The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs last night by a 4-3 score to close out their preseason at 5-2-and-1.
This morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a set of observations about the Red Wings’ preseason play, and here are two of them:
Back end looks stronger: Lalonde said Friday that none of the seven NHL defensemen — Moritz Seider, Jake Walman, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry, Shayne Gostisbehere, Justin Holl and Olli Määttä — the Wings came into camp with separated themselves in a negative way. Seider and Walman were the one constant pairing throughout preseason, but the second pair projects to feature Chiarot and Petry. Lalonde has said Shayne Gostisbehere is the one defenseman they’re comfortable with playing on his off hand, so he could be on the third pairing with either Määttä or Holl.
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Nate Danielson looks like a top prospect: The team’s top pick (at No. 9) from this summer’s draft played his way into five preseason games, producing two goals, two assists and a plus-one rating; he performed so well he got looks centering NHL wingers. This has been a terrific learning experience for the 18-year-old, giving him insight to what it is like to play against men. The Wings can come away pleased with the early showings for Danielson, who was drafted for his 200-foot game. Sure, it would have been amazing had the Wings had even the good fortune to pick third and get their hands on ex-Wolverine Adam Fantilli, but Danielson looks like Yzerman made a really good choice.
St. James continues; what are your observations about the Red Wings’ preseason?
