The Red Wings have substantial cuts to make to their roster to get it down to 23-man compliance by Monday at 5 PM, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen notes that the cuts will begin tonight, and will probably be announced tomorrow:
The Detroit Red Wings finish their preseason schedule tonight with a road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Decision-making about the team’s final roster could start minutes after that games is completed.
“We’ll probably start getting into even right after postgame tonight into tomorrow, a lot of moving parts, obviously so and some tough decision,” Lalonde said. “I think I’ve mentioned going into camp. I hope we sit here after the eight games with some very hard decisions and you guys have seen our young guys have done that to us. So something we’ll work through the next couple days. ”
Cuts will start tomorrow, and then NHL teams have until 5 p.m. to finalize their rosters. Among the decisions that GM Steve Yzerman has to make: Are the Red Wings still comfortable with keeping three goalies? Who is the winner of the preseason goalie competition? Also, is Yzerman willing to carve out a spot or spots for some younger players, particularly Marco Kasper?
As if the decisions weren’t tough enough, the Red Wings squandered a two-goal a third-period lead Friday in losing in overtime to Ottawa. Does this team need a push through a youth infusion?
“I really think our core has led in a good way,” Lalonde said. “But the push from some of those young guys has elevated the camp. “
Continued; pro try-out Austin Watson’s future hangs in the balance as well.
