MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses pertinent training camp storylines this evening, including the following:
2. Which players are battling for spots in the lineup? The most interesting battle will be on defense, where the late-offseason trade for Petry gives the team seven experienced defensemen. When everyone is healthy – always a big if – Moritz Seider, Jake Walman, Olli Maatta, Gostisbehere and Petry can be penciled into the everyday lineup. That would leave Ben Chiarot and Justin Holl battling for the sixth spot.
They also have 13 NHL forwards, so someone who’s expecting to play regularly will be watching. The top eight could consist of Larkin, DeBrincat, Perron, Raymond, Andrew Copp, Compher, Michael Rasmussen and Robby Fabbri. That would leave four spots for five players – Kostin, Daniel Sprong, Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren and Christian Fischer.
3. Do any prospects have a legitimate chance of making the roster? Not likely unless there is an injury or two to a veteran. Simon Edvinsson made a favorable impression during a nine-game late-season stint, but the Red Wings, with their additions on defense, clearly feel he needs more time in Grand Rapids. The same for 2022 eighth overall pick Marco Kasper, who’s only 19 and could use some seasoning in the AHL. Elmer Soderblom, who played 21 games with the Red Wings as a rookie, probably has the best chance of cracking the roster among prospects. But with any of these young players, including the waiver-exempt Berggren, they’ll only be in Detroit if they’re playing regularly, not as reserves.
Continued; injuries are the great leveler, and they always happen over the course of training camp and the baffling 8-games-in-12-nights exhibition season. Injuries will help tell the tale.
