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The Hockey News names its Red Wings ‘Mount Rushmore’

The Hockey News’s Ken Campbell has been discussing NHL teams’ “Mount Rushmore” figures via video missives, and today, he suggests that the Detroit Red Wings‘ “Mount Rushmore” consists of–including a current roster player–Gordie Howe, Nicklas Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman and Dylan Larkin.

I’m not sure I’d put Larkin on the Mount Rushmore over Ted Lindsay or Terry Sawchuk, but that’s just me.

The AP posts a Red Wings preview

The Associated Press has posted a Red Wings season preview, and it’s a little blocky, and it leans on the, “The Red Wings don’t have a superstar” line, but it’s decent enough:

What to expect

The Red Wings might finally break through and end the franchise’s longest playoff drought after losing a tiebreaker for the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. They bolstered an above-average offense by signing Tarasenko to a $9.5 million, two-year deal after he helped Florida win the Stanley Cup and retaining Patrick Kane with a one-year contract worth up to $6.5 million. Captain Dylan Larkin has a chance to be Detroit’s first player to score 30-plus goals in four straight seasons since Hall of Famer Henrik Zetterberg did it from 2006-09.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Averaging 3.35 goals, ranking ninth in the league last season, shows the team can score enough to win. The Red Wings should be a top-10 team on the power play for the second straight season. Detroit is deep up front and on the back end, giving Lalonde a lot of lineup options.

The not-so-good: Giving up 3.33 goals a game, a total ahead of just seven NHL teams last year, negates the team’s ability to win on a consistent basis. With all due respect to Larkin and Kane, Detroit lacks a superstar that most contending teams have on the roster. Husso had an injury-shortened season, causing concerns for a franchise counting on him.

Players to watch

The Red Wings made big investments in defenseman Moritz Seider ($60 million, seven years) and forward Lucas Raymond ($64.6 million, eight years) and desperately needs them both to become stars very soon.

Husso’s health is a big key. When the Red Wings have him on the ice, he increases their chances of winning with a 34-13-7 record.

Continued; we have no idea whether Husso will remain healthy over the course of the season, and that’s the big question mark in my opinion–goaltending in general.

Carter Mazur’s angling for a job on the big club, despite long odds

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a profile of Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur, who’s bulked up by `13 pounds and feels much more ready to compete for an NHL job this season:

If Mazur was playing for another NHL team, he might be favored to earn a roster spot. He’s coming off a quality season in Grand Rapids, including a strong postseason (Eight points in nine games).  But the Red Wings don’t have much wiggle room when it comes to roster room.

“I had confidence in the playoffs last year in the AHL, building off that and then adding that weight is a big factor in me not making the team or making the team,” Mazur said.  “It is a little thing but it’s something that really adds to my game. That’s how I play. I want to be heavy, I want to be physical. Even if I’m not 200 pounds I still think I can do that at 188. It adds a lot of confidence to my game and I feel very comfortable where I’m at.”

Mazur’s read on his situation is probably right on the money, because what the Red Wings really like about Mazur he offers a snarl and fire breathing to go with his scoring touch. He totaled 17 goals in 60 games, and added three more in the playoffs.  Mazur likely can be a 20-goal scorer at the NHL level. He projects to be a Tyler Bertuzzi type player,

“He’s obviously a bigger boy,” Detroit forward Joe Veleno said. “Not scared to battle in the corners and competes really hard. Always gives that extra effort. Just like that assist that he had the other night. He’s just kind of relentless on the puck, got some good skills in tight, got a good shot and he’s kind of built pretty thick.”

…

Mazur played with Marco Kasper in the AHL playoffs. They seem to fit well together, both are tough to play against. Both play prickly.

(Kasper’s) also gotten bigger and stronger, I can tell,” Mazur said. ” He’s a player that can really change the game on a physical side and offensive size. He’s using his speed pretty well. In the first preseason game he was a really standout guy. I thought he did all the little things the right way. He’s not making mistakes. He’s just a really good hockey player. ”

Continued

Prospect round-up: Kilpinen serves as 13th forward in Osterlunds IK loss

Of Red Wings prospect-related note this afternoon:

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Maximilian Kilpinen served as the 13th forward in Osterlunds IK’s 5-0 loss to Djurgardens IF, finishing -1 with 1 shot in 5:03 played.

He seems far removed from last season, when the 20-year-old scored 21 goals and 48 points in 43 games for MoDo Hockey’s J20 team.

Red Wings officially post rosters for tonight’s games vs. Pittsburgh, Buffalo

FYI:

ESPN’s Allen examines the Wings’ power play as it applies to fantasy hockey

ESPN’s Sean Allen examines the NHL’s power play units from a fantasy hockey perspective this afternoon, assessing the Red Wings’ special teams play as follows:

Detroit Red Wings

Forecasted team power-play stats: 63 goals in 273 opportunities: 23.1% (10th)

Team leaders in 2023-24:

Personnel changes: The team leader in power play points is gone, but another third-pairing power-play specialist is on the roster in Erik Gustafsson. Vladimir Tarasenko also brings a veteran presence to the advantage that could replace the departed Perron.

Notes: If the Red Wings deploy Gustafsson as a specialist, similar to how they used Gostisbehere last season, he could emerge as a surprise fantasy asset. Another name to watch is Lucas Raymond, who should play a significant role this season despite not being among last season’s team leaders.

Continued

Coach Lalonde on a relatively ‘hot seat’

The Score’s Kyle Cushman posted a “hot seat index” for the NHL’s respective coaches, ranking their “hot seat indexes” from 1 to 5, and here’s what he has to say about Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde:

Derek Lalonde, Detroit Red Wings

Hot seat index: 🔥🔥🔥

The Red Wings narrowly missed the playoffs in Lalonde’s second season behind the bench. Detroit enjoyed an 11-point bump to tie the Washington Capitals for the final wild-card spot, only missing out because the former had fewer regulation wins.

Though that’s positive year-over-year improvement, Detroit has now missed the playoffs in eight consecutive campaigns and hasn’t won a playoff round in over a decade. Young stars Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond have graduated from cheap entry-level contracts to big-money extensions. It’s time to take the next step.

After last season’s push, the Red Wings have to break into the playoffs to call the campaign a success. GM Steve Yzerman isn’t going anywhere and, with the roster’s core largely in place, a disappointing year will put Lalonde’s job at risk.

Continued; Lalonde’s on an expiring contract this year, so he will be coaching for his job.

Patrick Kane’s finally able to get in a full training camp

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with Red Wings forward Patrick Kane and coach Derek Lalonde regarding #88’s first full-participant training camp in several seasons:

“You can train as much as you want, but it’s different once you get into real games,” Kane said.

For those curious how Kane would look after re-signing with the Wings on June 30, and maybe age and the wear and tear of all these years finally beginning to catch up ― not to mention the hip surgery in the summer of 2023 ― well, Kane certainly hasn’t looked any slower. After an impressive 50-game stint with the Wings after signing a one-year contract in November, Kane has looked much where he left off.

“He’s had great energy,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “We’ve had two very productive camps the last two years, hence our really good starts. This one was designed to be a little bit harder, asking the group for a little more than last year. (I was) probably a little concerned about some of our older guys, but he’s pushed it. It’s a credit to having a full summer where his conditioning is.”

From the start of training camp in Traverse City in mid-September, Kane has said he feels good and credits the ability to train full bore this past summer as a key reason for his conditioning. Lalonde, too, has been impressed.

“He (Kane) just told me this has been one of the hardest camps he’s ever been in, and he said he feels great,” Lalonde said. “A little earlier to the rink, a little later leaving the rink. Some warmup and some cooldown, but I’m taken aback by where his conditioning is at. Good on him and a good sign.”

Continued (paywall)

Red Wings prepare for a ‘unique day’ in Detroit and Buffalo

The Free Press’s Helene St. James discusses the Red Wings’ unique preparations for tonight’s “split squad games” in a game-day notebook:

Derek Lalonde used his weekend well: Divvying up who would play where as the Detroit Red Wings face a rare situation Monday of playing two games at the same time in two different locations.

“Very unique,” Lalonde said Monday after the home-group’s morning skate at Little Caesars Arena. Patrick Kane will be among those who’ll play in that group against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in a game rescheduled from Saturday because the Penguins couldn’t fly. Another group will head to Buffalo to play the Sabres in a previously scheduled game.

“It actually works fine,” Lalonde said. “We get the two teams going. I don’t know if it’s ideal, six games in six days. It will be a little taxing on a couple guys who will do back-to-backs, or three-in-fours, but we’re pretty spread out, so it’s going to work. But we accomplished it where we beat them up so bad in practice, guys are begging for games. So it’s not that bad of a schedule coming up here.”

The Wings play again Tuesday in Pittsburgh, then Thursday at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friday at home against the Ottawa Senators, and Saturday at Toronto.

Lalonde and his assistants will coach Monday in Detroit, while Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson and his staff are in Buffalo.

Continued (paywall); Lalonde also continued his train of thought while speaking with DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills:

Continue reading Red Wings prepare for a ‘unique day’ in Detroit and Buffalo