The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s Brendan Quealy posted a recap of the Red vs. White Game on Sunday evening…

The sold-out crowd with only standing-room spots left available warmed up the usually frigid rink as Team Red bested Team White by a 6-4 final.

Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde called Sunday’s action “productive,” adding that on top of the standard 5-on-5 play, Detroit was also able to get some reps for the special teams as well as the 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 shifts.  Lalonde said he loved the pace of the game, which was formatted a bit differently from previous Red & White games.

“We weren’t trying to think outside the box,” Lalonde said. “We had this vision of how these three periods would look because we wanted to be productive and work on some things. It went smoother than I had anticipated.”

The Red Team led 2-0 after the first period on goals from Daniel Sprong and Tim Gettinger. Unfortunately, Matt Luff, who dealt with a broken arm last season, suffered what Lalonde called an “upper-body injury” late in the first period and was helped off the ice. He did not return to action.

Lalonde said the injury to the 6-foot-3 right-wing “did not look good.”

“He’ll be out for a little bit here, but fortunately there is nothing wrong with his head,” Lalonde said. “My first thought was a head injury, so I was obviously extremely concerned.”

Continued; DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills continues the narrative…

“Worked out a lot of things today,” Lalonde said. “Obviously got some 5-on-5 structure in and a ton of special teams. Probably a credit to (Red Wings assistant video coordinator) Jeff Weintraub, who is kind of our behind-the-scenes camp organizer. I thought that went extremely smooth. Then we introduced some 3-on-3 and 4-on-4, which is part of our process along the way. We’ll get some video off it and some reps. I thought some pretty good things and all in all, a productive day.”

Sunday’s scrimmage format consisted of three 20-minute periods, with the Red Wings focusing on 5-on-5 play in the opening frame, special teams in the second and situational play in the third before concluding with a shootout competition.

“It went a lot smoother than I had anticipated,” Lalonde said about the new-look scrimmage. “Pace of the first game and special teams, probably a credit to the staff.”

Defenseman prospect Simon Edvinsson said the scrimmage was a continuation of what has been a “really competitive environment” at Detroit’s 2023 Training Camp.

“Everyone was sharp,” Edvinsson said. “I think everyone has been sharp. It’s been high tempo. Everyone is competing for roster spots, whether it’s in the NHL, AHL or somewhere else.”

Mills also continues; and the 9&10 News’s Jayden Jagtani offers a video report from the game as well.

We haven’t spoken with Gostisbehere at camp yet, but John Keating was able to speak with him during his time in Traverse City:

John Keating is in Traverse City with the Red Wings at training camp and he caught up with new defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.#LGRW#RepDetroit | @FiegerLaw @JohnKeatingBSD pic.twitter.com/S48gtEdTdG

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) September 24, 2023

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a notebook article from the Red vs. White Game, and Kulfan duly notes that the competition between Alex Lyon and James Reimer for the back-up goaltender’s spot is alive and well:

If anyone stood out specifically, goaltenders James Reimer and Alex Lyon each made some good saves to keep goals off the board.

“Both of those guys had real strong days,” [coach Derek] Lalonde said. “It was real hard not to notice Reimer today, if you were asking me the one guy that stood out. It was him, the way he played, and Lyon had a good day too. Ville, also, he gave up the two goals early but looked real sharp.

“Part of the special-teams killing 100% over 16 minutes (of power play) was the goaltending. It was real sharp.”

The Wings return home after Monday’s practice and begin a string of eight exhibition games with a home game against Pittsburgh, the next phase before beginning the regular season.

“Getting our game in order,” Lalonde said of what needs to get done on the next two weeks. “We’ll have some decisions with personnel, and decisions on personnel on the special teams.”

Continued

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Red Wings reduce Training Camp roster by 11 

Fifty-seven players remain with Detroit ahead of first preseason game on Tuesday, Sept. 26 vs. Pittsburgh

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today assigned defensemen Andrew Gibson and Tnias Mathurin to their respective major junior clubs. Additionally, the Red Wings released forwards Orrin Centazzo and Cam Hillis from their professional tryouts and released forwards Matyas Melovsky, Israel Mianscum and Jake Uberti, defensemen Finn Harding, Jackson DeSouza and Connor Punnett, and goaltender Lukas Matecha from their amateur tryouts.

The Red Wings currently have 57 players on their training camp roster: 34 forwards, 16 defensemen and seven goaltenders. Detroit will continue practices in Traverse City, Mich., on Monday, Sept. 25 before opening its eight-game preseason schedule with a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.

The Free Press’s Helene St. James has posted an article regarding the Red vs. White Game, which Team Red won 6-4 over Team White, shootout goals included. As St. James notes, Wings coach Derek Lalonde felt that the scrimmage, which included 1 period of 5-on-5 hockey, 1 period of power plays and penalty-killing, 5 minutes of 4-on-4, 5 minutes of 3-on-3, and a 10-man shootout, was “productive:

Lalonde went with a different format in the scrimmage, using the first period for five-on-five play, the second period for special teams, and the third for situational play (three-on-three, four-on-four). Team Red dominated the first period, carrying play in their offensive end and banking goals from newcomer Daniel Sprong (from Joe Veleno and Elmer Söderblom) and minor-league Tim Gettinger (from tryout candidate Artem Anisimov).

The second period was divided up into four, one-minute power plays per team, done twice. Moritz Seider ran one unit with Larkin, DeBrincat, Perron and Shayne Gostisbehere, while the other red unit featured Jake Walman with Sprong, Jonatan Berggren, Veleno and Söderblom. Team white’s power plays had Jeff Petry with Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Robby Fabbri and Sprong; and Simon Edvinsson with Michael Rasmussen, Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper and Austin Czarnik. Those units, of course, will change during exhibition season.

“There were a lot of chances, which I liked,” Lalonde said. “The power play went 0-for, probably a little credit to some penalty kill, credit to some good goaltending. But all the power plays got a ton of looks and chances. If we went through a dry stretch like that during the regular season, we’d be happy knowing as long as you’re getting those looks on the power play, it’s going to go in. Guys looked comfortable in their spots.”

Continued

Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson and coach Derek Lalonde spoke with the media after the Red vs. White Game:

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted an article discussing Ville Husso’s status as the Red Wings’ goaltender, and the ways in which the team hopes to give him another 50-55 starts without burning him out this upcoming season:

“We plan on using him in a similar amount of games,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “It just felt like last year we pushed him into some games because of where we were with what we weren’t getting out of some of our depth at that position. I think we knew we probably overused him, maybe took him beyond his threshold. We have a plan on what the season will look like. It’s probably a day-to-day thing, but we foresee him (in) the 55, 56-58 range. Hopefully, we can manage it a little bit better than we did last year in the volume of when and where.”

That means managing the schedule better.

“How many games a week, smart about rest days,” Lalonde said.

Husso was the Red Wings’ most valuable player for much the season, the main reason they briefly climbed into a playoff position on Feb. 23. He was 23-13-5 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .907 save percentage at that stage.

After a pair of blowout losses in Ottawa prompted general manager Steve Yzerman to sell at the trade deadline, Husso wasn’t himself the final few weeks, going 1-6-1 with a 4.32 GAA and .839 save percentage.

“At the end I think I wasn’t on the level I wanted to be and needed to be,” Husso said. “The start of the year was good and I got to get a good start this year, too.”

Continued

Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon asks “unanswered questions” for the Atlantic Division’s 8 teams as the preseason approaches, and here’s what he has to say, I mean, erm, ask, about the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings: Are they still the second-worst team in the Atlantic? 

For the second consecutive off-season, the Wings brought in veteran players with the intention of improving right now. And, to be fair, there’s little doubt Detroit is moving in the right direction. 

However, the tough dynamic in the Motor City is it doesn’t feel like the team is yet ready to overtake any of the established playoff squads in the Atlantic, while the two teams just slightly ahead of them in the standings — Buffalo and Ottawa — appear more likely to make a leap forward based on an abundance of high-end talent. 

It’s entirely plausible the Wings will be a tough out this year; it’s just not clear how much ground — if any — they’ll actually gain in a tough division. 

Continued

The Hockey News’s Jason Chen posted a fantasy hockey preview for the Atlantic Division’s teams today, and he discusses whether each of the 8 teams are “trending up” or “trending down,” and which players might serve as fantasy hockey “hidden gems”:

Detroit Red Wings

Trending: Up?

There are still a ton of questions to be answered as the Yzerplan hits a pivotal inflection point. 

The Red Wings made a huge acquisition for a top-line goal scorer in Alex DeBrincat (42nd) and splurged yet again in free agency. There are a ton of new faces and some good talent, but how does it all come together? Of the teams in the Atlantic, the Wings have the broadest range of outcomes.

A breakout season from Lucas Raymond (136th, potential sleeper pick), getting Moritz Seider (184th) back on track to elite banger-league status (65th in banger rankings) and more consistency from Ville Husso (191st) will surely put them in the playoff picture. On the other hand, there’s a chance the roster just never comes together with too much crowding on the wings and blueline for anyone to really find their rhythm, and Husso is altogether unreliable. Other than DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin (38th), the Wings cannot be relied upon in fantasy.

Hidden Gem:

If taking a shot at a risky Wings player isn’t your thing, David Perron (167th) is about as reliable as anyone gets. He’s been remarkably consistent throughout his career, and you’re guaranteed to get around 50 points, 200 shots and 100 hits. He’s a multi-category contributor who will definitely be available in the later rounds, providing really great fantasy value, especially in banger leagues.

Continued; Perron posts 20-25 goals and about 50 points a season. He is indeed a safe bet.

So, it went well?

That was unusual. The 6-4 Red win over Team White = hiccuppy.

Shootouts, 3 on 3, 4 on 4, power plays and PK, only 20 minutes of "real hockey." It was essential for practice but not so entertaining for a real scrimmage.

And prayers for Luff!

— George Malik (@georgemalik) September 24, 2023

You can watch again here. And I hope that Matt Luff is okay, but I heard he was in a sling after suffering what is suspected by fans to be a separated shoulder.