Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wondered aloud whether Red Wings defenseman Anton Johansson’s 4-assist performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday might have swayed coach Todd McLellan’s hand, with Detroit’s coach considering keeping Anton around at the NHL level.
Here’s what McLellan told Allen:
“We feel real good about our depth,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “. . .there are players who have elevated their stock, for the lack of a better term, and Anton is one of those.”
The second issue is the Red Wings haven’t yet settled on how many defensemen to keep.
“Will we carry seven or eight?, ” McLellan said. “That’s a question that we internally have to continue to discuss.”
After sending veteran defenseman Jacob Bryson to Grand Rapids, the Red Wings now have Jacob-Bernard Docker, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder and Johansson now competing for two or three positions.
The Red Wings’ televised game tonight (7 p.m.) and Saturday’s home game are important for this group.
Coach McLellan really likes Johansson’s pluck and resolve, but Allen duly notes that the Red Wings won’t keep Anton around to sit, and the fact that both the younger Johansson and Axel Sandin Pellikka can clear waivers = reason to send them down to keep William Wallinder, who’s no longer waiver-exempt:
“He has joy for the game,” McLellan said. “(Anton Johansson) loves being out there smiling. He brings an energy that kind of rubs off on other people.”
