Month: December 2024

The Red Wings are ranked 28th overall in TSN’s latest “Power Rankings,” and at this point, it feels like pundits are just using the Power Rankings format to send pot shots the Red Wings’ way instead of simply offering valid criticism of the team’s disappointing start. That’s certainly the case for Daily Faceoff’s “Power Rankings” this week:

26. Detroit Red Wings

Record: 10-11-3, -13
Last Week: 26th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 24th
Scott’s Rank: 27th

Scott [Maxwell]: So what exactly is the next move for this Red Wings team going forward? I think the easiest decision comes with a change behind the bench, but it feels like they need to do way more than that to turn around this team. I mean, how bad does it need to get before Steve Yzerman’s seat gets warm? It really is an awkward position for Detroit to be in because firing one of your franchise greats feels like an easy way to skewer his reputation.

Hunter [Crowther]: Yzerman’s seat should be a lot warmer. J.T. Compher was a bad contract, bringing Patrick Kane back was a mistake, and you have a bottom-tier offense, averaging just 2.63 goals per game. Somehow, bringing in a 37-year-old Cam Talbot was one of the better offseason moves he made. Just fire Derek Lalonde and bring in one of Jay Woodcroft or Todd McLellan, or they can bite their knuckles and bring on Joel Quenneville and the s–t storm that will come with it. You may have your personal feelings about Quenneville and his inaction after learning one of his players was allegedly sexually assaulted, but now that he’s been reinstated into the league, eventually one of these team executives is going to be desperate enough to hold onto their own job to bring him behind their bench in an effort to win.

There is nothing awkward going on with Steve Yzerman. His seat is not “hot,” it’s insulated. He is the GM for life, and I do not believe that he’s going to be desperate enough to turn to Quenneville. I’m certain that he’s uncomfortable right now, but as long as the Ilitches own the team, he has job security.

It’s up to him to act in the team’s best interests when he feels the time is right to act deliberately and decisively, and that is that.

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS RECALL SEBASTIAN COSSA FROM GRAND RAPIDS UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS

  … Detroit Places Alex Lyon on Injured Reserve Retroactive to Nov. 27 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled goaltender Sebastian Cossa from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. Additionally, the Red Wings have placed goaltender Alex Lyon on injured reserve retroactive to Nov. 27.

Cossa, 22, has posted a 9-4-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average, a 0.925 save percentage and one shutout in 14 appearances with the Griffins to begin the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-6, 222-pound goaltender spent the entire 2023-24 campaign with the Griffins, logging a 22-9-9 record with a 2.41 goals-against average, a 0.913 save percentage and two shutouts in 40 regular-season games. Cossa also finished 5-4 with a 2.72 goals-against average and a 0.900 save percentage in nine Calder Cup Playoff games, helping the Griffins reach the Central Division Finals. Selected by the Red Wings in the first round (15th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Cossa has compiled a 32-14-10 record with a 2.49 goals-against average, a 0.911 save percentage and three shutouts in 57 AHL games with the Griffins. He also showed a 26-16-4 record with a 2.56 goals-against average, a 0.913 save percentage and four shutouts in 46 appearances with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in 2022-23, representing the Western Conference at the 2023 ECHL All-Star Game. 

Prior to turning professional, Cossa spent three seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings from 2019-22, posting a 71-16-7 record with a 2.12 goals-against average, a 0.921 save percentage and 14 shutouts in 98 appearances. Cossa backstopped the Oil Kings to a WHL championship in 2022, earning a place on the Central Division’s First All-Star Team. During the 2020-21 season, Cossa authored a 17-1-1 record and led the WHL in goals-against average (1.57) and save percentage (0.941), while tying for the league lead with four shutouts. Cossa also played three seasons with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers in the Alberta minor hockey ranks from 2016-19, earning a league championship in addition to Top Goaltender and Most Valuable Player honors in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League in 2016-17. On the international stage, Cossa won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording a victory in his only appearance at the tournament. The Hamilton, Ont., native also played in two games with Canada White at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted a column discussing 5 Red Wings-related thoughts this morning, and here’s his most positive take:

If there was a bright spot Sunday, it was probably the play of two Jonatan Berggren and Marco Kasper, the youngest Red Wings. Kasper had two assists, and while his game will always likely be more about winning races and puck battles, it’s significant to see him getting rewarded on the scoresheet for some of that.

In particular, Vladimir Tarasenko’s third-period goal (a go-ahead goal at the time) came on a slick play by Kasper through the neutral zone, corralling a pass and then maneuvering for a controlled entry and drop-off to Berggren rather than a dump-in. That’s something the Red Wings have needed more of, and it resulted in a beautiful setup by Berggren for a classic Tarasenko finish.

The play by Berggren, a cross-ice feed across the slot, was a sign that his confidence is returning, too — which makes sense after he scored on a big rebound in the first period for his fourth goal in the last 10 games. Sitting this deep into the season with just four goals and six points still certainly isn’t ideal for a player whose biggest contributions are supposed to be on the scoreboard.

But the chances are coming, and increasingly, they’re ending up in the net.

Continued (paywall)

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a morning news column in which she discusses the Red Wings’ concerns about both goaltending and their atrocious penalty-killing unit:

The other [issue] is that it doesn’t matter who is in goal if the Wings can’t get their penalty kill sorted. On Sunday, the Vancouver Canucks scored twice during overlapping power plays en route to a 5-4 victory in overtime. Now the Wings head to Boston for Tuesday’s game against the Bruins bruised by two losses that both can be blamed on the penalty kill. It gave up two less than a minute apart in the second period, both to Jake DeBrusk; the first during a 5-on-3 Vancouver power play and the second during a regular one.

“Five-on-three, they get a good tip on it,” Lalonde said. “Then the second one, it’s just a missed clear. Those are the frustrating ones. Because a lot of it has not been structure of late. We miss an easy clear and then we get outmuscled at the net. Here we are, giving up two. 

“That wasn’t structure today. It was a missed clear, and I mean, Lucas Raymond is going to be an All-Star-type player, and he misses a clear. We’ll give him the message, but that’s just execution. It’s the frustration of where the penalty kill is at. It’s finding a way to sting us.”

The Wings gave up three goals during penalty kills in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils, and needed overtime to salvage a 2-1 game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday after giving one up late during a penalty kill.

“It’s just the details,” Dylan Larkin said after Sunday’s mishaps. “You give a power play like that a 5-on-3, it’s not good. They have special players over there. I think we just keep battling, and we have to stick together on it. I thought we did a good job limiting their chances, but it’s the details again. We have to dig ourselves out of that hole on the penalty kill and it’s from the guys in the room.”

Continued (paywall)

NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale posted a column in which he discusses the Atlantic Division’s best rookies, and he names Marco Kasper the Wings’ best first-year player:

Marco Kasper, F, Detroit Red Wings: Kasper has been getting fourth-line duty of late, centering left wing Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren. The 20-year-old (6-1, 183), chosen No. 8 by the Red Wings in the 2022 draft, has sevem points (two goals, five assists), two power-play goals and averages 14:44 of ice time in 20 games. He also ranks tied for fourth on the Red Wings in takeaways (seven), is sixth in hits (32), and has blocked 12 shots.

“He’s got a good toolset,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “He’s a good skater. The thing I like the most is how competitive [he is]. He uses his body really well. He’s a worker and it’s impressive to see.”

Continued; Kasper may not be posting a ton of points, but he drives play, which is essential, he has a tremendous work ethic, and he makes those around him better.

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the QMJHL, Rudy Guimond spent his first game in the Moncton Wildcats’ lineup, but he backed up Jacob Steinman on Sunday as Moncton won a 3-2 decision over the Cape Breton Eagles;

And in NCAA Hockey, Trey Augustine was the back-up in the Michigan State University Spartans’ 2-0 win over Lindenwood on Sunday. Captain Red Savage finished even with 1 shot and a 1-for-2 faceoff record for Michigan State.

The Grand Rapids Griffins’ relatively consistent run continues, with the Griffins winning a 6-4 decision over the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday evening:

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 6 vs. Cleveland Monsters 4

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Griffins tallied a season-high six goals in their 6-4 win against the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday at Van Andel Arena. 

The Griffins’ victory snapped the Monsters’ franchise-record 10-game winning streak. Joe Snively (2-1—3) and Dominik Shine (1-2—3) both secured three-point campaigns while Nate Danielson (1-1—2) and William Wallinder (0-2—2) tallied two-point outings. Danielson increased his point streak to four (1-4—5). Tory Dello and Antti Tuomisto both earned their first goals of the year and goaltender Sebastian Cossa saved 29 shots to maintain a .925 save percentage and a 2.21 goals-against average. This is the first time the Griffins have been atop the Central Division in December or later since the 2018-19 season. 

Dello gave the Griffins the early lead with his first goal as a Griffin at 7:12 in the first frame. Tim Gettinger fired a pass to Dello at the blue line and he sniped it past Zach Sawchenko. However, the Monsters scored a goal of their own from Denton Mateychuk just 13 seconds later. Grand Rapids took its lead back at 11:30 when Shine found the back of the net.Danielsondished the puck to Shine in the slot who buried the chance. Cleveland evened the score at two with 6:22 to play in the first courtesy of Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm, but with three seconds remaining in the frame, Snively found paydirt on a power-play goal to give the Griffins a 3-2 lead entering the second.

The Monsters kicked off the second period with a tally from Trey Fix-Wolansky at 2:10 to make it 3-3. The Griffins quickly jumped back on top 4-3 at 4:42 with Snively’s second goal when he sent the puck past the pads of Sawchenko. Grand Rapids earned its first two-goal lead when Tuomisto buried a slapshot from the top of the right circle at 6:35. The scoring run continued as Danielson secured the Griffins’ sixth goal of the contest with 4:24 left in the second. 

Grand Rapids maintained its 6-3 lead until Cleveland pulled Jet Greaves and Luca Del Bel Belluz scored with 3:16 remaining. The Monsters kept the extra attacker on, but the Griffins’ defense held strong as they skated off with a 6-4 win.

Continued; the Griffins also posted a photo gallery, a highlight clip and a post-game interview clip:

The Detroit Red Wings lost a difficult 5-4 overtime decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday afternoon, and the 10-11-and-3 Red Wings will now embark upon a stretch in which they play 4 of 5 games away from Little Caesars Arena, including games at Boston (Tuesday), at Ottawa (Thursday), at home vs. Colorado (next Saturday), then at Buffalo (next Monday) and Philadelphia (next Thursday).

In the the middle of the road trip, the Wings play a home game against the high-flying Avalanche, so the next 5 games aren’t going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

On Sunday, the usual chinks in the armor surfaced: the Red Wings’ penalty-kill wasn’t good enough, the fact that the Red Wings are penalty-prone hurt the cause, and while the Red Wings were resilient, rallying from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to take a 4-3 lead, Detroit could not keep their lead late in the 3rd period, and when overtime took place, a missed “man-on-man” exchange yielded the game-winning, hat trick goal for Jake DeBrusk.

The fact that the Wings lost Cam Talbot early in the 2nd period to a lower-body injury didn’t help the Wings’ cause, but the team still looks incredibly fragile, they aren’t quite physical enough, and their tendencies to make catastrophic mistakes are all concerning.

For the Canucks, Sunday’s win was an exultant moment, as they told VancouverCanucks.com’s Lindsey Horsting…

Continue reading Red Wings-Canucks wrap-up: Accentuating fewer and fewer positives

The Fourth Period reports that the “Red Wings GM [is] looking at making changes,” and this news should surprise no one:

Like several teams out there, such as the Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames, the Red Wings are believed to be in the market for a young, second-line centre, in addition to a top-six scoring winger and upgrades on the blueline.

It is unclear whom the Red Wings are targeting, as management keeps information tight to the vest, but it seems clear Yzerman is exploring his options to improve his team’s position.

…

Detroit also ranks last in the NHL on the penalty kill, an area captain Dylan Larkin told reporters on Saturday is a major concern and their inability to manage their PK minutes and shifts has penalized them further.

“We don’t do that well enough, and it costs us,” Larkin admitted. “When you’re tired, you’re giving the other team’s best players looks.”

Another unsuccessful campaign may also result in a coaching change, as rumours over Head Coach Derek Lalonde’s future have recently popped up.

Lalonde, who is in the final year of his contract, was named the 28th head coach in franchise history on June 30, 2022 after spending four seasons as an assistant coach with the Lightning.

Though Joel Quenneville has been linked as a possible candidate to replace Lalonde, multiple league sources have suggested to TFP that the Wings could pursue former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft as an option if the Wings make a change behind the bench.

Wings Associate Coach Bob Boughner, who joined Detroit after serving as Head Coach of the San Jose Sharks, could be instilled as Interim Head Coach if a change occurs mid-season, though some chatter suggests Boughner may also be a casualty if Detroit reshapes its coaching staff.

No surprises here.

The Detroit Red Wings’ color commentator more or less summarized my take on the month to come for the Red Wings: Mickey Redmond suggested that “the window is closing” to turn things around, and there’s a simple reason for that.

Detroit plays the next 4 of 5 on the road, and those games include away games against Boston, Ottawa and Buffalo, all divisional rivals, before a game in Philly, and a home game vs. Toronto…

Detroit plays the Flyers, Maple Leafs and Canadiens twice this month, and the Capitals and Penguins once, and all of those Eastern Conference games are opportunities with which to earn points to catch up with the 10-11-and-3 Red Wings’ divisional and Wild Card rivals.

But if they do not succeed in terms of their 7 divisional games and 11 of 13 Eastern Conference-foe games, the window may very well shut upon their playoff chances.

The path toward success is narrow, especially with the current roster, but if the Red Wings are able to battle through their penalty-killing struggles, and if they get some luck in the health department (with all due respect to Alex Lyon and Ville Husso, Cam Talbot’s been spectacularly consistent), they still have the opportunity to succeed and get back into the playoff mix at least with the current coach and players behind the bench and on the ice, respectively.

If the Wings do not embrace their opportunities, then changes will be needed, and needed urgently. And the longer that the team struggles, the greater the magnitude of the necessary changes will be.

Ultimately, if the Red Wings’ management team chooses not to act until their hands are forced, GM SY and the pro scouting department have a couple of weeks with which to tell the coaches and team to impress the management–or else changes will be inevitable.

For now, there is still hope. But the window will indeed close at the end of this month, and if nothing is done to rectify a struggling team’s situation, we will know that this team is simply not destined to satisfy the expectations thrust upon them.