DHN’s Duff on Jakub Vrana rounding out his game

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff penned a column discussing Jakub Vrana’s need to round out his game, despite being an elite goal-scoring forward:

While there’s been no shortage of speculation about many times Vrana can net over the course of a full season, one of those speculators isn’t him. He’s a goal getter. Not a goal setter.

“Not really,” Vrana answered as to whether he had a number in mind for his 2022-23 goals total. “I don’t want to put extra thoughts in my head for no reason. Obviously, I’m an offensive forward, so I like scoring goals. But it’s about just doing my best and doing what I can do best out there and how can I help my team the most and go from there. Just doing what I can do out there to help my team win games.”

The Red Wings don’t want Vrana to forget what’s made him famous.

“He’s impressive with the puck certainly,” Lalonde said. “Sometimes you know guys are skilled guys but you don’t have an appreciation for their skills until you’re actually with them and on the ice. You don’t get a true appreciation for how skilled they are. Man, he’s got a special shot. He’s got some offensive tools that are very special and I’ve probably got more of an appreciation being on the ice with him.”

They just want Vrana to appreciate that winning hockey is all about playing a 200-foot game.

“He’s a goal-scoring winger,” Yzerman said. “We expect him to do that, but like all of our guys, we’re gonna insist that they have some defensive awareness as well.”

Continued

DHN’s Allen on Simon Edvinsson’s likely playing time during the exhibition season

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen filed an afternoon notebook regarding both Tyler Bertuzzi’s status as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, as well as coach Derek Lalonde’s take on how much Simon Edvinsson will play over the course of the Red Wings’ 8 preseason games:

“We plan on playing him a lot, maybe even more than that projected four or five (games),” [Red Wings coach Derek] Lalonde said. “We’ll see how camp goes. Even the three rookie games were very important. We want to give him a ton of looks. The
biggest thing for him is (get) hard practice reps. I think he’s had a few of those. He has handled them well. He has been exposed a couple of times. (That’s) understandable.”

Lalonde made it clear that Edvinsson doesn’t have any guarantees of making the team. And Edvinsson knows that. He said Thursday it would be “understandable” if he is assigned Grand Rapids.

“The beauty is if he’s playing with us on opening night, we’d be very excited,” Lalonde said. “(But) I think we’d also be very content if he’s not playing with us and in Grand Rapids on opening night.”

Lalonde said the Red Wings will communicate that to Edvinsson.

“Like every young man, they want to make this team out of every camp,” Lalonde said. “But we’ll temper his expectations and we’ll manage that going forward.”

Continued

Link of note: 39 more Guralnick images from training camp

The Detroit News’s David Guralnick posted 66-image and 65-image photo galleries from days 1 and 2 of the Red Wings’ 2022 training camp, and today, he’s posted a relatively meager 39-image gallery.

IN PHOTOS: Training camp continues for the Red Wings in Traverse City https://t.co/MQjQrJhja0— Detroit News Sports (@detnews_sports) September 24, 2022

Prospect round-up, Europe: Kasper 1 goal, Wallinder 23:16 played in Rogle loss; Tuomisto plays 20:42 in TPS Turku win

Of Red Wings prospect-related note on Saturday:

In the Finnish Liiga, Antti Tuomisto finished even with 4 shots in 20:42 played as TPS Turku won 2-1 in overtime over Lukko;

In the SHL, Liam Dower Nilsson finished at -1 with 2 shots in 6:25 played as Frolunda HC lost 3-2 in overtime to Malmo;

In Rogle BK’s 5-2 loss to Skelleftea AIK:

Marco Kasper scored a goal, finishing even with 3 shots and winning 22% of his faceoffs in 15:04 played;

Continue reading Prospect round-up, Europe: Kasper 1 goal, Wallinder 23:16 played in Rogle loss; Tuomisto plays 20:42 in TPS Turku win

A bit of praise for Simon Edvinsson as ‘one to watch’

Daily Faceoff’s Colton Davies picked one prospect to watch from each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams this upcoming season, and here’s who he picked from the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson: Edvinsson was listed in the honorable mentions section of my top five Calder Trophy candidates piece. The monster Swedish defender uses his large and burly frame to knock pucks loose and shut down opposing attackers with ease. He found success at the SHL level last season. As an 18-year-old he registered 19 points in 44 games with Frölunda HC. Despite a shaky World Juniors performance, Edvinsson should have minimal issues adjusting his game to the pro level. He is a technically skilled defenseman who uses his good skating and mobility to play a strong game in his zone. He is poised and smooth on the blueline, utilizing his strong gap control and reach to gain possession from opposing attackers. Look for Edvinsson to become a staple on the Red Wings’ defense. 

Continued; it’s not a question of whether or if Simon Edvinsson makes the Red Wings’ roster; it’s a “when” situation.