FYI via hwcJay on Twitter:
Interview with @alexned_ is now live!
We caught up with Ned about his journey to the NHL, being traded by Carolina, why the Wings are surprising people this year, and his philosophy for life.
Episode brought to you by @hockeyfights and @doordash.
?: https://t.co/gLtZaTlppv pic.twitter.com/zTBSEhbR3z— Dropping the Gloves (@dropping_gloves) December 3, 2021
Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff praises Lucas Raymond’s maturity, poise and resolve this morning, noting that Raymond “is his own man”:
Raymond’s own assessment of his game also is supplying indications that he treasures being considered an all-around player above all else.
“I think my main thing is to try to go out there and skate real hard,” Raymond said. “I feel like if I’m playing with pace I get into situations with speed and I get out of them with speed as well and get closer to the puck and get the puck as much as possible.
“So I think that’s my main thing coming into games and practices.”
His learning curve is proving to be impressive. He’s a quick study but perhaps more importantly, is the first to admit that he’s a long way from having it all figured out.
“I’m trying to find my game and I’m still learning every day and trying to get better at the areas that are my weaknesses and always trying to improve my strengths,” Raymond said. “But overall, I’m just trying to be an offensive forward who you can count on defensively, who plays hard every night. I’m still working and going to find my identity as it goes on.”
I’m a little skeptical of this report, but Red Wings Prospects on Twitter notes that EHC Biel goaltender Joren Van Pottelberghe, who is now 24, is doing very well for the Swiss League team, and may or may not have battled his way back into the Wings’ future plans:
DET 2015 4th round pick Joren van Pottelberghe has quietly developed into a top goalie in the Swiss National League. The Red Wings still hold his rights and it seems like they may be interested in signing him at some point.
Source: https://t.co/7EemsWqCf0 pic.twitter.com/4VkqXKIgtG— Red Wings Prospects (@DRWProspects) December 3, 2021
The 6’3,” 215-pound Van Pottelberghe was drafted by the Wings back in 2015, and EliteProspects has his record as 16-7-and-1 over 25 games with EHC, having registered a 2.12 GAA and a .924 save percentage.
I’m not sure whether the Red Wings are really interested in him unless he’d be willing to play in the AHL.
NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika discusses the successes of the Red Wings’ trio of rookies, Alex Nedeljkovic, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, this morning:
[Nedeljkovic] is tied for the lead in wins among rookie goalies (seven) with Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins. Among those who have played more than six games, his save percentage is highest at .923, and his goals-against average is second-lowest at 2.58, behind Swayman (2.20 GAA in 11 games).
The best part? It’s still early, especially for Raymond and Seider.
“I’m trying to find my game, and I think I’m still learning, learning every day, trying to get better in the areas that are my weaknesses and always trying to improve my strengths,” Raymond said. “But I think overall I’m just trying to be an offensive forward who you can still count on defensively, who plays hard every night.”
[Red Wings coach Jeff] Blashill tries to strike a balance with Raymond, tempering expectations while giving high praise.
“I’m not going to get ahead of myself right now,” Blashill said. “Let’s see. He’s done a really good job so far. He’s a good player. There’s zero doubt. He plays the right way. When he’s been able to produce while also playing the right way, I think that’s the biggest key. … He doesn’t need to cheat to create offense, and so then he earns ice time.”
Blashill does much the same for Seider, praising his offensive instincts and swagger while not getting carried away.
“My thing with Moritz is, like any winning hockey player, just make sure that that offense comes in an efficient manner without big risk, especially on the back end,” he said. “I don’t know what his upside is offensively. I guess we’ll let him prove it on a night-to-night basis.”
MLive’s Ansar Khan is reporting from Friday’s Red Wings practice at Little Caesars Arena’s Belfor Training Center:
#RedWings practicing before tomorrow’s game vs. Islanders at @LCArena_Detroit
DeKeyser skating after being out 10 days and missing four games (COVID protocol). Veleno also back after missing three games (upper body injury). pic.twitter.com/eSjdiFUhIq— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 3, 2021
Joe Veleno is out there for @DetroitRedWings practice today. #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 3, 2021
#RedWings practice lines:
Fabbri-Larkin-Raymond
Veleno-Suter-Zadina
Namestnikov-Rasmussen-Erne
Smith-Rowney-Gagner
DeKeyser/Oesterle-Seider
Leddy-Hronek
Staal-Lindstrom pic.twitter.com/1QtgLQTkg3— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 3, 2021
Joe Veleno is back skating at practice. pic.twitter.com/9MgaG4PbOX— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 3, 2021
#RedWings power play units:
1. Fabbri (net front), Suter (bumper), Larkin-Raymond (flanks), Seider (point).
2. Rasmussen (net front), Erne (bumper), Hronek-Zadina (flanks), Leddy (point). pic.twitter.com/k6UAQrFROh— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 3, 2021
Good news:
UPDATE: The #RedWings have removed defenseman Danny DeKeyser from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 3, 2021
Red Wings Prospects on Twitter spotted this Tweet of note from TSN:
“You don’t have to look very far to see the big man in the net…”@CraigJButton kicks off the first edition of #WorldJuniors Watch with a closer look at ?? Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa: https://t.co/yuUPyPzQC6#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/bGkRGC7t0v— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 3, 2021
The 1:24 video can’t be embedded, but it’s available for viewing in the U.S. and Canada.
The Athletic’s Don Luszczyszyn and Sean Gentille are back with their weekly power rankings, and this week they’re surprisingly optimistic about the Red Wings’ playoff chances:
Record: 12-9-3
Last Week: 25
Dom rank: 19
Sean rank: 19Dom: No team has won me more money this year than the Red Wings — not even the Wild. So I unequivocally love them more than any other team right now. They’re better than people are giving them credit for as the team’s trifecta of rookies have done a great job plugging some massive holes. It might not be enough to make the playoffs in a deep East, but it’s a start to something good.
Sean: You saying “it might not be enough to make the playoffs” implies that it also … might be enough to make the playoffs. It’s not. The Red Wings are not going to make the playoffs. But — BUT — they’re probably the fifth-best team in the Atlantic, and the bottom of the Metro is a crater. Looks like a four-playoff-team division over there. So … yeah, maybe the Red Wings can make the playoffs.
Continued (paywall); I don’t think that the Red Wings will make the playoffs, but it’s fun to talk about.
MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a lengthy article discussing the Red Wings’ return to a margin of relevance due to the tremendous play of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider:
Seider, the defenseman selected sixth overall in 2019, was a lock to make the team after being named defenseman of the year in the Swedish Hockey League last season. Raymond, the right wing taken fourth overall in 2020, needed to excel in training camp and the preseason, and his performance in a home exhibition against Chicago, which dressed its best players, convinced coach Jeff Blashill.
“But even with that said, you just don’t know,” Blashill said. “Then you keep watching. I’m not going to get ahead of myself right now. He’s done a really good job so far. He’s really smart, and he’s been able to produce while also playing the right way. I think that’s the biggest key. That’s why he’s been so transferable. He doesn’t need to cheat to create offense. He earns ice time.”
Raymond’s terrific shot, crisp passing and overall hockey sense earned him a promotion to the top line with Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi early in the season. At 19, he has tremendous self-awareness.
“I’m trying to find my game and I’m still learning every day and trying to get better at the areas that are my weaknesses and always trying to improve my strengths,” Raymond said. “But overall, I’m just trying to be an offensive forward who you can count on defensively who plays hard every night. Still working and going to find my identity as it goes on.”
It starts with consistent effort.
“I think my main thing is to try to go out there and skate real hard,” Raymond said. “I feel like if I’m playing with pace I get into situations with speed and I get out of them with speed as well and get closer to the puck and get the puck as much as possible.”
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski evaluates the NHL’s award races this morning, so you know that Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider are mentioned in his Calder Trophy discussion:
Calder Trophy (top rookie)
Leader: Lucas Raymond, LW, Detroit Red Wings
Finalists: Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings; Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim DucksThe Calder Trophy race has been a wild one already. Preseason favorite Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens was demoted to the AHL and has a goal and an assist in six games since returning. Bowen Byram, who was in the top three here last month, saw his season interrupted after an upper-body injury. He returned to the team on Nov. 27.
Leading the pack is Raymond, the 19-year-old standout for the Wings who has 22 points in his first 24 NHL games. He was the rookie of the year choice for 60% of the voters we surveyed, playing a top-line role with top-line minutes (17:11 per game) for Detroit.
His teammate Seider is the clear second choice, getting the nod on 30% of the ballots. He has 16 points in 24 games and is playing the most minutes on average (22:20) of any rookie skater — and the Red Wings aren’t protecting him in the least, like other rookie blueliners were in their breakout seasons. A very viable candidate for the Calder, especially if Raymond’s top line with Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi cools down.
Zegras was the only other player to appear on the ballots. He was tied with Michael Bunting of the Leafs with 17 points, second overall behind Raymond. But two things that Bunting doesn’t have: He’s six years younger and has started hitting the highlight reel with McDavid-like frequency thanks to his innovative playmaking. And in some years, that can be all you need in the Calder race.
Two other rookies who were mentioned but not put at the top of voters’ ballots: Forward Dawson Mercer of the New Jersey Devils and Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, the latter of whom is trying to become a Calder finalist for the second straight season, which would be quite a quirky thing indeed.
Continued (paywall)