Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wrote a subscriber-only story about the Red Wings’ hopes for one defenseman Albert Johansson:
“We feel he’s ready to help us,” [Red Wings coach Derek] Lalonde said on the first day of training camp in Traverse City. “…We want to see it in camp, but I just want a simple game, being able to transport the puck for us, being able to defend. And he did that at a pretty consistent level in Grand Rapids. ”
Not only do the Red Wings want Johansson to make the roster, he almost has to make the roster if the Red Wings want to keep him. Johansson is 23 with two seasons (128 games) of AHL experience. That means he is no longer waiver exempt. Yzerman has said, more than once, he believes Johansson would be claimed on waivers by another NHL team if he tried to send him to the minors.
Even before coming to North America, Johansson logged 141 games in the Swedish Hockey League.
The Red Wings openness about Johansson’s potential comes from the fact that it’s not a secret that it is decision time about his future.
Continued (paywall)
