Three takes on coach Lalonde’s post Red vs. White Game comments

Both MLive’s Ansar Khan, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff follow the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan’s lead in discussing Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s takes on Sunday’s Red vs. White Game.

In Khan’s multi-faceted notebook, Ansar leads off with Lalonde’s remarks regarding the process and the product:

“Everything we put on paper the last 2-3 months translated very well,” Lalonde said. “To me it’s a credit to the guys. They were dialed in in our meetings, they were dialed in within our practices and they went out and executed. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. But for the most part I’m happy with how things have gone so far.”

That includes a mixed review on Sunday’s Red/White scrimmage at Centre I.C.E. Arena in Traverse City, which followed three days of hard practices.

“Obviously, a ton of turnovers, which is kind of expected,” Lalonde said. “I think it’s a good picture to paint for the guys, starting tomorrow, cleaning up some of that puck play. But for the most part the three days we worked on some structure, some of it translated and we’re in a good spot heading forward with our structure.”

Khan continues, while Detroit Hockey Now’s Allen focuses on five player-centered quotes from Lalonde…

Continue reading Three takes on coach Lalonde’s post Red vs. White Game comments

Kulfan’s notebook: Coach Lalonde weighs in on the Red vs. White Game

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a Sunday notebook article which focuses on the Red Wings’ Red vs. White Game, and in his article, he discusses some of the stand-outs, as well as those who drew criticism from coach Derek Lalonde:

As expected, this early in the exhibition season, there were positives and negatives during the afternoon. Coach Derek Lalonde saw things he liked − and some things he did not.

“I liked it structurally; some things we worked on whether it was the new neutral zone (coverages) or our defensive zone, there was a conscious effort to execute,” Lalonde said. “So we did a good job with that. Obviously, a ton of turnovers, which is kind of expected, but turnovers led to most of, if not all, of the offense. So it’s a good picture to paint for the guys starting tomorrow, cleaning up some of the puck play. But for the most part, the three days we worked on some structure, and some of it translated and we’re in a good spot going forward.”

There was a good amount of physical play, which Lalonde wanted and was pleased to see come to fruition.

“We encouraged it and we talked about it, we ended up both meetings asking for it and you saw that,” Lalonde said. “You can’t turn it on and off. We want to be able to turn it on and just make a habit of who we are, and you saw it on both ends. Nobody was concerned about who was in the other jersey, and that makes for hockey played the right way.”

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HSJ on the Red vs. White Game

The Free Press’s Helene St. James offers a short set of observations regarding the Red vs. White Game, which the Red Team won 4-2, this afternoon:

Newcomer Dominik Kubalik was among the Detroit Red Wings players who entertained during Sunday’s scrimmage that broke up the monotony of training camp.

Kubalik’s Red squad bested the White squad, 4-2, before a sold-out , enthusiastic crowd at Centre Ice Arena, on the penultimate day before the Wings head to Detroit. Kubalik had a couple chances during two 25-minute running-clock periods, and scored in a shootout that was part of the halftime fun.

“He did have a good scrimmage, he was skating, pucks seemed to find him a lot,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “He had a good day and looked like he built some confident. he’s a shooter, someone who can skate.”

Lalonde sounded pleased overall with how a blend of NHLers and minors leaguers played after three days of practices. Tyler Bertuzzi didn’t play and remains-to-day with an undisclosed injury; Robert Hagg left the scrimmage after taking a puck to the side of his head. Lalonde did not have an update immediately after the game.

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Talking injuries after the Red vs. White Game

Okay, here’s the scoop on the Red Wings’ injuries, per coach Derek Lalonde:

  1. Andrew Copp is still about 4 weeks into a 6-to-8-week recovery period from abdominal surgery, so while he and Jake Walman (shoulder, out till November) have been skating, Copp has to ride out the recovery process;
  2. Today, coach Lalonde told us that Tyler Bertuzzi (???) and Oskar Sundqvist (???) remain day-to-day with their issues, and that we should see them “at some point” in the exhibition season;
  3. Joe Veleno missed the Red vs. White Game with a “maintenance day” lower-body issue;
  4. And Robert Hagg, who took a puck to the head/ear off a shot from Simon Edvinsson and left Sunday’s game, had yet to be evaluated when the coach spoke with us.

DHN’s Allen discusses Jonatan Berggren’s progression

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen duly notes that Red Wings prospect Jonatan Berggren has grown into his role as a scorer in the AHL level, in more ways than one, but he still faces a difficult climb as he attempts to graduate from the Grand Rapids Griffins:

The 2018 33rd overall draft pick is one of the handful of Detroit prospects competing for jobs or an improved Red Wings’ roster. Last October, Berggren did drive to Grand Rapids, Ohio, instead of Grand Rapids, Michigan. But once he arrived in the right city, he put up 21 goals and 64 points in 70 games  It was one of the better seasons ever produced by a Griffins rookie. He hopes he’s ready for the move from Grand Rapids to Detroit.

“Skilled as advertised,” new Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said this week of Berggren. “Probably protects the puck a little better than I anticipated. Hockey sense. And he probably plays at a little better pace than I had anticipated, too. Actually, pretty impressed by him.”

Positive reinforcement from the coach is never a bad thing for a youngster trying to climb to the next level. But having a successful season in Grand Rapids probably helps him even more. Other top rookies, such as Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, Elmer Soderblom, Cross Hanas and Eemil Viro, don’t have the AHL on their resume.

“Had a really good talk the other day in length here with (Grand Rapids Griffins coach) Ben Simon because of what I saw here with Berggren. He’s showing well, which doesn’t surprise. He’s got the year of pro hockey in North America under his belt. I think you can see some improvement in his game.”

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