Okay, I posted my Tweetcap of the Red Wings’ 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday evening, and the other media folks posted recaps sans quotes, including MLive’s Ansar Khan, the Free Press’s Kirkland Crawford (photo gallery attached) and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan (photo gallery attached).
DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills also added a few comments from coach Derek Lalonde and forward Joe Veleno…
Lalonde on dressing more inexperienced players Tuesday night: “It’s good. It’s opportunities for some of our inexperienced guys in a tougher situation, no different than what we faced at home with the some of the lines we faced. Some of our younger d-men had some experience against some of these top-caliber-type forwards.”
Lalonde on Veleno: “I love the finish on both those plays. That’s a very good sign and good game from Joe. Had some looks and a big impact on the game, which was great.”
Veleno on his two-goal performance: “I felt good tonight. I think our line was clicking. We had some good chances and good o-zone time. We showed some flashes. Now we just got to keep going and be consistent here all throughout camp.”
Veleno on the pushback from Detroit’s younger players: “I thought we did a pretty good job of fighting back. They had pretty much their full lineup, a couple players missing.”
And Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff pondered the timing of goaltending try-out Andrew Hutchinson’s inclusion on the Red Wings’ training camp roster:
“Just got a call the Monday before camp,” Hutchinson explained. “Didn’t have too much going on. I was actually on the golf course. Getting the itch to go on the ice, so I figured why not come here?”
The Monday before camp was the day after the conclusion of the NHL rookie tournament in Detroit, an event that saw Red Wings top goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa lit up for 13 goals over three games. Did Cossa’s struggles spark the Red Wings to go after some goaltending insurance, in case Cossa isn’t ready for a role as an AHL regular with the Grand Rapids Griffins?
Since that day, other possibilities are developing that could lead to a contract for Hutchinson. Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophy-winning goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning, will be missing a good chunk of the start of the season after undergoing back surgery. The Lightning will be in the market for netminding help and could target someone like Detroit’s Alex Lyon, should he be sent to AHL Grand Rapids and need to clear NHL waivers.
Were the Red Wings to lose Lyon, Hutchinson would be a guy capable to taking over with the Griffins. On the other hand, if Detroit was opting to keep three goalies on the NHL roster in order to protect against losing Lyon on waivers, they could always do something like signing Hutchinson to a 25-game pro tryout deal with the Griffins to fill the gap. Goaltending depth is vital in today’s NHL.
Duff continues; I happen to think that the Red Wings are looking for a veteran to shepherd Sebastian Cossa in Grand Rapids, and given that Lyon is really in the mix for the back-up goaltender’s spot (for now at least), Hutchinson is an insurance policy of sorts.
