The Hockey News’s Jake Whitaker posted a set of shorter articles, first discussing Red Wings coach Todd McLellan’s take on 23-year-old Carter Mazur’s relative health and potential role on the team…
“The [added] weight observation is certainly there,” McLellan said. “He looks heavier, stronger. Hopefully, that helps him protect his frame. He’s had some serious injuries that have kept him out of hockey for a real long time, and we do think he can bring an element of tenacity to the club, that ‘hunt’ mentality that we’re really preaching.”
“We’ve seen that here in the first two scrimmages, and it’s still really early, but I’m anxious to see him throughout exhibition season,” McLellan continued. “We’re hoping for health for his well-being, and him being able to take his game to another level.”
As far as whether or not Mazur is able to convince the Red Wings coaching staff and management team headed up by general manager Steve Yzerman that he deserves to be in the Opening Night lineup on Oct. 9 has yet to play itself out.
“Is that going to be with us, or with the club below us? I couldn’t tell you that right now, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on him,” McLellan vowed.
And Whitaker also discusses coach McLellan’s take on James van Riemsdyk’s relative place in the lineup, or the lack thereof, as JVR deals with a family matter back home in Minnesota:
“When JVR gets back to camp, whether it’s going to be here tomorrow, the Red & White game, or back in Detroit, we’ll get him caught up on things,” McLellan said. “He’s a seasoned veteran, he’s played multiple different systems in the League….he’s a smart guy. We’ll be able to catch him up to the pace of the team. I’ll be his legs and his timing and all that type of stuff that’ll have to come back, but it’ll come.”
As far as final line combinations as Opening Night approaches, McLellan cautioned fans not to read too much into them, as they’re subject to change at a moment’s notice.
“We’re moving people around. I think we have to give the younger players every opportunity to experience being on a line with some veterans, and see how that goes,” he said. “But please don’t read into the lines and good luck guessing, because I don’t even know what we’re doing tomorrow, yet.”
