MLive’s Ansar Khan filed an afternoon notebook which discusses the Red Wings’ heavy exhibition schedule, which consists of 8 games to be played over the course of 12 nights:
This is where the competition for roster spots and roles begins in earnest. Coach Derek Lalonde cited building structure as the main objective, as well as sorting out line combinations, defense pairings and special teams units.
“Keep building on our process with implementing new neutral zone, new D-zone coverage,” Lalonde said. “Obviously, take a step every day, hopefully with our structure, some of it is new for the guys. Certainly, establishing some compete, some attitude. Feel fortunate we have eight games to start fine-tuning some things before our opener.”
Young players like defensemen Simon Edvinsson and forwards Elmer Soderblom and Jonatan Berggren are expected to see a lot of preseason action.
“Obviously, the vets don’t need to play six games,” Lalonde said. “Some of those young guys, Simon, Elmer, we target a lot of games for them.”
Lalonde said he’ll eventually get his power play and penalty killing units finalized late in the preseason and formulate line combinations and defense pairs from there.
“We’re going to take the full eight games and let it play out and go from there,” he said.
