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The Daily: Yzerman Expects Better Red Wings Defense; Habs Rebuild

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5 months ago

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Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde

General manager Steve Yzerman likes much of what coach Derek Lalonde and his staff are doing with the Detroit Red Wings. But Yzerman makes it clear he wants more from them.

“His overall message seems to be that while things are good and in the improving mode,” Bob Duff writes for Detroit Hockey Now. “The bottom line remains that overall, it still isn’t good enough.”

Here is what Yzerman liked: “I think we competed hard,” Yzerman said. “I thought there was a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of determination among the players.”

“Obviously we weren’t perfect. But the most important thing from my vantage point is that our players are motivated, our players are determined. There’s a good atmosphere within the locker room.

“Part of that is the coaching staff helps foster that or create that. Overall, I’m happy with the direction we’re going, the coaching that we have.”

Here is Yzerman’s concern:  “Ultimately, we gotta become a better defensive hockey team,” Yzerman said. “We have to improve in that area.

“It’s the fundamentals of defending. I’m counting on our coaching staff to work with our players and our players be determined to do that. It’s not necessarily the system, it’s the basic fundamentals of defending that at times this year we struggled with, and we need to address it again.”

 

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

  • Will the Red Wings have enough money to re-sign David Perron? Bob Duff looks at the numbers.
  • Red Wings draft pick Maxmilian Kilpinian has signed with MoDo in the Swedish Hockey League
  • Could Patrick Kane end up back with the Chicago Blackhawks? Nate Brown explores that possibility.
  • GM Steve Yzerman has both praise and concern about the Red Wings’ coaching staff. He wants the team show improvement defensively.

Red Wings Offseason

The Red Wings’ playoff quest fell short, but their Grand Rapids Griffins’ farm team opens their playoff five-game at Rockford Saturday. The Griffins and IceHogs have met in the playoffs only once before, with Grand Rapids defeating Rockford 4-1 in the 2015 Western Conference Semifinal. With several key prospects on the team, the Red Wings are hoping the Griffins have lengthy stay in the AHL playoffs. They want these young Griffins to develop a winning culture.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Goalie Jeremy Swayman revealed his true feelings about the Boston Bruins goalie rotation today.

Montreal: Marc Dumont takes a deep dive on the state of the Montreal Canadiens‘ rebuild.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski writes it might be time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to move Evgeni Malkin to the wing and bring in another center.

San Jose: What’s the next step for William Eklund and some of the other younger San Jose Sharks players.

 

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