Detroit Hockey Now’s Max Smith guesstimates the relative positions of the Red Wings’ 2-goaltender NHL tandem (probably, anyway) and prospect 4 goaltenders on the team’s depth chart:
With [John] Gibson presumably taking on a similar starters workload to last year, the Red Wings signed Daniil Tarasov as the ostensible backup for the team at the NHL level. However, with Tarasov and Gibson both only signed through the end of the year, the Red Wings are likely to want to give Postava as much playing time as possible in the NHL.
Not to mention, Tarasov’s numbers as a backup are far from impressive. The 27-year-old Russian netminder has only had one season in the National League with a save % above .900, and that was in the 2023-24 season when he played 24 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets. For that matter, Tarasov has never recorded a GAA lower than 3.05.
Based on how the Red Wings split the net last year, a three goalie rotation doesn’t seem likely. [Michal] Postava could very easily supplant Tarasov as he did Cossa, but if he doesn’t the Griffins may find themselves with a logjam of their own in net. [Trey] Augustine made his pro debut with the Griffins late last spring and at the moment is projected to start the season in Grand Rapids.
However, Carter Gylander, the Red Wings longest tenured organizational netminder, made several strong starts for the Griffins when injuries struck Cossa and Postava last year, and may be ready to move beyond the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. The Red Wings did re-sign the 25 year old earlier this offseason to a one year contract.
Continued; I’d suggest that the Red Wings’ depth chart in goal is pretty fluid right now, but I have a little more faith in Tarasov than most. I hope that he brings the bright spots of his game together with a little consistency this upcoming season, and I believe that he has the tools to become a factor in Detroit’s crease.
