TSN’s Dreger confirms that Lalonde’s job may hinge on the Wings’ home stand

TSN’s Insider Trading video isn’t embeddable tonight, but TSN has posted a transcript of Darren Dreger’s take on Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s future. As we already know, it hinges upon how well the Red Wings play over the course of the remainder of their home stand:

Thanksgiving is often a catalyst for change in the NHL. Jim Montgomery out in Boston. Then he’s hired in St. Louis when Drew Bannister gets fired. Could the Wings be next to make a change behind the bench, Dregs?

Dreger: Yeah, they sure could. We know it’s a tough business, but Detroit needs to, wants to, and is counting on staying in the playoff mix. They are only three points out of a wild card spot, but they’ve got a crucial three-game homestand happening this week. What happens if they go 1-for-3 or 0-for-3? Now, the upside is they could go 3-for-3 or win 2-of-3 and Derek Lalonde, who’s in the final year of his contract with the Detroit Red Wings, stays on the Red Wings’ bench. We know that Steve Yzerman is loyal to his coaches, but again, they have to remain competitive. So, if they have a good homestand, everything should be fine. If they don’t, that might force Yzerman to make a decision. The sense is that they would go with an interim internal candidate and then hope that a top coach eventually becomes available.

Continued with the aforementioned video; we’ve been talking about the concept that December 2nd is more or less the turn-the-ship-around deadline for the Wings for almost a month now. It’s just the truth.

Prospect round-up: Johansson, Sandin Pellikka score goals in the SHL

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the DEL, Kevin Bicker had an assist, finishing at +1 with 1 blocked shot in 11:13 played as the Frankfurt Lowen won 4-3 over the Augsburger Panther;

In the SHL, Anton Johansson scored a goal on 3 shots, finishing at -1 in 16:07 as Leksands IF lost 3-2 to MoDo Hockey:

Noah Dower Nilsson missed Frolunda HC’s 3-1 loss to Malmo with an injury;

And Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had 3 shots on goal, finishing at -1 in 16:37 played, and Axel Sandin Pellikka scored a goal on 2 shots, but finished at -2 in 19:28 played as Skelleftea AIK lost 3-1 to Lulea Hockey:

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Johansson, Sandin Pellikka score goals in the SHL

HSJ, Duff discuss the Wings’ status in the Atlantic Division

Both the Free Press’s Helene St. James and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted afternoon articles which discuss the crucial nature of the Red Wings’ remaining “home stand” as the Wings attempt to gain ground in the very middling and muddled Atlantic Division.

St. James suggests that the Red Wings’ home games against Calgary tomorrow night, New Jersey on Friday afternoon and Vancouver on Sunday afternoon are all but must-wins if the Wings are to attempt to battle past their difficult start…

Monday’s victory was the third time in four games the Wings collected points (five) and gave them 20 points after 21 games, within three points (though chasing five teams) for the second wild card spot in the East. Patrick Kane missed the Islanders game because of an undisclosed injury, but he’s considered day-to-day.

The Wings seem to have righted themselves to an extent after that dismal trip to California – they haven’t engaged in a score-fest since, instead limiting opponents to two or less goals in the last three contests. There’s certainly still areas to address, including special teams: The power play has failed to deliver the last three games, going 0 for 10. And the penalty kill (68.4%) remains the worst in the NHL.

Establishing themelves at home would be a good step towards the Wings moving beyond the mediocrity that has defined the first quarter of their season. To their advantage, few teams have really pulled away in the East, so if the Wings can string together some wins at home, they’ll remain in the mix of things.

And Duff took note of Alex Lyon’s comments made last night while discussing the Wings’ status as in the lower part of a muddled Atlantic Division:

“I think that we’re in desperation mode for sure,” Lyon told the FanDuel Sports Network following Monday’s win. “We need to play desperate every night. I think that the best teams in this league play desperate every night.”

Fortunately for the Red Wings, mediocrity loves company. In this season’s NHL, the Eastern Conference is displaying an overabundance of bad squads.

If you don’t buy into the NHL’s loser point scenario and count overtime losses for what they are – defeats – then eight of the 16 clubs in the East are currently playing below-.500 hockey. That includes the 9-10-2 Red Wings.

All eight of these teams are displaying negative goal differentials. None have a winning road record. Only Boston (5-3-2) and Philadelphia (5-3-2) are showing a winning slate through the past 10 games.

This, as much as any reason, is keeping the Red Wings in the hunt while they seek to hunt down more consistency in their game.

Raymond’s getting his goal-scoring going

Among the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan’s Tuesday notes is this story about Lucas Raymond’s slow start in terms of goal-scoring, and his recent success at igniting his shooting game:

Through the first quarter of this season, Raymond was arguably the Wings’ best all-around forward. He was doing everything he could to keep the Wings afloat in the standings, leading the team in assists and playing in every situation.

But the goal-scoring, frustratingly, wasn’t there. After scoring 31 goals last season including so many important ones during the Wings’ frantic late-season playoff push, most people expected that torrid pace to carry over. Instead, Raymond scored two goals in his first 18 games. Not what was expected, to be sure.

Until scoring a goal in each of the last three games, including Monday’s game-winner on Long Island, in the Wings’ 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Goals in each of the last three games? That’s more like it.

“I mean, I think everyone wants to score goals, right?” Raymond said. “I’m no different.”

Coach Derek Lalonde, whenever asked about Raymond, would stress the versatility in Raymond’s game and the fact he was, and is, contributing offensively (Raymond leads the team with 15 assists and 20 points). But goal scorers like Raymond enjoy putting the puck in the net.

“He’s playing at a high level,” Lalonde said. “He’s sitting at a point a game, but it’s different for goal scorers when it hits the back of the net.”

Continued (paywall)

Tweet of note: Griffins’ ‘Tip-a-Griffin’ event to take place on December 3rd

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

Update: The Griffins have posted a webpage which breaks down their player and coach assignments.

Allen checks in on the Grand Rapids Griffins

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen checks in with the Grand Rapids Griffins today, writing a subscriber-only article about the Griffins’ superb start. Allen offers 10 reasons why the Griffins’ performances should matter to Red Wings fans:

2. Quality Goaltending

Under the category of long-term potential, Sebastian Cossa (2.08 GAA, .931 save percentage) continues to play like one of the league’s top NHL prospects. He’s been much sharper in the early going than Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt who, like Cossa, was taken in the first round in 2021. For the short term, veteran Ville Husso is also playing at a high level. Husso is 4-0 with a 1.58 GAA and .944

More importantly, Husso is staying healthy. Many Detroit fans have written off Husso, but the Red Wings haven’t forgotten him. Should Cam Talbot or Alex Lyon become injured or go into an extended slump, Husso could get another chance.

3.  Star on the Rise

The Red Wings’ appreciation for [Griffins coach Dan] Watson started when he was with the Toledo Walleye. And now the Red Wings really respect the job he’s doing in developing their prospects in Grand Rapids. Everyone seems to be improving. The danger here is that another NHL team might lure him away with a job in the show.

4. Danielson Sorting It Out

Much like Marco Kasper last season, Detroit 2023 first round pick Nate Danielson is playing better and better as they season progresses. He has two goals and nine points in 17 games. But he has five in his last five games. That includes a pair of multiple point games.

Continued (paywall)

We’re back, and so is fundraising

I’m working very hard to try and get the blog up and running on a full-time basis again, and I’m doing so in no small part because there are bills to pay, and not enough money with which to pay them.

As such, I’m going to be posting fundraising appeals on a daily basis, because not working for a month-and-a-half = Aunt Annie and I are in tough right now. Right now, we can’t even afford the pre-prepared heat-and-serve Thanksgiving dinner that we’ve ordered for tomorrow, but that’s how things work out sometimes.

In any case, if you can lend a hand in the spirit of paying it forward a bit, we would be grateful, so:

Continue reading We’re back, and so is fundraising

Tweet of note: Thousand-game man

From hockey historian Mike Commito:

Update: Also…

Press release: Griffins ‘on a roll’

The Grand Rapids Griffins play games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and ahead of a busy weekend, the Griffins have filed their weekly press release. Here are some highlights thereof:

Keep The Good Times Rolling: With a 12-4-1-0 record and 25 points through 17 games, the Griffins have tied the second-best start in franchise history, with their best coming in 2005-06 with 27 points and a 13-3-0-1 mark. The Griffins rank first in the Central Division, second in the Western Conference and tied for fourth in the AHL. In 29 seasons, this was the fourth Griffins team to win at least 10 of its first 14 games, and the first since 2009-10. The Griffins have won with defense, as they have allowed two goals or less in 11 of the 17 contests and have scored an average of 3.06 goals per game (T15th).

Let’s Show Some Love to the Defense: The Griffins rank first in the AHL with just 2.18 goals allowed per game, as the 37 goals surrendered rank second in the AHL. For comparison, Grand Rapids ceded 52 goals in the opening 17 games last year and 69 in 2022-23. Dating back to last season, Grand Rapids has allowed just 18 goals in its last 11 regular-season games at Van Andel Arena (1.64 GA per game). 

Busy Bodies: The Griffins will play back-to-back three games in three days during the next two weeks. Grand Rapids will start with Milwaukee, Chicago and Cleveland from Friday to Sunday this week. The Griffins went 3-0-0-0 in their first 3-in-3 from Oct. 25-27, defeating Springfield and Lehigh Valley (twice). This marked the first time since April 5-7, 2002 that Grand Rapids went undefeated while playing three games in three days. 

One, Two Punch: Sebastian Cossa, the 15th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, is off to a strong start through the opening 12 games of his season, showing a 7-4-1 mark with one shutout, a 2.08 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. The 21-year-old ranks among the league leaders in minutes played (692:11, 3rd), shutouts (T5th), GAA (T6th), wins (T3rd), and save percentage (5th). Ville Husso has also gotten off to a fast start with the Griffins, as he has a 4-0-0 ledger with one shutout to go along with a 1.58 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage in five appearances. Through six career games with Grand Rapids, Husso has a 5-0-0 record with two shutouts, a 1.29 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage. Jack Campbell joined the goaltending room last week when he was assigned by the Red Wings. Campbell, the 11th overall pick by Dallas in 2010, has appeared in 438 games since 2011-12 and possesses a 229-141-47 ledger with 32 shutouts to go along with a 2.67 goals-against average. Last season, the 32-year-old showed an 18-13-1 record, a 2.63 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 33 games with the Bakersfield Condors. 

Continued