Of Red Wings-related note this morning, regarding last night’s 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins:
- The Free Press’s Helene St. James discusses Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson’s pro hockey debut this morning…
Danielson scored a goal in Tuesday’s opener, a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena. Danielson played nearly 17 minutes, including three minutes of power play time, and he was out in the last minute of the game, when the Penguins had pulled their goaltender and the Wings were protecting a one-goal lead.
“It’s very valuable,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “He’s building off a good rookie tournament, good camp in Traverse City. He was good tonight. We’d like to get him back in there soon.”
The Wings drafted Danielson at No. 9. General manager Steve Yzerman said that, “we like all parts of his game. He’s got pretty good size, he’s a good skater, he’s got good skills, he’s a good two-way centerman, so there’s a lot to like about him. He’s just a solid all-around prospect.”
Michael Rasmussen, himself a No. 9 pick from 2017, shared his thoughts on Danielson’s early showings.
“He’s impressive,” Rasmussen said. “He’s really poised, just goes about his business, good attitude. Works hard. It’s nice to see him get rewarded. Besides the goal I thought he played really well, too. I just think he handles himself really well — hockey sense, skill, patience. He seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”
2. Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff also discussed Danielson’s strong self-belief…
While he’s wearing Red Wings colors, Danielson’s world is also being colored by what’s going on with his junior club, the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings. They’ve already played two regular-season games, going 1-0-1. Danielson, a co-captain last season, is left to watch his other club battle from afar.
“It’s kind of weird,” Danielson admitted. “They started already and we’re just getting started here. Out first regular-season games were last weekend. We got a couple of others this week. We went 1-0-1. Shoulda won the one we lost.”
At the moment, he can’t help the Wheat Kings, but Danielson can help himself. It’s absolutely unlikely that he’ll be cracking the Detroit roster. But two years ago, that’s also what they said about Lucas Raymond, who defied the odds, earning a place with the Red Wings in training camp.
“I’m here to try to make the team,” Danielson states flatly. “Obviously I’m gonna take it one day at a time and just focus on each practice and each game, but overall, I’m here to make the team.”
3. Among The Athletic’s Max Bultman’s “5 observations” regarding last night’s game is the following:
Another recent high pick I liked in Tuesday’s game: 2021 first-rounder Simon Edvinsson. Rasmussen pointed to the physicality Edvinsson played with Tuesday, which was noticeable from up top in addition to the puck-moving elements that always stand out from the smooth, 6-foot-6 defenseman.
Edvinsson set up Rasmussen for the game-winning goal, finding the big centerman in the slot early in the third period. It took a deflection off a Penguins defender before getting through Nedeljkovic, but it was a great look for Rasmussen and a good find by Edvinsson.
Edvinsson tied for the team lead in hits (four) and shots on goal (five) while playing 17:38. The 62 percent shot share Detroit held with him on the ice at five-on-five was the second highest on the team, behind Lucas Raymond, although the expected goals share was less sterling at 47.99 percent. Still, a productive day’s work, even if not a perfect one.
He was on the wrong end of Pittsburgh’s second goal, getting sucked in a bit too much supporting a wall battle, then getting beat back to the net when the Penguins emerged with it. Jonatan Berggren’s turnover was the biggest issue with the play, but it was an example of the remaining growth the Red Wings still want to see from the towering blueliner.
“He can do things you just can’t teach,” Lalonde said. “But there’s still some things in his game that need to keep growing.”
4. And Sean Shapiro discusses Shayne Gostisbehere’s status as a “flank man” on the power play on Shapiro’s Substack:
As I noted post game, Gostisbehere’s usage on the power play could be his career reclamation. And while he’ll only get the top of the 1-3-1 when Seider is unavailable, the Red Wings seem to be willing to go against what has become traditional NHL thinking and willing to go to a two-defender unit, which in a prior era was the norm.
When fully healthy on defense, which won’t always be the case, the Red Wings will have an interesting choice to make on the blue line. Is Gostisbehere’s value in this spot on the power play worth him playing over any of the other defensemen that Yzerman invested years (Holl, Chiarot, Maata) or assets (Petry) to acquire?
Or, to steal a thought from Red Wings beat writer Max Bultman, who brought this idea up on Tuesday night after the press conference with Lalonde, could Detroit entertain going 11-7 more often to make sure Gostisbehere stays in the lineup for his power play usage?
It’s an interesting puzzle, but we at least have a better idea now how and where Gostisbehere would fit in this role, and how it wouldn’t be taking second power play quarterback duties away from Jake Walman.
