The Malik Report

NHL.com posted a set of “Training Camp Storylines” for every Eastern Conference team, and Alex DeBrincat’s addition is Rosen’s pick for the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings: Alex DeBrincat is the Red Wings’ most notable new addition, heading a list that includes forward J.T. Compher and defensemen Jeff Petry and Shayne Gostisbehere. Where DeBrincat slots in will be interesting; the most logical spot appears to be on the top line with left wing Lucas Raymond and center Dylan Larkin. Detroit ranked 24th in the NHL in goals last season (237) and hasn’t had a 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2008-09. DeBrincat, who scored 27 goals last season with the Senators and 41 twice with the Chicago Blackhawks, could be the next one for the Red Wings, but chemistry with linemates will be key and that starts to develop in training camp.

Continued; we’ll see whether DeBrincat hits 40. My guess is that he’ll be in the 30-goal range.

Enjoy:

CapFriendly reports that the Red Wings signed free agent forward Artem Anisimov and free agent goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who are 35 and 33 years old, respectively, to pro try-outs.

Now both players are long-shots to make the Red Wings’ NHL roster, and are more likely to earn AHL or ECHL jobs. Anisimov played for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL last season, posting 36 points in 55 games, and Hutchinson played in 16 middling games for Columbus and 7 AHL games for Vegas’ AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights (both with a sub-.900 save percentage).

Why sign the pair to PTO’s? Well, in the former’s case, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen duly notes that Anisimov has a history with a certain Alex DeBrincat…

Anisimov, a 35-year-old center, has played 771 NHL games over 13 seasons. He’s a four-time 20-goal scorer in the league, doing so once with the Columbus Blue Jackets and three times for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Red Wings have been enjoying success by recruiting ex-Chicago forwards in recent seasons, namely Pius Suter and Dominik Kubalik. This season, Detroit acquired Alex DeBrincat, a two-time 40-goal scorer for Chicago, from Ottawa. Anisimov was a frequent linemate of DeBrincat’s with the Blackhawks.

Anisimov last skated in the NHL during the 2020-21 season with the Ottawa Senators. He suited up last season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL farm club of the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring 19 goals in 55 games.

Now Anisimov isn’t going to be playing on DeBrincat’s line come October 12th, but the 6’4,” 198-pound forward could provide some reasonable size and depth at the AHL level.

And while fans are still freaking out over Sebastian Cossa’s performance in this past weekend’s prospect tournament, I happened to ask Yzerman what he thought about Cossa given his solid ECHL record (26 regular-season wins in 46 appearances and 5 playoff wins in 7 games), and, as Allen notes, Yzerman wasn’t pancking. A little concerned? Maybe. But nothing more:

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills took note of the remarks made by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman during his press conference this morning. Yzerman made sure to point out that his team is, at least in theory, better in every category in terms of depth–but has a long ways to go in the execution department:

“If you just look at the players all on one-way contracts, there’s competition at every position,” Yzerman said in a pre-camp Zoom call with the media on Tuesday. “Not only to be on the roster or in the lineup, but to play minutes in all situations. So I think that is healthy. New players are going to want to come in and make a good impression on the coaching staff and earn a more increased role. Then we do have some of our younger players that are coming in here with a mindset, ‘I’m going to make this team.’”

Yzerman also pointed out several key players who helped Detroit finish last season with its best record (35-37-10; 80 points) since 2015-16 are set to return. But for the Red Wings to take another step forward this season, the club must improve in all areas to “creep up the standings.”

“Statistically, I think we made some strides in all the different categories,” Yzerman said. “It’s continued to go in that direction. For our goaltenders, our goals against and save percentage need to improve. Our special teams need to continue to creep forward. As a team, in every area, we need to get better.”

That being said, Yzerman will take production from wherever it comes:

As much as the veterans will be relied on this season, the younger players have shown they can also make a significant impact. Detroit has seen its rookies rack up 164 points over the past two seasons, trailing only the Montreal Canadiens (228), Columbus Blue Jackets (174) and Arizona Coyotes (172) in that span.

But as Yzerman has continually emphasized throughout his tenure in Detroit, he will not rush prospects into the NHL.

“If we have a player that is too good for the minors, we’ll figure it out,” Yzerman said. “That would be my message to the young players, but we’re not just throwing them into the NHL. One, it’s not good for them. And two, it’s not helping our team win.”

Continued

Per CapFriendly:

Detroit #RedWings signed two players to professional try outs today.

F – Artem Anisimov
G – Michael Hutchinsonhttps://t.co/E2iKhf7X9G

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 19, 2023

Here’s more from Pro Hockey Rumors’ Josh Erickson:

DobberHockey’s Brennan Des ranks Ville Husso among a tier of goaltenders that are 4th-best in the league (out of 6 tiers) in terms of his fantasy hockey value:

Ville Husso (DET)

The 28-year-old netminder has two seasons with significant action under his belt: last year in Detroit, when he posted an underwhelming .896 SV% and 3.11 GAA through 56 games, and the season before in St. Louis, when he impressed with a .919 SV% and 2.56 GAA through 40 outings. Most seem willing to attribute last year’s struggles to the lackluster Red Wings team in front of Husso. I’m willing to buy that theory, but how you value Husso this year depends on what you think of the altered roster in front of him. Sure, Alex DeBrincat is a massive addition that could help secure a few more wins, but I’m not sure if the acquisitions of Jeff Petry, Shayne Gostisbehere and Justin Holl make Husso’s life easier or more difficult.

Continued; doubt can only be reversed by action.

Bleacher Report’s Joe Yerdon is a respected colleague of mine, so please don’t kill him for ranking the Red Wings’ home jersey as the 14th-best in the NHL:

14. Detroit Red Wings

We can feel the heat coming from Motown already.

Listen, the Detroit Red Wings jersey is perfect. It’s iconic. It’s been made famous in movies, and the image of Gordie Howe wearing it is as good as it gets.

Personally speaking, I’ve got a closet full of them, but they’re basic. And that’s OK! The last thing we need is anyone going around and jacking up the Red Wings’ look and doing something different for difference’s sake.

Think of just about any of the recent alternate Red Wings jerseys and how much they just didn’t do anything for anyone. Some looks don’t need to be messed with, and the Red Wings have one of them. That doesn’t change the facts that it’s plain and their road white jersey is a better look.

Continued; I personally love the fact that the Red Wings’ jerseys are simple. Red. White. Winged Wheel. And we’re done here.

I think that between the Red Wings’ red road jersey and their Detroit Cougars home jersey as an alternate, you can’t get much better. And I’m gonna stand by that.

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted an article regarding Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference this morning, and Khan noted that Yzerman believes that his team’s roster is still in flux to some extent thanks to a push from young players…But Yzerman isn’t willing to guarantee that this year’s team will make a playoff spot:

“I look at our division and I’m not sure what to expect from some teams that continue to get better and teams that lost players,” Yzerman said. “We’ll get into the season and see how we match up, how we do through the first quarter of the season and then kind of have a better idea of where we’re at. I’d like to think we’re a better team, I think we’re a more competitive team. We’ll see if that puts us in a position to compete for a playoff spot.”

Yzerman said the rebuild phase ends when you’re not selling at the trade deadline, like the Red Wings have every year since 2017.

“I think we’re still being patient,” he said. “We’re waiting for our younger players to develop. I intend to hold onto our draft picks for the foreseeable future and let them develop and try to add to that small core that we have that makes us a competitive team for a long period of time.”

When healthy, the Red Wings have 13 experienced NHL forwards and seven veteran defensemen. That will make for a competitive environment, even if a younger waiver-exempt player like former first-round picks Simon Edvinsson or Marco Kasper aren’t on the season-opening roster.

“If you just look at the players on one-way contracts, there’s competition at every position, not only to be on the roster and in the lineup but to play minutes in all situations,” Yzerman said. “The new players are going to want to come in and make a good impression on the coaching staff and earn an increased role. Some of our younger players are coming in here with the mindset of, ‘I’m going to make this team.’ Guys like (Joe) Veleno and (Michael) Rasmussen want a bigger role, more ice time, play on special teams, take face-offs in the last minute of the game.”

Continued

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.”

Continued

Updated @ 1:57 PM: The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan has posted an article regarding the comments made by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman during his press conference today:

Yzerman would love to make the playoffs, but he’s maintaining a clear eye on the future.

“Every team would love to make the playoffs, we’d be thrilled to make the playoffs,” Yzerman said Tuesday during a Zoom call on the eve of Thursday’s on-ice start to training camp. “Is it playoff or bust? You say playoffs, or bust, meaning you’re prepared to trade all of your draft picks and whatever you have to do at some point? No, it’s not playoff or bust.

“But we’re going to try to win every game and try to make the playoffs, but to me, it’s not at the expense of the future. I’m trying to build a nucleus of a team that can make the playoffs on an annual basis. You squeak in one year and don’t have the foundation to sustain it, and we’ll be sitting here a year or two years from now and we’ll be wondering again.”

Yzerman seemingly filled many holes on the Wings roster, adding goal-scoring forward Alex DeBrincat, forwards J.T. Compher, Daniel Sprong, Klim Kostin and Christian Fischer, goaltenders James Reimer and Alex Lyon, and defensemen Jeff Petry, Shayne Gostisbehere and Justin Holl.

The Wings appear to have more offensive punch, are grittier and physical, and have depth behind goaltender Ville Husso, all missing ingredients last season. Whether that’s enough to make the playoffs in what could be a somewhat weaker Atlantic Division remains to be seen.

“I’d love to make the playoffs; the whole city would,” Yzerman said. “Every one of our players would, everyone in the organization, and we’ll give it a shot. We did what we could in the offseason to improve our team without mortgaging really any part of the future, and we’ll continue to get better, and sooner rather than later, we’ll be a playoff team.”

Continued (paywall);

Here’s a bit more from the Free Press’s Helene St. James: