The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a profile of Alex Lyon this morning, discussing the goaltender’s level of self-confidence as he attempts to earn the #1 or #2 job in Detroit’s crowded crease:
Alex Lyon knows what to do: Always be ready.
The thoughtful, well-spoken Minnesotan is in a familiar position for this time of year, having to fight for a role amid a crowded field. But the goalie’s résumé is padded by the performance he delivered last season for the Detroit Red Wings, when he rose from little used third-stringer to the top of the goaltending depth chart.’
“For sure there’s more confidence,” Lyon said this week. “Also, I’ve been on one-year deals for a long time so being back in a place where there’s a little bit of comfortability is something that I haven’t really experienced for a while. I’m happy to be here and am just really looking forward to the season and trying to vindicate what happened last year.”
…
Lyon didn’t even play the first five weeks of the season, until he was cast into the fray during the Global Series games in Stockholm when Husso returned to Detroit to be with his wife after she gave birth to their first child. That was in November. By the end of December, Lyon was starting the majority of games, reinforcing the mantra he adopted during a decade spent mostly in the minor leagues: Always be ready.
“It’s been my whole career,” Lyon said. “I’ve had to work for every inch that I’ve gotten. My approach remains the same. Coming off last year, I feel a bit more comfortable in the NHL and I’m just trying to build on that confidence. Being calm is really important. I’m approaching this to really hit the ground running when the season starts.”
Continued (paywall)
