The Detroit Red Wings posted a trio of Tweets of note, first regarding one Ville Husso’s new mask…
The mask. 👌@HussoVille pic.twitter.com/wtKDrN80Ib— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 24, 2022
They shared a 24-second clip of training camp action…
Camp days. #DRWTC #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Rfu0uJBDCE— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 24, 2022
And, well, hello!
👋 pic.twitter.com/FDHJLn1xDb— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 24, 2022
DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills filed a morning article which discusses the “familiar faces” on the Wings’ roster who are intent upon making a difference during the upcoming season:
Lalonde is also pleased with the development of Michael Rasmussen, who recorded career-highs in games played (80), goals (15), assists (12) and points (27) last season.
“He had some confidence from his finish last year,” Lalonde said. “Probably rolled over into his summer and into camp here. Obviously, it is disappointing to lose (Andrew) Copp for the first part of camp, but it gave him (Rasmussen) some reps at center.”
When asked how he will utilize Rasmussen this season, Lalonde said the former 2017 first-round pick will likely get some time at multiple positions.
“I think we would like to see him at center,” Lalonde said. “That big body, obviously being able to defend with that size down low and get some defensive stops. He also has had some success at wing, so we have a little bit more luxury of some depth this year.”
Teams Lindsay, Howe and Delvecchio for September 24th:
Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a morning article in which he discusses the Red Wings’ adaptation to coach Derek Lalonde’s new systems of play:
“It’s very impressive,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said of the type of game Lalonde desires for the Red Wings to play this season. “Obviously, he’s coming from Tampa, so it’s a lot of things they’ve done. It’s kind of eye opening. We play against them quite a bit and they’re always very difficult nights.”
Many nights under Blashill’s tutelage were difficult nights for the Red Wings, and that’s not to suggest it was entirely of his doing. There was a lot wrong, a number of holes in the lineup that he was often left to put out on the ice.
In Lalonde, though, the players are seeing someone who’s coming in with a resume of success. He’s arriving from an organization with three consecutive Stanley Cup final appearances. That span saw the Lightning earning two championships.
It’s certainly lending a lot of gravitas to what he’s telling them. It lends credence to the ways he’s showing them how to be a more effective and efficient hockey team.
“There’s been great communication and he’s very organized,” Larkin said. “He believes in what he’s preaching, which I think is great walking into a new locker room. He’s made a great impression on the guys.”
The Athletic asked its beat writers to pick one player from each NHL team who might be traded over the course of the 2022-2023 season, and here’s Max Bultman’s pick for the Red Wings:
Olli Maatta: For the first time in a long time, there’s not a great answer to this question in Detroit, as the Red Wings finally appear to be looking more toward competing for the playoffs than rebuilding. It’s possible Tyler Bertuzzi could fit here if he and the Red Wings can’t agree to a contract extension, but if they do, then it gets pretty tough to find the answer on a team that wants to start playing meaningful games past the trade deadline. I picked Maatta because he’s on a one-year deal and the kind of shutdown defender contenders would surely value for a playoff run, but it’s kind of refreshing to not have an obvious name here. — Max Bultman
Continued; I would have stuck with Bertuzzi
I’m a little disappointed to report that Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman posted a lengthy interview with Red Wings defensive prospect Simon Edvinsson, but it’s behind a Swedish paywall, so I won’t be able to translate it for you.
Bjurman is here at camp and I have yet to say hello to him!
The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a story this morning which discusses Jakub Vrana’s relationship with new Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde:
Though Vrana has been with the Wings for 18 months, he only squeezed in 11 games after arriving at the 2021 trade deadline, and missed the first 56 games last season recovering from shoulder surgery. Vrana has 21 goals in the 37 games he’s played in a Wings uniform, and his ability to score sometimes seemingly out of nowhere registers with new head coach Derek Lalonde, who saw that in spades while an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Offense is tough to come by and you need some of those offensive playmakers,” Lalonde said Friday. “I came from a team where it did not take much for us to create offense, and it just helps with those guys, those elite finishers — you need them. That’s the reality of it, if you’re going to be successful in this league. We certainly have one in him.”
Coaches like a guy who can score, but love a guy who plays a complete game. That’s what the Wings need to see from Vrana, 26, and his response to their instructions just from the first day of camp to the second were an encouraging sign.
“In yesterday’s practice, we addressed some things, pointed out some things where he can be a little bit better away from the puck,” Lalonde said. “He’s impressive with the puck, certainly. Sometimes you know guys are skilled guys, but until you’re actually with them on the ice, you don’t get an appreciation of how skilled. Man, he’s got a special shot. He’s got some offensive tools that are very special. But, hopefully a little more accountable away from the puck. To his credit, I thought he was better today on the whole. He stood out with some effort and some compete. He had his nose in everything, the high-compete drills, the physical reps. He looked good.”Â
Continued; I’m with coach Lalonde. Vrana is a wonderful goal-scorer, but he needs to be better defensively to truly flourish.
A two-minute interview:
I’m going to post this because it’s my blog and I can post it even when things are silly.
Soup szn 🍜 pic.twitter.com/rmCkDxzfI5— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 24, 2022
The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted a fine set of second-day-of-training-camp observations, including the following:
If Day 1 of Red Wings training camp was about first impressions and setting a tone, the story of Day 2 might have been about intensity — headlined by a battle drill in the corner to end practice.
And though you might not have picked 5-foot-11, 176-pound Lucas Raymond to have been one of the standouts in that kind of drill, the Red Wings’ dazzling 20-year-old winger made it his own anyway. Going up against Dylan Larkin, Raymond had to find a way to outmaneuver Detroit’s bigger, faster captain one-on-one. But he did it, scoring twice in some of the most impressive reps of the day.
“I thought that was amazing,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “And Dylan got frustrated from it. That’s the type of compete you want to establish in practice. You want to have those just natural habits. And that practice, that drill was there for a reason, and Raymond produced very well in that, and that was very exciting to see.”
There’s not much more that can be said about Raymond’s exceptional rookie campaign — which is good, because it’s time to move on to what he might have in store for an encore.
And if he’s going to be able to blend his skill and smarts with that kind of competitiveness, that is indeed an exciting possibility for the Red Wings.
