MLive’s Ansar Khan posted an article regarding Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference this morning, and Khan noted that Yzerman believes that his team’s roster is still in flux to some extent thanks to a push from young players…But Yzerman isn’t willing to guarantee that this year’s team will make a playoff spot:
“I look at our division and I’m not sure what to expect from some teams that continue to get better and teams that lost players,” Yzerman said. “We’ll get into the season and see how we match up, how we do through the first quarter of the season and then kind of have a better idea of where we’re at. I’d like to think we’re a better team, I think we’re a more competitive team. We’ll see if that puts us in a position to compete for a playoff spot.”
Yzerman said the rebuild phase ends when you’re not selling at the trade deadline, like the Red Wings have every year since 2017.
“I think we’re still being patient,” he said. “We’re waiting for our younger players to develop. I intend to hold onto our draft picks for the foreseeable future and let them develop and try to add to that small core that we have that makes us a competitive team for a long period of time.”
When healthy, the Red Wings have 13 experienced NHL forwards and seven veteran defensemen. That will make for a competitive environment, even if a younger waiver-exempt player like former first-round picks Simon Edvinsson or Marco Kasper aren’t on the season-opening roster.
“If you just look at the players on one-way contracts, there’s competition at every position, not only to be on the roster and in the lineup but to play minutes in all situations,” Yzerman said. “The new players are going to want to come in and make a good impression on the coaching staff and earn an increased role. Some of our younger players are coming in here with the mindset of, ‘I’m going to make this team.’ Guys like (Joe) Veleno and (Michael) Rasmussen want a bigger role, more ice time, play on special teams, take face-offs in the last minute of the game.”
