Tweets of note: Second day of training camp

From, well, a lot of people:

Continue reading Tweets of note: Second day of training camp

Kulfan on Michael Rasmussen’s position change

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan discusses the Red Wings’ first-day-of-training-camp lines this morning, and he mentions a player who has become critical to the Wings establishing a physical presence in one Michael Rasmussen:

[Coach Derek] Lalonde was also pleased seeing forward Michael Rasmussen on the ice Thursday. Rasmussen missed the final six weeks last season after taking a slap shot to his left knee.

Rasmussen was taken off injured reserve earlier in the week and was skating well in the opening practice.

“Before that injury, he was one of our top players,” Lalonde said. “I know people can point to the dip in our season to what we lost at the (trade) deadline, but what we lost in the deadline in addition to the timing of his injury really hurt us. I was really happy to see where he was at (Thursday).”

Lalonde likes the idea of reuniting Rasmussen (on a wing), Andrew Copp and David Perron, a tough line that had success last season.

“Ras was a completely different player on a wing,” said Lalonde, noting the Wings believe Rasmussen can be an effective center as well. “He drove some offense when he was on the wing. He seems a lot more productive and can drive lines a little bit. He’s a versatile player.”

Continued; I really like the idea of Rasmussen as a big winger, cruising up and down the ice looking to generate offensive opportunities and to establish a physical forecheck.

There have been many centers on the Wings who have gotten preoccupied with their defensive responsibilities at center, and have become better, more effective wingers as a result. Hopefully the positional change helps Rasmussen really blossom this year.

Duff on looking out for #3

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a behind-the-paywall article regarding Alex Lyon’s status as a potential “ace in the hole” goaltender for the Red Wings. Here’s a bit of what Duff has to say:

Florida was the team vanquished by Vegas in the Cup final series. At the outset of last spring’s postseason, Lyon was the go-to goalie for the Panthers. At the outset of last season, he was filling the same spot on Florida’s depth chart that Lyon is likely to find himself located in Detroit – No. 3.

That doesn’t mean that at some point during the upcoming campaign, the Red Wings will find themselves calling upon Lyon and counting on him to come through for them. And the outcome of those games might even prove the difference in whether or not the Red Wings will be playing postseason hockey this spring.

“I don’t know why, but the goaltenders seem to be getting hurt more,” [Red Wings GM Steve] Yzerman said. “They’re in better condition, they’re working harder than ever and it probably goes for all players. We’re seeing more injuries than we ever have.

“You need depth and Alex definitely provides that based on certainly what he did last year and what he’s done to this point in his career.”

Continued (paywall)