Category: Uncategorized

Pump up the (shot) volume

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, forward Patrick Kane and defenseman Moritz Seider regarding the wide disparity in shots-for versus shots-against over the Red Wings’ first 10 games.

As Khan suggests, the Red Wings need to generate far more shots on opposing teams’ goaltenders while surrendering fewer shots against:

“I think we can get more pucks on net,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “I think the volume creates a trickle effect. We’ve had opportunities to get shots from the point, but I think sometimes it feels low percentage and so they pass up or they try to make a different play. But it’s usually the recovery of that shot that leads to that trickle effect. I’m talking about what we call the shot scramble, where you can get pucks to the net and then you have purpose in recovering it and it sets up a little bit more and it’s hard to defend.”

Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko are noticeably below their career shooting averages. Kane, who has one shot in the past three games, is averaging 1.6 for the season (3.29 career, 2.94 last season). Tarasenko is averaging 1.44 shots, about half his career average (3.02).

“It’s not spending as much time in our end,” Kane said. “Get to the net a little more, get some quicker decisions from the point, some shots through and hopefully get some traffic and shots that way. You’re not always thinking about shots, but sometimes when you can put more pucks to the net, you’ll give yourself a better chance to score. Even for myself, sometimes you come into the zone and you’re trying to look for the next-best play. Sometimes things open up a little more when you have that shoot-first mentality and you can see something after that.”

Continued

Not feeling good in the ‘Sour Rankings’

The Hockey News’s Tony Ferrari included the Red Wings in a set of “Sour Rankings” which highlight the bottom ten teams in the NHL, and Ferrari expresses concern about the Wings’ very mediocre 4-5-and-1 start:

Detroit Red Wings, 4-5-1, 9 points, 450 P%

How are you still here as well, Detroit? The Red Wings were everyone’s sweetheart last season. A group of veterans were thrown together with some young players in an unconventional rebuild that had some ups and downs. But they managed to stay in the playoff race until virtually the very last second. 

This year, the team is struggling to look functional consistently.

The good news is Lucas Raymond looks like he’s a star. Moritz Seider continues to prove he’s a pillar to build around on the back end. Simon Edvinsson has been impressive in his first extended stint in the NHL. They’ve received good goaltending from Cam Talbot (.913 SP) and Alex Lyon (.916). 

The rest of the roster hasn’t pulled their weight, though. Even typically reliable veterans, such as Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane, have been inconsistent. 

The Red Wings have a path to improvement, but they need to get their acts together quickly. 

Continued; it’s hard to argue with Ferrari, and coach Lalonde mentioned that Larkin is among the players who need to step up yesterday (though he has a lot of company at this point), so there’s that…

I’m not panicking over the Red Wings’ difficult start, but if they don’t get their acts together over the course of the next 13 November games, heads will have to roll, in terms of both player personnel and coaching staffs.

Leanin’ on Motte

The Red Wings practiced on Friday with Tyler Motte ready to return to the lineup from an upper-body injury, and after practice, the Hockey News’s Sam Stockton spoke with Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, forward Patrick Kane and Motte himself regarding #14’s return as it applies to stabilizing the Red Wings’ wretched penalty-killing unit:

When asked about Motte’s potential to provide the struggling kill a lift with his return this morning, coach Derek Lalonde replied,”I think he came here with a purpose to penalty kill.  He’s been good on it, wants to do it, takes a lot of pride in it, so yes, of course, we’d like to get him back in that rotation.”  Beyond just special teams, Lalonde lauded Motte’s vigorous presence, saying, “He’s not an overly big guy, but he plays with energy and pace.  He’s a guy that can give us some energy minutes, which we would like, and he’s done a really good job throughout his career on the penalty kill.”

One advantage for Motte as he looks to recover his rhythm upon his return is experience.  No, he hasn’t yet gotten many live game reps with the Red Wings, but having played for seven teams (including two different stops with the New York Rangers) over his career, Motte has seen and done just about all there is to see and do on an NHL penalty kill.

“I’ve seen and played in most systems on the PK,” Motte told The Hockey News back in October, before sustaining his injury.  “I think there’s always the small tweaks in systems and sticks and positioning and when to pressure.  And there’s also some of the terminology that’s always a little bit different.  When you’re trying to communicate quickly in the moment, sometimes the terminology gets mixed up.  You’re used to hearing one thing or saying another, and that just comes with reps.  I still feel pretty comfortable.  Obviously, throughout the pre-season and camp, you get opportunities to kill with a few guys, but not everybody together.  That’s some of the rep stuff that unfortunately has come now as the season’s here.  But I have full confidence in myself and the guys that we have to get jobs done.”

Patrick Kane—a long-time staple on the other side of the NHL’s special teams equation—has played with Motte in both Chicago and New York, so Kane is quite familiar with his game.  “I think he’s got a great stick, good skater, moves well, strong,” Kane said of Motte.  “One thing I’ve really notice on the penalty kill, I’ve noticed to start camp—especially against us, when we’re playing against him—he’s got a good stick, and he pokes it in at the right time and can either get the puck off your stick or deflect the pass. He’s still a threat to go the other way with his speed too. I think he’s had a great camp, and he’s a great addition to the team.”

Continued; at this point, the Red Wings have to make necessary adjustments to attempt to stabilize the PK. It’s just unacceptable to rank 30th out of 32 teams, regardless of the trajectory of the team overall.

Video: Larkin, Kane and coach Lalonde speak with the media after Friday’s practice

The Red Wings stuck to their revised lines and defensive pairings during Friday’s practice, and afterward, coach Derek Lalonde told the Wings’ media corps that Cam Talbot would be starting against Buffalo on Saturday (7 PM EDT on FanDuel Sports Detroit), with both Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Motte candidates to return tomorrow evening.

The Red Wings posted a clip of captain Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane and coach Derek Lalonde speaking with the media today:

Post-practice Tweets: Talbot starts vs. Buffalo; Tarasenko, Motte may return

The Tweets from Friday’s practice at the BELFOR Training Center were sparse, but the Red Wings head into tomorrow’s game vs. the Buffalo Sabres on an 0-2-and-1 streak, so the Wings will hope to take advantage of the Sabres, who play tonight vs. the New York Islanders.

After practice, the Red Wings’ coach spoke with the media…

Tweets from Friday’s practice: sticking to the recovery plan

The Red Wings hit the ice just after 11 AM on Friday at the BELFOR Training Center underneath Little Caesars Arena, hoping to snap their 0-2-and-1 winless streak as they host the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow (7 PM EDT start on FanDuel Sports Detroit).

Buffalo is hosting the New York Islanders tonight, so there’s going to be an impetus for the Wings to rebound from Wednesday night’s loss to Winnipeg while the Wings are playing only 3 games over the course of 8 nights. Buffalo also hasn’t played since a Monday night loss to Florida which snapped a 3-game winning streak.

Anyway…

As MLive’s Ansar Khan notes, the Wings have shaken up their forward lines (I believe they did so during yesterday’s practice)…

Red Wings-Jets quick take: Deviled Egg-laying made easy

The 4-4-and-1 Detroit Red Wings hoped to wrap up the first 10 games of their schedule on a high note, while facing an 8-and-1 Winnipeg Jets team which wanted to rebound from its only loss of the regular season.

Detroit came into the game on an 0-1-and-1 winless streak, and the team had to recall Austin Watson due to a “roster emergency” (Vladimir Tarasenko was ill).

On Wednesday evening, Detroit laid an egg, plain and simple. The Wings surrendered a 3-0 lead to Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor, who registered a goal and 2 assists against his hometown team in the 1st period alone, Detroit rallied thanks to a 2-for-2 power play to make it 3-2 going into the 3rd…

And the Wings got run over, losing 6-2 to Winnipeg, ending their first 10 games at 4-5-and-1.

That’s not a terrible record, but it’s not sterling, either, and not acceptable. Detroit’s going to have to get up for Buffalo and run them over this Saturday night, and lean into their 13-game November schedule.

Continue reading Red Wings-Jets quick take: Deviled Egg-laying made easy

Press release: Maatta on the move to Utah

The Red Wings probably maximized their return for Olli Maatta last night, sending the defensive defenseman to an undermanned Utah team for a third-round pick, clearing $3 million off the cap:

RED WINGS ACQUIRE THIRD-ROUND PICK IN 2025 NHL ENTRY DRAFT FROM UTAH HOCKEY CLUB IN EXCHANGE FOR OLLI MÄÄTTÄ

  … Määttä Has Skated in 691 NHL Games with Penguins, Blackhawks, Kings and Red Wings Since 2013-14 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today acquired a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for defenseman Olli Määttä.

Määttä, 30, has skated in seven games with the Red Wings during the 2024-25 season, recording three shots, seven blocks and three hits in 15:52 average time on ice. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound defenseman tallied 18 points (4-14-18), a team-high plus-14 rating and 14 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Red Wings during the 2023-24 campaign. Originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Määttä has totaled 177 points (40-137-177), a plus-75 rating and 162 penalty minutes in 691 games with the Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings and Red Wings, helping the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. He placed fifth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as a 19-year-old after picking up 29 points (9-20-29), a plus-eight rating and 14 penalty minutes in 78 games with the Penguins in 2013-14.

Prior to turning professional, Määttä spent two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights from 2011-13, helping the team earn two-consecutive OHL titles. During his major junior career, Määttä logged 70 points (13-57-70), a plus-34 rating and 55 penalty minutes in 115 regular-season games, in addition to 37 points (10-27-37) in 40 postseason contests. A native of Jyväskylä, Finland, Määttä has represented his country at three IIHF World Championships (2021, 2023, 2024), winning a silver medal at the 2021 tournament. He also made three appearances with Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Additionally, Määttä captured a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where he logged five points (3-2-5) in six games. Määttä competed in three-straight IIHF World Junior Championships from 2011-13 and served as an alternate captain at the 2011 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, where he collected four points (1-3-4) in six games.

Health update: flu is heck

Okay, I have been at least posting game recaps over the past week, but not much else.

Here’s what’s going on:

Aunt Annie and I are still sick, bluntly. I’ve spent more days in bed than not, and I’ve been trying to give you everything I can over the last week.

I’ve only started to feel better over the last two days, and I have a complicating factor in terms of “getting back to normal”–tomorrow we have to take Aunt Annie to Dr. Korotkin, her cardiologist, and her health will come first.

We’ll see whether it’s Tuesday or Wednesday before I’m “really back,” but it’s going to be soon.

I’ve missed doing this and I want to get back to health and get back to work ASAP. This has just been a miserable flu virus, affecting both my aunt and myself significantly, so we’re doing our best (both of us) to get better and get back to “our” normal lives.