Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen filed a subscriber-only article which discusses the Red Wings’ three-goalie system, with which the team will start its 2023-2024 season:
Yzerman has three varsity goalies because they give the Red Wings the best chance of qualifying for the playoffs. To have a chance to earn a playoff spot, they must squeeze every point they can out of backup goalie starts.
Last season, the Red Wings picked up nine wins in 26 starts with their backup goalies. The Red Wings’ Alex Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg picked up 21 out of a possible 52 points (40.3%). Starter Husso earned 59 out of a possible 112 points (52.6%). The Florida Panthers were 12 points ahead of Detroit for that final postseason spot. No. 1 Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky earned 51 out of a possible 98 starts (52%). Bobrovsky’s back-ups Spencer Knight and Lyon earned 41 out 66 (62.1%).
Those numbers illustrate why the Red Wings are going above and beyond to make sure their goaltending doesn’t hold them back. If the Red Wings earn a playoff spot, it will likely be by a point or two.
The original plan probably called for Reimer to backup Husso and then Lyon serving as the just-in-case goalie in Grand Rapids. Lyon would be called up in case of injury or if Reimer faltered. But the plan didn’t seem viable when the Tampa Bay Lightning lost Andrei Vasilevskiy for two months to an injury. It was speculated around the NHL that the Lightning would claim Lyon if the Red Wings put him on waivers to send him to Grand Rapids.
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