The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted an article in which he discusses a pair of training camp roster battles–for the 5th and 6th spots on defense and the 12th playing forward’s spot, respectively:
Third defense pair
The contenders: Jordan Oesterle, Gustav Lindstrom, Robert Hagg, Simon Edvinsson
The dark horse: Albert Johansson
The breakdown: This one would appear the most straightforward at first blush.
Assuming Detroit’s projected top four holds serve during camp, there’s a whole pairing here up for grabs — and some classic archetypes vying to be on it.
Oesterle and Lidstrom are the returners from last season. Hagg is the free agent signing on a team that wants to improve defensively. Edvinsson is the top prospect hoping to break in at just 19 years old. Tale as old as time.
The situation may be complicated by Hagg exiting the Red and White scrimmage after he was hit by a puck, but we’re leaving him in this conversation until we know more.
You more or less know what you’re getting in Oesterle and Lindstrom, and Red Wings can go into the season with them as their third pair. At the same time, Hagg was brought in because Detroit wants to improve its team defense, and he can indeed help accomplish that.
Continued (paywall)
