MLive’s Ansar Khan took note of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s comments regarding Simon Edvinsson and Marco Kasper’s chances of making the team out of training camp, as did Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:
Yzerman wants to keep the door open for younger players. The last thing he wants is to discourage top prospects.
“I’m not gonna tell any of these kids, ‘Hey you’re not on the team next year., ‘” Yzerman said. “‘Go out and play well and perform.’”
Lucas Raymond’s presence on the roster is a reminder that young players can persuade Yzerman to keep them.
“Two years ago we were sure the plan with Lucas was he’s gonna need a year in the American League,” Yzerman said. “Why did we say that? We’re watching him in Sweden and we don’t really know. When he came over, he performed really well. He looks good in the rookie tournament, he looks good in the preseason. Well, we’ll start him off in the NHL. Hopefully he doesn’t go backwards and he had a good year. He wasn’t handed that spot, because our plan was to keep him in the American League for that year. With all these guys, we’ll let their play determine where they go, but we don’t want to put ourselves in a position where we’re hoping they make it, because if they don’t, then what are we gonna do?”
