Both MLive’s Ansar Khan, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff follow the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan’s lead in discussing Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s takes on Sunday’s Red vs. White Game.
In Khan’s multi-faceted notebook, Ansar leads off with Lalonde’s remarks regarding the process and the product:
“Everything we put on paper the last 2-3 months translated very well,” Lalonde said. “To me it’s a credit to the guys. They were dialed in in our meetings, they were dialed in within our practices and they went out and executed. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. But for the most part I’m happy with how things have gone so far.”
That includes a mixed review on Sunday’s Red/White scrimmage at Centre I.C.E. Arena in Traverse City, which followed three days of hard practices.
“Obviously, a ton of turnovers, which is kind of expected,” Lalonde said. “I think it’s a good picture to paint for the guys, starting tomorrow, cleaning up some of that puck play. But for the most part the three days we worked on some structure, some of it translated and we’re in a good spot heading forward with our structure.”
Khan continues, while Detroit Hockey Now’s Allen focuses on five player-centered quotes from Lalonde…
On Elmer Soderblom: “We’ll play him a lot. He’ll probably be one of those players that will play the most in the preseason, maybe in that 5-6 game range if all goes well. We like what we see. It’s hard not to be excited about the tools. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s assertive with the puck. He’s played a lot of hockey, hasn’t had a day off in 7-8 days and we’ve asked a lot from him. As much as I’ve wanted to have a fresh start for everyone throughout this organization and to be open-minded, I also want to be cautious about getting excited about a young player like that. From what I’ve seen over 4-5 days, it’s hard not to get excited but I also want to be cautious and let this play out for him and all of our guys throughout the exhibition games.”
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On Givani Smith: “We need him to be simple, assertive, play north. Think he did that. I think he created with his line for that. He spent some good zone time, which should be a strength of his, spending time with the puck in the O-zone. He finished on a breakaway. Good for him. He got the opportunity in a scrimmage type situation where he got high-sticked. He finished. It was good. You look from everyone for some consistency. So good start for sure.”
And Allen’s Detroit Hockey Now colleague notes that coach Lalonde chose to cite Simon Edvinsson as someone who struggled with turnovers:
“You don’t have to be a trained hockey guy to see I’m sure he led the entire group today in turnovers,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said of Edvinsson. “It’s something we’re going to work on with him.”
Detroit’s top pick, sixth overall, in the 2021 NHL entry draft, there’s plenty of expectations that the 19-year-old Swede will be making the Red Wings roster out of the preseason.
It’s apparent that in Edvinsson’s case, there are are still some rough edges to be smoothed out.
“I think with Simon, he might have had six or seven turnovers in that first half,” Lalonde said. “That’s something he’s going to have to manage. That’s something we’re going to have to work with him.”
