As the Hockey News’s Sam Stockton notes, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman dismissed the notion that the team’s offseason signings will create roadblocks for young players attempting to make the NHL team’s roster during Yzerman’s media availability today:
Yzerman recognizes that prospects like Kasper or Edvinsson or Elmer Soderblom or Carter Mazur will arrive in training camp eager to prove they belong in an NHL lineup. Where some Red Wing fans may worry that those depth acquisitions are complicating young players paths to the NHL, Yzerman expressed confidence that the organization will find a way to incorporate any prospect that proves their NHL worthiness.
“Everybody wants to play,” Yzerman said. “Every young player that comes into training camp, whether they’re on an invite or a first-round pick, has something in the back of their mind that says ‘I’m going to show these guys something and just maybe if all goes well, I’m going to make that team.’ Every player does. It’s the natural competitiveness and confidence that good athletes have.
“For our younger players, if you’re ready to play, and you’re ready to play a significant role, we’ll figure it out. Nobody’s crowded out. Any time we’ve gone into a season leaving a spot open hoping a player’s ready to take it over, it’s a dangerous spot to be in. One, you’re not as deep, and you’re always gonna have injuries somewhere along the way, so you need the depth. Signing players to give you more depth is a good thing.”
To reinforce, this point, Yzerman cites the example of Lucas Raymond defying organizational expectations by proving he deserved a spot on the NHL roster out of training camp in 2021.
“Two years ago, we expected Lucas to start in the minors,” Yzerman recounted. “We had players signed, and we didn’t anticipate him making it, and then he was really good and we kept him. We’ll figure it out if we have a player that is too good for the minors. That’d be my message to our young players.”