Month: October 2023

HSJ: Coach Lalonde wants Ben Chiarot to succeed

The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde believes that Ben Chiarot’s return from personal leave (his father passed away due to cancer) will reinforce the Red Wings’ lineup:

Chiarot, 32, finished last season with 19 points in 76 games, along with a minus-31 rating. That latter number is ugly, but plus-minus — a stat that gives a point to a player who is on the ice when an even-strength or shorthanded goal is scored, and minus a point if the opponent scores in those situations — isn’t solely reflective of an individual. And Chiarot plays a forceful game, maximizing his 6-foot-3, 232 pound size.

“Beating the Ben Chiarot drum, he is extremely valuable to us,” Lalonde said. “Even last year, I was fielding some questions on some of his underlying numbers to us. I think he is very valuable to us in a lot of ways.

“People are getting away a little bit from that plus-minus. I still think there is some value to it. He was culpable for some of it, but a lot of it was circumstantial.”

Continued

St. James posted a video of Lalonde’s remarks as well:

Preseason pre-game notes from DHN’s Robinson

Amongst Detroit Hockey Now’s Tim Robinson’s pre-game notes ahead of tonight’s preseason game vs. the Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 PM, NBC Sports Chicago, ESPN+, 97.1 the Ticket):

Tonight’s game is the first of three in a row and four in five nights to wrap up the preseason. The Red Wings are at Pittsburgh on Wednesday, at Toronto on Thursday and wrap up the preseason at home against the Maple Leafs on Saturday. ….

Ville Husso will get his second start of the preseason in net against Chicago. Michael Hutchinson, who’s on a pro tryout contract, will also see action. Sebastian Cossa also is making the trip. …

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde says Robby Fabbri (upper-body injury) is fine and should be available for Wednesday’s game at Pittsburgh. ….

Continued

Khan/HSJ: Michael Hutchinson hopes to maximize his opportunity to earn a contract in Detroit

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings pro tryout Michael Hutchinson, who’s trying to buck the odds to earn an NHL contract with the team (if not a two-way contract):

“I wasn’t expecting to be in this (PTO) situation,” Hutchinson, 33, said. “It’s nice to come to an organization where I was able to get 30 minutes in the other night and get the chance to play some more minutes tonight. For me it’s just coming here and enjoying every day and not putting expectations on anything. Coming here and doing my thing and whatever happens, happens.”

Hutchinson has appeared in 153 games for five NHL teams (Winnipeg, Florida, Colorado, Toronto and Columbus). He struggled last season with the Blue Jackets (4.21 goals-against average, .877 save percentage in 16 games) but has a career 2.93 GAA and .902 save percentage). He is well-traveled, having played for four AHL clubs as well over the past six seasons.

“As the summer was going on, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to take a PTO or anything,” Hutchinson said. “Just got a call the Monday before camp. Getting the itch to go on the ice, so I figured why not come here. I have an opportunity to get some exhibition game minutes in and I enjoy playing hockey, so I thought it would be a fun opportunity to get back on the ice.

“This offseason didn’t go quite the way (he and his agent) planned it, but it is what it is and you have to keep moving forward. That’s what I’ve been doing my whole career.”

Continued; the Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a video of Hutchinson speaking with the media as well:

Again, let’s be shocked that the Red Wings rank poorly in terms of their ‘top-6 center duos’

I’ve been back from the Traverse City Flu/return bug for all of a couple hours now, and I’m already sick of posting these lists again. Please let me know whether they matter to you…

Because The Athletic’s Harman Dayal ranked “Every NHL Team’s top-6 center duos,” and you should not be surprised that the Red Wings rank “below average”:

Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp

Contracts: Larkin $8.7 million AAV, eight years left; Copp $5.625 million AAV, four years left

Larkin has hovered just shy of the point-per-game mark the last two years. This could be the year he breaks through now that he’s got a linemate of Alex DeBrincat’s caliber. Larkin profiles like an average No. 1 center, but whether it’s Copp or J.T. Compher, the Red Wings are below-average in the second-line center position.

Copp has bounce-back potential as he was returning from abdominal surgery last season, but he was underwhelming, as his usual sturdy defensive numbers fell off a cliff while scoring a modest 42 points.

Long term, Detroit will be leaning on Marco Kasper and/or Nate Danielson to round out the top-six center group.

Continued; etc. etc. etc.

AP previews the Red Wings’ 2023-2024 outlook

The Associated Press posted a capsule preview of the 2023-2024 Red Wings’ outlook for the upcoming season:

LAST SEASON: Finished just under .500 in best season since 2016, the last year the once-proud franchise was in the playoffs, but still ended up in seventh place in the eight-team Atlantic Division. Captain Dylan Larkin had a career-high 79 points and matched a career high with 32 goals. Defenseman Moritz Seider and forward Lucas Raymond were solid in their second seasons. Husso emerged as a No. 1 goaltender.

STRENGTHS: Depth. Hall of Famer and team general manager Steve Yzerman made moves in free agency and via trades to add desperately needed talent at forward, on defense and in goal. The Red Wings potentially have more players with NHL experience than roster spots up front, on the back end and between the pipes. That has not been the case in recent years with the rebuilding team.

WEAKNESSES: Lack of a superstar. Detroit has many solid players and some standouts, but it lacks a dynamic player who can change a game and the chances the franchise can finally make the playoffs. The Red Wings haven’t had a 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2009. Larkin and winger Alex DeBrincat could potentially pass the benchmark.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The Red Wings might have enough talent to end a seven-year postseason drought, which matches the longest in franchise history (1971-77). Yzerman provided a desperately needed dose of hope by acquiring DeBrincat from Ottawa in July and signed him to a four-year extension worth about $7.8 million annually. While Detroit may have a better record than it did a year ago, the Motor City might have to wait at least another year to experience playoff hockey again.

Continued

Tweets of note: Detroit and Chicago’s rosters for tonight’s preseason game (8:30 PM on NBCSCH, ESPN+, 97.1 FM)

Here are the rosters for tonight’s game between the hometown Chicago Blackhawks and the Red Wings (8:30 PM EDT on NBC Sports Chicago, ESPN+ and 97.1 FM):

Tweet of note: Fabbri to return to play Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh

Per the Detroit Red Wings and Carley Johnston:

Duff on a Buchelnikov trade rumor

Earlier this morning, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a rumor regarding Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov being moved from SKA St. Petersburg to Admiral Vladivostok. I never quite know how to take these rumors from the rumor-happy Russian press, so let’s see what Bob has to say about the trade which would send Buchelnkov from Russia’s west coast to Russia’s easternmost KHL team:

Russian website SportExpress.ru is reporting that a major deal is on the brink of going down that would see Detroit Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov back playing in the KHL.

SportExpress is reporting that SKA St. Petersburg is close to completing a trade that would see the club land goaltender Nikita Serebryakov from Admiral. Considered among the top goalies in the KHL, the proposed price to acquire Serebryakov will be Red Wings 2022 second-round draft pick Buchelnikov, goaltender Sergei Ivanov and a significant sum of cash.

Witb Admiral since 2021, Serebryakov is showing a .920 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against average so far this season. He’s known in these parts because as a junior he was working with Michigan-based goaltending instructor Stan Matwijiw.

SKA was the top seed entering the KHL playoffs as the top seed a year ago. However, delivering their ouster in the Gagarin Cup semifinals was eventual champions CSKA, the team coached by former Red Wings star Sergei Fedorov. SKA is off to a terrible start to the 2023-24 campaign. With a 6-6 record through 12 games, the club sits in the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

Continued; as Duff notes, Buchelnikov has been playing for SKA’s farm team, SKA Neva St. Petersburg, and doing quite well in the VHL.

Getting back to where they belong

NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman has posted an article in which he discusses the ways by which the 8 Eastern Conference Teams that didn’t make the playoffs last season can rectify that particular issue:

DETROIT RED WINGS

Last season: 35-37-10, 12 points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Red Wings were third in the Atlantic Division as late as Dec. 6, but they lost six of eight (2-4-2) heading into the Christmas break to drop out of a playoff spot. They never were able to climb back and missed the postseason for the seventh straight season.

Biggest offseason change: The Red Wings hope Alex DeBrincat can be their first 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2008-09. The 25-year-old has scored at least 40 twice in six NHL seasons and had 27 in 82 games with the Ottawa Senators last season. Detroit traded forward Dominik Kubalik, defenseman prospect Donovan Sebrango and two draft picks, including a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, to the Senators to acquire him July 9 and then signed him to a four-year, $31.5 million contract ($7.875 million average annual value).

Why they could get in: DeBrincat becomes the centerpiece of an offense that got deeper with the offseason additions of forwards J.T. Compher, Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. Detroit certainly played like an improved team in coach Derek Lalonde’s first season, scoring more (2.89 goals per game last season, up from 2.77 in 2021-22) and allowing less (3.35 goals allowed per game, down from 3.78). DeBrincat should excel on a line with center Dylan Larkin, who set NHL bests last season last season in goals (32) and points (79). Combined with improvements from young players like forward Lucas Raymond, and defensemen Moritz Seider, 22, and Simon Edvinsson, 20, the Red Wings could end their postseason drought.

Continued; in my opinion, it’s going to take everything improving for the Red Wings to make the playoffs, from special teams play to scoring, defense, goaltending and of course luck with injuries.