Fox News is not my most trafficked-upon website (no judgment if it’s your favorite one, we all find our news somehow), but this morning, Paulina Dedaj posted an Atlantic Division preview, and it’s my job to share the news with you, so here we go:

DETROIT RED WINGS : The Red Wings haven’t made a playoff appearance since 2016, and the last time they won a playoff series was back in 2013. Despite having 11 Stanley Cup championships, the franchise has found itself in a drought over the past few seasons. 

Detroit’s biggest issue last year was a lack of production. It ranked second to last in goals scored with just 125. During the offseason, it added forward Pius Suter, who played his first NHL game with the Chicago Blackhawks last season. It also signed veteran forward Carter Rowney, who is coming back from injury, and center Mitchell Stephens, who was acquired in a trade from the Lightning. 

The Red Wings also acquired Calder Trophy finalist Alex Nedeljkovic from the Carolina Hurricanes and defenseman Nick Leddy, two significant additions for the struggling Red Wings.

Continued; the Wings’ secondary scoring or lack thereof is my main concern for this upcoming season, with special teams coming in at a close second.

Inside Hook’s Paul Lukas reports that the NHL is tweaking its 32 teams’ jerseys this season, and Lukas, the “Uni Watch” stalwart, shares a sneak peek at the Red Wings’ new jersey:

One change that’s big in scope but subtle in execution is the introduction of a new raised-embroidery technique on jersey crests. The league and Adidas are simply calling it “dimensional embroidery,” and it appears to be similar to puff embroidery, which is commonly used for MLB cap logos.

And Lukas reminds us that the Red Wings always do one thing during the preseason:

It’s an annual rite of autumn: The Red Wings use straight block lettering for the player names on the back of their jerseys for their preseason games (instead of the more familiar vertical arching), prompting lots of outraged emails flooding your friendly uniform columnist’s inbox. Don’t worry, folks — they do this every year. The vertical arching will return when the regular season begins.

An annual rite of autumn: As usual, Red Wings using straight/block nameplate font in preseason (left). They'll restore the familiar vertical arching (right) when the regular season starts. pic.twitter.com/I7i7Ninf51

— Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) October 4, 2021

Meanwhile, several of the red strokes on the Wings’ jersey crest now pop a bit more, thanks to the new dimensional embroidery:

USA Today posted a pair of lists which include the Detroit Red Wings this morning, with the Wings ranking very low on Mary Clarke’s “Watchability Rankings“…

31. Detroit Red Wings: There was hope that with some key offseason additions, the Red Wings would make a stride or two out of the NHL’s basement this season. However, with the loss of Jakub Vrana to injury for at least four months, don’t expect much from Detroit this year.

And USA Today’s “For the Win” blog, which Clarke writes for, asks one question of each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams:

Detroit Red Wings: What can Moritz Seider bring to the table?

The Red Wings are set to be in the NHL’s basement for another year, but there are some bright spots to look forward to. Namely, 20-year-old defenseman Moritz Seider, who lit up the Swedish Hockey League last season.

Seider won’t move the Red Wings into playoff contention, but the 2021-22 season will be a good chance for him to show his stuff at the NHL level and get Detroit fans excited for the future of their team.

I’m going to be watching the Red Wings no matter what, so I’m rooting for Seider…and for a more competitive team this season.

The Athletic ranked the NHL’s 32 starting goaltenders this season, and Alex Nedeljkovic comes in at #20 on their list:

20. Alex Nedeljkovic, Red Wings: Unranked prior to this season

Despite being a Calder Trophy finalist, despite being a star at virtually every level he’s played at, the Hurricanes chose to move on rather than pay the restricted free agent.

Nedeljkovic was dealt to the Red Wings and should quickly learn he’s not behind the Hurricanes’ defense anymore.

Just call Jimmy Howard.

“I really like Nedeljkovic. I like the way he plays,” a former goalie said. “He seems to read the play really well, he’s always a step ahead. In Detroit, it’s going to be a lot tougher than Carolina. He’s a solid starter, though.”

“He’s the best puck-handling goaltender in the game, and he gets less shots because of it,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “He ran big numbers last year and he wins everywhere he goes. He’s just not a huge man.”

Most panelists thought GM Steve Yzerman made a great bet acquiring Nedeljkovic.

“I like him, I liked him in the AHL and obviously he couldn’t have been asked to do more last season. He needs to prove it over a longer time span to get a higher grade, but I think it’s possible he becomes a good starter,” one scout said.

Continued (paywall)

Darryl Dobbs, a.k.a. “Dobber” from Dobber Hockey, discusses the preseason stock of over a dozen NHL rookies, including two members of the Red Wings organization:

Kirill Tyutyayev, DET, Up: The 21-year-old didn’t get any points in three preseason outings, but the coach and his teammates were raving about his performance in training camp. The Wings took a flier on him in 2019, using their seventh-round pick. So he was on nobody’s radar. But now he’s on mine. I don’t expect him to make the team next year or even the year after, but I’ll be watching his progress now with great interest and if he continues on this path then I don’t see why he can’t be a solid fantasy own when he’s 24.

Lucas Raymond, DET, Up: He went into camp 15^th on my Fantasy Prospects List. He ends camp at No.4. Pretty much tied for third, in fact, with Alex Newhook. Raymond dominated. Was clearly Detroit’s most prolific player. Today we find out of he makes the team and there is actually some speculation that he may not (???). If he doesn’t make the team, then we know that Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings are all in for ‘Pain for Shane’.

Continued, and no, if Raymond doesn’t start on the team, the Red Wings will not be tanking.

The Free Press’s Ryan Ford compares Alex Nedeljkovic to 8 Calder Trophy-finalist goaltenders who went on to play strongly during their sophomore campaigns, including Martin Brodeur, Eddie Belfour, Jordan Binnington and Jimmy Howard:

The Detroit Red Wings have a new potential star in net this season in goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, who was acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes in July.

Nedeljkovic led the NHL in goals-against average (1.90) and save percentage (.932) while finishing third in voting for the Calder Trophy (awarded to the NHL’s top rookie 26 or younger and voted on by the media). Most years, that would check off the “potential” tag and establish a player as a bona fide star.

But thanks to the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season — which lasted just 56 games — and a deeper-than-most goalie pool in Carolina, Nedeljkovic appeared in just 23 games. Accordingly, the ’Canes balked at ponying up on a long-term deal and dealt him to the Red Wings for, basically, a 2021 third-round pick. (General manager Steve Yzerman and the Wings then signed Nedeljkovic to a two-year, $6 million contract.)

So what, exactly, are the Wings getting in their young goalie? At the very least, they know they’ve got only the ninth goalie to finish as a Calder finalist over the past 30 seasons. So, let’s take a look at how the other eight fared in their follow-up campaigns.

Continued

In the only prospect action in North America on Sunday:

In the WHL, Cross Hanas scored a goal, finishing at +1 with 3 shots in the Portland Winterhawks’ 3-0 win over Spokane.

The Athletic’s staffers are not exactly fans of the Detroit Red Wings’ potential for an upward trajectory this upcoming season, so perhaps it’s not surprising to read the following takes on a pair of Red Wings players as potential fantasy hockey targets.

Scott Cullen suggests that Robby Fabbri may be a solid late-round fantasy hockey pick, assuming that he stays healthy…

Robby Fabbri, C/LW, Detroit

Yahoo: 367

The frequently injured Red Wings forward has been very productive since arriving in the Motor City, putting up 49 points (24 G, 25 A) in 82 games for the Red Wings. Sure, it’s impossible to trust that he will stay healthy for any length of time, but there is enough production to make him a viable consideration.

And Shayna Goldman believes that Alex Nedeljkovic will make a difference on fantasy hockey teams…Just not the kind of difference that involves winning games:

4. Alex Nedeljkovic, DET: The Red Wings probably are going to be among the worst teams in the league this season, and that’s going to be quite the adjustment for Nedeljovkic who is coming from one of the stronger squads in the league.

Given how many ‘quality starts’ and ‘saves’ he had last year, as he saved 13.5 more goals than expected and earned a .932 save percentage, there’s reason to be confident in him providing some stability in net for Detroit. But managers have to be realistic too because both his lack of experience and the quality of the team playing in front of him. He probably won’t be the answer for your team alone, unlike the second half of last year. But with a high shot rate against, he’ll probably help bolster some categories (outside of wins).

I’m not exactly expecting anybody from The Athletic to say, “Shucks howdy, the Red Wings are going to improve this season!” but the kind of disdain with which some of their correspondents discuss the team and anybody on it can be off-putting.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff penned an article discussing the Red Wings’ signing of unrestricted free agent forward Pius Suter as a possible “ace in the hole” acquisition:

It’s a fair question and one well worth debating. Certainly, the addition of goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, last season’s NHL leader in goals-agianst average and save percentage, could prove vital in bumping up the Red Wings’ number in the win column. Nick Leddy is a slick puck mover capable of igniting the Red Wings’ dismal 30th-ranked power play.

However, neither of them may be able to improve the team in as many areas as Suter is capable of providing. An unrestricted free agent signing who scored 14 goals last season for the Chicago Blackhawks, Suter gives the Wings a stellar No. 2 center to play behind captain Dylan Larkin.

He’s got the offensive skills as both a playmaker and finisher to make a difference with the man advantage. As well, Suter’s repertoire includes the defensive acumen to be a valuable performer when the club is shorthanded.

“It’s different when you have a guy on your bench than when you’re coaching against him,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “When you coach against him, you see flashy skills. When they’re on your bench, you get to know his brain. His brain is really good. He’s really smart. Offensively, he’s really smart. Defensively, he can fill a bunch of different roles. He can make a lot of plays, he can play with good players.”

Continued

Bally Sports Detroit’s Brooke Fletcher interviews new Bally Sports Detroit commentator/analyst Manon Rheaume on the latest episode of “The Third Half”: