MLive’s Ansar Khan, the Free Press’s Helene St. James and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan all posted articles regarding the remarks made by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman this morning:
Khan discusses the concept that the Red Wings bring more tangible optimism to this season than ever before during Yzerman’s tenure as GM:
“I believe we’ll be a better hockey team this year,” Yzerman said Wednesday in his pre-camp media address. “Having said that, with a lot of changes, it can take some time for things to settle in, for everybody to get familiar with one another, coaches to really know the players and how to best utilize them. I’m cautiously optimistic.”
Derek Lalonde takes over as head coach following four seasons and two Stanley Cup championships as an assistant in Tampa Bay, replacing Jeff Blashill, who had been behind the bench for seven seasons.
The Red Wings appear to have upgraded every area following a flurry of a free-agent signings. Andrew Copp, who’s out until the first week of the regular season following abdominal surgery, improves the second-line center spot. Copp, David Perron and Dominik Kubalik provide more scoring options for a team that ranked 25th in goals and 26th on the power play. Having Jakub Vrana healthy for a full season also helps.
This team was second from the bottom in goals-against and last on the penalty kill, but veteran free agent defensemen Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta should improve the top four and Simon Edvinsson, the sixth overall pick in 2021, will push for a spot in camp.
Ville Husso, acquired in a trade with St. Louis, joins Alex Nedeljkovic to form what looks like a solid goaltending tandem.
“The best teams in the league reduce their goals against,” Yzerman said. “They reduce their chances against. Their special teams are good. If we can generate more chances, generate more shots, those statistics produce more victories. If our team can be harder team to play against, more competitive, that’s improvement. I hope it translates into points. Any number above 32 (wins), that’s progress.”
The Free Press’s Helene St. James offers a slate of observations from the press conference, including this about the Wings’ young players:
Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, the No. 6 pick in 2021, and goaltender Sebastian Cossa, No. 15, have expectations that match their 6-foot-6 frames. Edvinsson seems poised to be in the lineup opening night, having played last season in the Swedish Hockey League and helped Sweden win bronze at the World Juniors in August. The key will be that he is in the lineup — there’s no benefit to Edvinsson serving as a reserve in Detroit; if he doesn’t crack the top six, he’s better off in Grand Rapids.
Simon is 19, one year from his draft. Moritz had the benefit of playing a year in the AHL and then going over during the pandemic and playing in Sweden, he got that extra year of development,” Yzerman said. “I think Simon has a good chance. I can’t sit here today and tell you he’s definitely going to be in the lineup on opening night, but we’re pleased with a lot of things we saw in prospects tournament. I do believe playing in the SHL is a very good league, very competitive. It’s a great stepping stone for the NHL. The world juniors is a tremendous tournament and a great preparation for camp. He’s a good athlete. We’ll see how he does.”
Cossa was part of Canada’s gold-medal team at the World Juniors, but he wasn’t the team’s starter. He’ll get looks in exhibition season, and that will be crucial as management determines whether to send Cossa to GR, Toledo — or back to juniors.
“He needs to play games,” Yzerman said. “That’s most important. He just needs experience. We want him to be in a good environment and play a lot. I can’t tell you today where that is. We’re going to let that play out.”
And the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan focuses on the changes made during the offseason as a springboard for the hope that Yzerman feels:
“Hopefully, the players we brought in that play those positions improve our team, and then, collectively, the whole mindset of the team has to change a little bit,” Yzerman said. “It’s not like we’re not going to try to score, but there is a certain responsibility for all players when they’re on the ice, in the back of their minds, of regardless where the puck is, to be on the right side of the puck and sometimes the right side of the puck is defensively.”
Yzerman has kept in touch with players during the summer and sensed an “excitement” from the acquisition of new players. Yzerman also feels the competition for ice time will strengthen the lineup collectively.
“What is important is they recognize there is some competition not only for jobs but ice time, and I believe that competition is really healthy and will push guys to perform,” Yzerman said. “I believe good athletes, mentally strong guys, really enjoy that challenge. They recognize that ‘I have to perform here or I might lose my spot in the lineup,’ and that goes as well to Grand Rapids (minor-league affiliate), as we’ve got some depth in a lot of positions now. Hopefully, that translates to us being a better team as well.”
Seider and Raymond were rookies who had a tremendous, positive impact on the Wings last season. This season, forwards Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom and defensemen Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson and Eemil Viro are some faces who could make similar positive impressions at the NHL level at some point. That, too, would just make the Wings better on top of all the veteran additions.
“Gradually, we’re seeing some of these younger guys move into the lineup and have an impact,” Yzerman said. “We’re seeing some progress, I believe, in the way we’re doing it and I think we’ll improve. I’m hopeful we’re a better team this year, and I say that very cautiously because we all make these moves with the idea to be better, and sometimes it’s not a linear path. But I expect us to be better, and I’m optimistic and encouraged to see younger players moving into our lineup and playing a bigger role.”
