Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wonders aloud whether Albert Johansson did enough in his NHL debut to play on Monday night vs. the Rangers, regardless of whether Jeff Petry is ready to return from his “upper-body injury”:
“As a forward, it’s good when you don’t notice a D,” [forward Andrew] Copp said. “It’s probably a good thing. So he was good back there for sure.”
The 23-year-old Swedish defenseman, a left shot, logged 11:57 on 18 shifts in a 3-0 win against the Nashville Predators. He was part of a defensive effectiveness Saturday that the Red Wings are trying to achieve on a regular basis this season. He had two hits and one blocked shot. Goalie Cam Talbot boasted 42 saves and Detroit blocked 31 shots.
Johansson got his chance because coach Darek Lalonde scratched Erik Gustafsson.
“Solid. Made some really simple, nice plays with the puck,” Copp said of Johansson who comes to the NHL with 119 games of AHL experience. He logged 141 games in the Swedish Hockey League.
Continued; I agree with Copp–it was good that Johansson faded into the woodwork so regularly, because you rarely see a defenseman integrate so seamlessly into the defensive corps. If the Wings want to use Johansson, he’s ready to go.
