects, but he and Donovan Sebrango could very well form the Wings’ third pair on defense in a couple of seasons.

Daily Faceoff’s correspondents were asked which team is “winning the offseason” some four days into free agency (i.e. very early in the “offseason”), and while none of their correspondents suggested that the Red Wings’ moves made them the biggest winner of this four-day-old process, former goaltender Mike McKenna suggests that the Wings meaningfully addressed their needs:

In terms of which team instantly got better, I think the Detroit Red Wings are the best example. Trading for Ville Husso to compete with Alex Nedeljkovic was a shrewd move by GM Steve Yzerman – even though I’m wary of the $4.75 million cap hit Husso will carry over the next three seasons. Then Yzerman went out and landed Andrew Copp, David Perron, Dominik Kubalik, Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta and Mark Pysyk via free agency. What a haul.

Continued; I’m still not thrilled with the Chiarot deal, but overall, I think that Steve Yzerman did a very good job of addressing the team’s need for strong supporting players while not abandoning the draft-and-develop philosophy.

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe caught up with Red Wings coach and former Toledo Walleye coach Derek Lalonde, engaging in a wide-ranging conversation:

Question: How thrilled are you to be the head coach of an Original Six franchise with a storied tradition?

Answer: “It’s a huge honor. It’s also a huge challenge in that, too. I feel a lot of responsibility with it. I’m really excited about it. It was never about getting to the next job. That is kind of the way I’ve approached by entire career and it has suited me well. The fact that I’m coaching in the NHL is exciting. The fact that it is Detroit, it’s very surreal. I’m getting to work and starting to organize things with some structure. I’m putting some things in place. It’s definitely has sunk in.”

Q: When did becoming an NHL coach become a realistic possibility in your mind?

A: “Honestly it wasn’t until the success we were having during our second Cup run [in Tampa Bay]. That was where it became a possibility to me. I had checked off a lot of boxes that general managers were looking for — experience at all levels, head coaching experience at different levels, and also experience at the NHL level. And the success and the remarkable consistency we had probably made it an easier decision for Steve, and he ultimately offered me the job.”

Continued

The Score’s John Matisz weighs in regarding the first couple days’ worth of free agency moves, suggesting that the Red Wings’ free agency moves do not indicate a deviation from the “Yzerplan”:

For years now, smart NHL GMs have left room between the lower and upper limits of the salary cap to bail out cap-strapped teams in exchange for draft picks and prospects or to keep their own books tidy for future business.

In the early days of the 2022 offseason, the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators have all weaponized cap space in some way.

…

Steve Yzerman sure thinks that way. The Red Wings GM sat tight during the previous three offseasons, refusing to burden the organization with unnecessary contracts. Finally ready to insulate his young core with veteran NHLers, Yzerman has added goalie Ville Husso, forwards Andrew Copp, Dominik Kubalik, and David Perron, and defensemen Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, and Mark Pysyk since the draft. His restraint in the past allowed him to pounce this year and beat out rival GMs handcuffed by cap issues.

Continued

The Hockey News’s Jason Chen examines the trades made at the 2022 NHL Draft and leading up to free agency, assessing their fantasy hockey impacts. He suggests that the Red Wings’ addition of one Ville Husso may not be great for poolies:

Ville Husso, Detroit Red Wings: Husso will push Alex Nedeljkovic for playing time with a chance to take the starting job, considering how many times Nedeljkovic – and Thomas Greiss, now in St. Louis in what was essentially a goalie swap – had to get pulled, sometimes in the same game. Husso took a backseat in the playoffs after Jordan Binnington regained his form, but it’s clear Husso has the chops to be a starter for small stretches. Look for an even split while the Wings continue to find their footing, but on a young roster with lots of new pieces, they won’t be nearly as consistent as the Blues, especially with their defensive structure. Value: Slightly down until the Wings prove to be a competitive team.

Continued; here’s hoping that the Wings become a “competitive team” in short order.

The Athletic asked its 32 beat writers to weigh in on their respective markets teams’ respective free agent signings, assigning a grade to each team’s performance. Max Bultman has this to say about the Red Wings’ signings:

Detroit Red Wings: A-

Steve Yzerman upgraded at every position over the past week, starting by trading for (and extending) Ville Husso at the draft, and then following it up by bringing in a haul of free agents this week. Andrew Copp is the long-needed answer at No. 2 center, David Perron and Dominik Kubalik should help the power play significantly, and Ben Chiarot and Olli Määttä will go a long way toward improving one of the league’s worst defenses. It was a real upgrade — and a long-awaited one, at that. The minus comes from the added risk in some of the term, mainly with 31-year-old Chiarot, but Detroit still has plenty of room to maneuver, now and in the near future. — Max Bultman

Continued (paywall)

Former Red Wings coach and current Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill spoke with The Huge Show’s Bill Simonson on Friday, engaging in a frank discussion over the course of a 15-minute interview:

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe has teased a Q and A with Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, who was once the Toledo Walleye’s coach:

Spoke with @DetroitRedWings
coach Derek Lalonde for a Q & A. On realizing a dream:
“I haven’t really thought of it like that because it never really was an ultimate goal. It’s never felt like work or a grind. I’ve always lived in the moment. Obviously it truly is the top now. ” pic.twitter.com/LXt99XtEok— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) July 15, 2022

Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne offers “two sentences” regarding every “notable” free agent signing, and here’s what he has to say about the Red Wings’ signings:

David Perron, RW, Detroit
Contract: Two years, $4.75 million AAV

I love when rebuilding teams start trying to win hockey games, a thing that David Perron is particularly adept at helping teams do. Even if he’s gone before they truly turn the corner, he’s the type of all-in player you’d like to see your young talent learn from.

…

Dominik Kubalik, LW, Detroit
Contract: Two years, $2.5 million AAV

Another good pick-up for Detroit, who seems to have recognized that with the middle-class squeeze going on around the league you can improve through UFA for no asset cost but cap space. Kubalik gives them more depth, which they sorely lacked.

…

Ben Chiarot, D, Detroit
Contract: Four years, $4.75 million AAV

The analytics do not love Ben Chiarot, and going four years on a physical D-man getting into his 30s isn’t always prudent. But for the Wings, a team trying to get consistently competitive, I appreciate going a bit above market to get good players, so the ones you need to take a step can be in more games that matter.

….

Andrew Copp, RW, Detroit
Contract: Five years, $5.625 million AAV

Copp is a versatile forward who can contribute offensively and play up and down your lineup. As the Red Wings transition to “trying to win,” he’s a great fit for a guy to help them as their ability to hang with the better teams increases.

Continued

The Detroit Red Wings signed a player who may serve as a good example for some of their prospects who are struggling to develop, because one Andrew Copp, who just signed a 5-year contract at $5.625 million per season, is a late-bloomer.

At 28 years of age, the “naturally-talented athlete” was a tremendous football player in high school, a tremendous college hockey player at the University of Michigan…And then he was a checking forward for the vast majority of his 7 seasons with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, not really posting point-every-other-game stats until the 2020-2021 season.

When Copp spoke with the media on Wednesday afternoon, he told MLive’s Ansar Khan that he’s improved over the years…

Copp is coming off his best season with career highs in goals (21) and points (53). He stepped up following a trade-deadline deal from Winnipeg to the Rangers. His offensive game blossomed in New York, where he collected eight goals and 18 points in 16 regular season games and six goals and 14 points in 20 playoff games during the team’s run that ended in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Tampa Bay.

“I think I’ve gotten a lot better over the years,” Copp said. “Felt like (offense) was always kind of in there, just wasn’t something I was asked to do too much. Whether it was playing in a checking role or concentrating on the defensive side, the PK, I worked on my game a lot. With some production comes confidence and it just kind of snowballs.”

And that he believes his new team will continue to improve, too…

The Red Wings have missed the playoffs six consecutive seasons but are deeper and should improve in all areas following the free-agent acquisitions of Copp, wingers David Perron and Dominik Kubalik and defensemen Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta and Mark Pysyk, as well as last week’s trade for goaltender Ville Husso.

“I like the opportunity to continue to grow, have a leadership role and have a good opportunity paired with the influx of talent and the trajectory this organization is on,” Copp said. “It might take all five years; it might be past that, but I think this organization is headed for really good things and the sky’s the limit. I’m looking forward to spending all five years and hopefully more with the organization and trying to get to that ultimate goal.”

And the Wings’ GM said this about Copp’s game:

“He’s 28, he’s a very good athlete, he’s very versatile, he’s playing center, he’s playing wing, he can play on the power play, he plays on the penalty kill, he’s a good face-off man,” Yzerman said. “At 28, I’m comfortable offering a player a five-year contract because he’s a good athlete. We know he takes care of himself, he’s very professional.”

Continued