The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan asks 10 pertinent questions of the Red Wings ahead of the start of training camp on Thursday:
▶ 5. Can Kasper, Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, Elmer Soderblom and Jonatan Berggren take further steps in their careers? It seems vital, since the Wings are banking on internal improvement. All these young players earned NHL opportunities last season and showed promise. If the Wings are going to move up the standings, all these players will need to continue to improve and flourish. Most of them will get key roles, play key minutes, and as their progress goes, so go the Wings in a big way.
▶ 6. Who will play with Larkin and Raymond? As noted above, Kasper thrived playing with these two last season. Copp, returning from injury, would make an interesting fit. Newly acquired James van Riemsdyk, with his style of play and effectiveness around the net, seems well suited. Soderblom and Berggren had chances last season and had some success playing on Larkin’s line. There are a lot of possibilities.
▶ 7. Is there a spot in the lineup for Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Carter Mazur, or any prospect? The defensive unit appears set, so for Sandin-Pellikka to make the roster, it would seem an injury (or trade) would have to occur. But as good a prospect as Sandin-Pellikka is, some seasoning in Grand Rapids might be best for him adapting to North American pro hockey. There is an extra forward spot available, but the Wings don’t ever want a youngster like Danielson, Mazur or Brandsegg-Nygard to be healthy scratches in the NHL if there’s ample playing time available to them in the AHL. Any of these young forwards would basically have to play well enough to take over someone’s job. It is possible.
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