Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen explains why the Red Wings feel that all 8 preseason games are important in terms of establishing a roster hierarchy:
These preseason games are important to the Red Wings because [coach Derek] Lalonde has significant decisions to make about line combinations, goalie usage and which rookies will make the team. Everything matters when you are trying to land one of 16 playoff spots in a 32-team league.
“So it’s going to be a little bit of all of that,” Lalonde said. “We probably want to see some lines together, especially talking about how fluid it might be. We want to see some special teams together, but at the same time we want to give a really good look and we want to see those young players. So there’s going to be all of that going on. It gets a little complicated…And obviously we want to play our young guys a lot.”
That approach starts at noon today when the Red Wings host the annual Red and White Intrasquad game at noon today. These are important opportunities for players like Marco Kasper or Nate Danielson to make their case to earn a spot on the roster.
Continued; the Red Wings obviously need to determine who’s starting in goal as well.
