Back in the day, there was a time when the combination of Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and Erik Gustafsson were the cause of nightmares for the Detroit Red Wings.

During the 2018-19 season, that trio were linchpins on a potent Chicago Blackhawks power play that was clicking at 20.17%. Kane led the Blackhawks in scoring that season with 44 goals and 110 points. DeBrincat was third on the club with 41 goals and 76 points. Gustafsson would enjoy a career year. He wound up with 17 goals and 60 points.

SHOWTIME Patrick Kane rockets a one-timer past Markstrom to put Detroit up 1-0.

4 game point streak for Kane. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/whyrzbtx6N

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) February 17, 2024

On the power play, Kane was contributing nine goals and 30 points. DeBrincat would account for a team-high 13 power-play goals. Gustafsson put up 4-14-18 numbers when Chicago was enjoying the man advantage.

Two years ago, none of the three were Red Wings. Now that they all are, that chemistry they possess on the power play is already surfacing even during training camp drills.

“Gus does find a way of transporting the puck from the blue line and giving Patrick some time,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “He seems to find a way to bring it to the sweet spot. So there is some chemistry between those three.”

It’s one of the reasons why when defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was opting to take his power play expertise elsewhere in the summer, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was setting his sights on acquiring UFA Gustafsson.

“He runs a great power play,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said.

Red Wings DeBrincat Raves About Gustafsson

Lalonde went to the video when determining whether Gustafsson would indeed be a good fit for his team. The study of that chicago power play proved to be eye opening.

“One of a coach’s first exercises is to watch them from their past,” Lalonde explained. “The beauty of technology in this day, you can literally pick out any time of the season.

“I watched a lot of their power play and there is some chemistry there.”

The coach didn’t need to look far to find salesmen willing to step up and pitch him on the advantages Gustafsson could bring when Detroit was in a man-advantage situation.

Red Wings were down 3-1
(Thanks thrown stick)

Come soaring back with goals from Gostisbehere, Larkin and guess who…

DEBRINCAT #LGRW 

This power play is

pic.twitter.com/NhdO3ILz0K

— Jim Costa (@JimCosta_) October 25, 2023

“I think he’s a great passer on the power play and off the power play,” DeBrincat said of Gustafsson. “I think he’s a guy that can really make that first pass out of the zone.

“He’s very deceptive. On the power play you may think he’s shooting, but then he’s giving a nice pass over for a one timer. So I think he adds that aspect of it.”

That deception in Gustafsson’s game is also what Kane finds most enticing.

“He was so deceptive up top, really knows how to run the top, maybe as good as anyone I played with, to be honest with you,” Kane said. “He was a key component to our power play.”

The Red Wings are hopeful that the Chicago trio will be key components to their power play this season.

The post Can Gustafsson, Kane And DeBrincat Rediscover Chicago Chemistry With Red Wings? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Derek Lalonde would rather that his Detroit Red Wings had some more bite. So he’s considering a switch.

Two forwards in Red Wings training camp are players who would bring that element to the lineup. Austin Watson and Isaac Ratcliffe are in Traverse City on Professional Tryout Offers (PTO). They are promised nothing beyond a chance to show what they’ve got.

If you’ve ever watched the hockey cult classic Slap Shot, a chance to show what they’ve got was all it took for the Hanson brothers to make their mark with the Charlestown Chiefs.

Lalonde isn’t looking for anyone to bring that level of mayhem to the ice. But he does believe there’s a place for controlled mayhem.

“I think when done correctly, every team could use that and that type of player,” the Red Wings coach said.

Both Watson and Ratcliffe are certainly that type of player.

Watson Won’t Back Down

Last season, Watson was dropping the gloves seven times. He would tangle with 2023-24 NHL fight leader Nicolas Deslauriers, Zack MacEwen and Pat Maroon among his combatants.

“I don’t think he backs down from anyone,” said Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, Watson’s teammate with the 2022-23 Ottawa Senators.

Watson collected 93 penalty minutes in 33 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Twice, he’s accumulated 123 PIM in a single NHL season.

With the 2018-19 OHL champion Guelph Storm, Ratcliffe was turning the unique double of leading the team in goals (50) and penalty minutes (105).

His NHL resume is limited in comparison to Watson. Ratcliffe saw action in 10 games for the 2021-22 Philadelphia Flyers, collecting 10 PIM.

Red Wings May Enter Protection Racket

Detroit is a team loaded with high-end skill. The Red Wings run deep in players with silky mitts. They are short-staffed when it comes to players willing to drop the mitts. As a team, the Wings only fought 11 times all season.

That’s why they might be considering enrollment into the NHL protection racket.

“Obviously, we have some skill,” Lalonde said. “We would like that skill to be comfortable in the way they play, and that can look different at times.

“So, of course, I think we would love that element if it’s the right fit.”

Along with bringing an element of toughness, in today’s game, rugged players must deliver more that just fistic punches. They need to add something else to the lineup.

Watson has certainly proven to be a player of that ilk during his 10 NHL seasons.

“I think he brings that nasty element,” DeBrincat said. “He’s so hard on the forecheck. He plays maybe not too many minutes, but he’s playing those minutes hard, and he’s crushing their D and getting them tired for the rest of the game.

“So, he’d be a great addition to this team.”

The post Red Wings Looking to Add Bite appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Tnias Mathurin could’ve wound up with the Detroit Red Wings, but things didn’t work out for him. Now, he’ll be playing just about as close as you can to Detroit without playing for the Red Wings.

The North Bay Battalion were trading Mathurin to the Windsor Spitfires, where he’ll be playing as an OHL overager next season. Each OHL team is permitted to suit up three 20-year-old players per game.

The @SpitsHockey got bigger and stronger on the blueline with the acquisition of shutdown presence Tnias Mathurin from the North Bay Battalion on Thursday.

DETAILS : https://t.co/rQaILjk55z pic.twitter.com/sWNqLWo4T5

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) August 8, 2024

“Moving a really good player and good person like Tnias isn’t an easy decision,” North Bay general manager John Winstanley said in a news release from the club. The Battalion also moved a draft pick with Mathurin, while getting four draft picks from the Spitfires in return.

“We’d like to thank Tnias for everything,” Winstanley added. “He wore the Battalion crest with pride. He’s left an impact not only with our team but in the community. Our entire organization wishes him good luck with Windsor.”

On the one hand, moving to Windsor is giving him another season to be impressing NHL scouts. However, living in the shadow of the Little Caesars Arena, Mathurin will be getting a daily reminder of what might have been.

Red Wings Took Mathurin In Fifth Round

The Red Wings were selecting the 6-foot-3, 195-pound rearguard 137th overall during the 2022 NHL entry draft. At the time, the team was high on the potential Mathurin was offering.

“He’s a good-sized defender, he’s got a good stick, he’s pretty mobile defender,” Detroit assistant GM and amateur scouring director Kris Draper explained at the draft.

“We like his size. He moves well for a big man. A pretty athletic defenseman.”

Unfortunately, Mathurin, whose unique given name is Saint spelled backwards, was suffering a serious shoulder injury. The injury would be preventing him from attending the Red Wings rookie tournament in the fall of 2022. It would also scuttle his ability to play during the majority of the 2022-23 season. He wound up seeing action in one regular-season game and 11 playoff games that season.

That put him behind the eight ball in the battle to earn an NHL contract. And with other defense prospects like William Wallinder, Antti Tuomisto, Shai Buium and Axel Sandin Pellikka all blossoming, there simply wasn’t room for Mathurin.

Lots of Battalion representatives at @NHL Camps pic.twitter.com/21U1tUx2Na

— North Bay Battalion (@OHLBattalion) July 4, 2024

The rules of the draft were giving the Red Wings two years to either sign Mathurin, or be forfeiting his NHL rights. On June 1, 2024, they were making the decision to let him go.

Today, Mathurin is a free agent, available to any NHL team. He was attending the development camp of the Chicago Blackhawks last month, but a contract offer wasn’t forthcoming.

The post Unkindest Deal of All For Former Red Wings Prospect appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Looking toward the upcoming NHL season, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde is feeling much less puzzled regarding how he will be fitting the pieces together.

“I think we did a good job of addressing some holes,” Lalonde said of the club’s offseason moves. “It feels like guys are maybe slotted going into the year a little bit.”

Let’s face it, in recent seasons it’s sometimes been the case that the Red Wings have found themselves trying to fit square pegs into round holes. And it wasn’t all that long ago when the team was desperately seeking to take chicken you-know-what and turn it into chicken salad.

This team, Lalonde feels, offers more variety up and down the lineup. Players will be fitting into roles that they are generally filling as NHL players. They won’t be asking someone to do something for which they simply don’t possess the skill level to do so.

Pumped to be back for another one! Big year ahead! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/rPVVgJUi1e

— Patrick Kane (@88PKane) July 1, 2024

“Early on it just feels like with the signings – Patty (Kane) coming back, (Vladimir) Tarasenko (signed) as a free agent, Tyler Motte (signed) as a free agent, getting Christian Fischer back – I think guys are slotted a little bit more proper and maybe more of an ideal top-six, bottom-six situation,” Lalonde said.

Lalonde Doodling Red Wings Lines

Like a kid in a candy store, Lalonde has found himself jotting out potential forward lines to utilize. Does he keep the strong chemistry of captain Dylan Larkin and 31-goal scorer Lucas Raymond together? Will Kane and Tarasenko be linemates, even though both are listed as right-wingers?

“I think it’ll be fluid, especially early in camp,” Lalonde said. “And it’ll be fluid as the season starts.”

Potentially, there are top-six forward units of Larkin with Raymond and Alex DeBrincat, and then J.T. Compher between Kane and Tarasenko.

“Obviously I think we did a good job addressing some lost offense, which is very important,” Lalonde said.

He’s equally blessed with options for the third and fourth lines. He could keep the checking trio of Andrew Copp, Michael Rasmussen and Fischer together.

Fun Fact: Jonatan Berggren became the first Griffin and 13th player in AHL history to score 2 sudden-death overtime goals in the same Calder Cup Playoff series #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/vnD4KUy5I7

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) May 4, 2024

The X-factor could be in assessing where Jonatan Berggren will be fitting in best. Would his presence with Rasmussen and Copp provide that trio with more creativity? As well, the two veterans could help cover for any defensive miscues on Berggren’s part.

By pushing Fischer down to the fourth line, that unit – Fischer (138), Motte (97) and Joe Veleno (108) – averaged well over 100 hits last season. They’d make for a very physical, active and energizing line.

There are fits, but there are still also options available to the Detroit coach.

“It’s just exciting,” Lalonde said. “All I’ve known here since I’ve come here is some progression. We’ve moved in the right direction from Year One into Year Two. We did it going into the second year.

“Now we need to keep building.”

It appears GM Steve Yzerman is arming him with the pieces to assemble something offering promise.

The post Lalonde Likes How Red Wings Slot Together appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Over the summer, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde has frequently engaged Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond in conversation.

“I’ve talked to them about three times in the summer,” Lalonde said. They talk about plenty of stuff to do with the future of the team. What never comes up in those conversations, though, is the topic concern of every Red Wings fan regarding the immediate future of both players.

“We don’t even talk about the contract,” Lalonde said.

That, he reasons, is none of his business.

“This is exactly why we have the GM layer and those guys have the agent layer,” Lalonde explained. “That’s between (Detroit GM) Steve (Yzerman) and them, Steve and the agent.

“It’s been business for us and for them.”

For Lalonde, when he talks to Seider and Raymond, it’s business as usual.

August is the worst month of the NHL offseason. So i’m re-sharing Moritz Seider being a warrior for your viewing pleasure. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/1YJsFARZZa

— Brian Fisher (@BrianFisherLORW) August 7, 2024

“With us it’s just the same thing, the same message for all our guys,” Lalonde said. “We want to progress, we want to keep moving, keep building this. We want a little bit more than last year.

“Obviously those guys are a big part of it.”

Red Wings Lalonde Confident Deals Will Get Done

There’s no questioning how vital both Seider and Raymond are to the success of the Red Wings. Raymond was a 31-goal scorer last season. His 72 points were leading the team in scoring.

Lucas Raymond CRUMBS, I swear this is the first sighting of him in months pic.twitter.com/mwuTDq3wap

— riley (@moreitscider) August 2, 2024

Seider led the Red Wings in time on ice (22:22) and shorthanded time on ice (2:33) per game. He’s logging those minutes in hard situations against the opposition’s best players.

“He’s going to be seeing that the rest of his career,” Lalonde said.

The big German defenseman also wound in a tie for eighth among NHL defensemen with 211 hits. He was second among NHL rearguards with 212 blocked shots.

While it might seem like the Red Wings are running out of time to get restricted free agents Seider and Raymond under contract, Lalonde is entirely confident that they will find common ground a get a deal done prior to the opening of training camp next month.

“I’m not worried,” Lalonde said. “It’s all part of it. I’ve had a little experience with this with past RFAs.

“I think it’s all part of the process.”

The post Red Wings Lalonde Talks Seider, Raymond appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

There’s a new buzz word working its way through the Detroit Red Wings organization this summer. It’s a sign of just how far the club has come in the past two NHL seasons.

Expectations are growing for the Red Wings in anticipation of the 2024-25 season and you know what?

The team is just fine with that.

Raise your hand if you’re excited for Red Wings season

(peep Derek Lalonde) pic.twitter.com/E7WAzcLMlA

— Natalie Kerwin (@NatalieKerwin1) August 7, 2024

“I think there’s definitely expectations going into this season, so that’s always a good thing,” Detroit forward Patrick Kane said. “You want those expectations.”

After finishing the season with 91 points and missing out on postseason play via tiebreaker, the Red Wings have given cause for high hopes.

“I think you set expectations high after coming down to Game 82 (and) that (is when) you missed the playoffs,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said.

The Red Wings are ready to deal with the accompanying pressure that raised expectations do bring.

“I think that’s great for our group to have expectations like that to come in the next year to get back to that point,” Red Wings forward Christian Fischer said. “I’m honestly fully confident that we could get back there.

“You don’t want to set crazy expectations but I think everybody’s in the same boat. I think we kind of showed last year a big step in the progression of our team and setting the standard that we could be in the postseason, and that we expect to be in the postseason.

“I think it’s just last year was a great building block for our team.”

All Part Of Process For Red Wings

Along with raised expectations, the Red Wings will also be dealing with the fact that they won’t be able to sneak up on any teams. They’ve raised the bar in terms of how other teams view them as well.

Patrick Kane on returning to Red Wings: "We all want to build on last year. There’s definitely expectations going into this season, and that’s a good thing. And I think the LCA is an amazing place to play, I can’t imagine what it would be like in the playoffs."

— Will Burchfield (@burchie_kid) July 8, 2024

“It’s all part of the process,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “Expectations change because we flirted with getting there.

“These are different expectations. That’s a different challenge in itself, too. I think there’s a lot of excitement for good reason going into this year but it’s going to be on us and the group to narrow our focus on doing the right things, especially early, and we’d love to put ourselves in the same situation next year.”

The post Growing Expectations Positive Development For Red Wings appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Coach Derek Lalonde didn’t need a deep dive into his team’s analytics to tell him what the Detroit Red Wings need to accomplish in 2024-25.

“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” Lalonde said. “We were a top 10 team in goals-for, but we were a bottom-10 team in goals-against. So we’d love to improve that goals-against.”

Lalonde made his remarks when he was attending the Street Hockey in the D: Summer Series. More than 300 participants across Detroit take part in the clinics.

The third-year Detroit coach said he like the moves GM Steve Yzerman made last month, including re-signing Patrick Kane, and signing veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko and goalie Cam Talbot.

“I think we did a good job of addressing some holes,” Lalonde said. “It feels like guys are maybe slotted going into the year a little bit. I think we did a good job addressing some lost offense, which is very important. It’s just exciting. All I’ve known here since I’ve come here is some progression. We’ve moved in the right direction from Year One into Year Two. We did it going into the second year. Now we need to keep building.”

The Red Wings fell one point short of qualifying for the playoffs last season. But maintaining the momentum for improvement will not be an easy task, considering that they were 24th in goals-against per game (3.33). No team in the bottom 10 in that category qualified for the playoffs.

Playoffs Start With ‘D’

By contrast, nine of the teams ranked in top 10 in goals-against qualified for the playoffs.

Yzerman said in a postseason press conference that the onus is on both the players and coaches to square away their goals-against average.

“I just feel that the teams in the end, it all looks the same,” Lalonde said. “They put a premium on keeping the puck out of the net. It’ll be a goal of ours and we’re gonna need it from everyone. I just think even the natural DNA of our players, we want to score goals, we need those goals but I think it’s very important if you’re gonna get there in the end where we want to be, we gotta keep it out of the net.”

That means tighter defense from defensemen and forwards, plus more consistent goaltending. The Red Wings had many quality starts from their goaltending. However, overall the Red Wings’ goaltending was slightly below average.

Goalie Race Wide Open

Just like last season, the Red Wings will have three goaltenders vying for playing time. Based on last season’s effort for Los Angeles, Talbot is a threat to emerge as the No. 1 goalie. Detroit also has a fourth goalie with NHL experience — Jack Campbell — on the roster to play — or at least start — in Grand Rapids.

“I think that’s gonna be a healthy competition,” Lalonde said.

The defense will have a new look because Jake Walman (traded to San Jose) and Shayne Gostisbehere (signed with Carolina) are gone. Red Wings youngsters Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson are expected to make the team. Plus Yzerman signed William Lagesson who has 100 games of NHL experience. Justin Holl is also slated to play more this season.

There’s undoubtedly more pressure on Lalonde and his coaches and players to improve their defensive play.

“Expectations will change, which is good,” Lalonde said. “It’s all part of the process. Expectations change because we flirted with getting there, 91 points. We just want a little bit more from everyone. It’s going to be all about a good start.”

The post Lalonde Clear About 2024-25 Mandate: Reduce Red Wings GAA appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Simon Edvinsson will be casting his future with the Detroit Red Wings. The top hockey minds in the American Hockey League are convinced that future will be a bright one.

The Red Wings 2021 first-round draft pick is among the players earning selection to the AHL Top Prospects Team. Edvinsson was the only Detroit player among the six earning spots on this select squad. Are all projecting to be future NHL stars.

Determination of who makes the squad is through assessing by the league’s hockey operations department. They do this in conjunction with AHL general managers. Together they select three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender projecting to be the best future NHL players.

Edvinsson is the first Grand Rapids Griffins player to earn selection to an AHL Top Prospects Team. This select squad was first chosen following the 2022-23 campaign.

To qualify for the AHL Top Prospects Team, skaters must have been 22 years old or younger on the first day of the regular season. They must have played at least 36 regular-season games in the AHL and no more than 30 regular-season games in the National Hockey League during the 2023-24 season. Goaltenders must have been 23 or younger on opening night. They need to have played at least 25 AHL games and no more than 20 NHL games during the regular season.

Others named to this select squad were Milwaukee Admirals goalie Yaroslav Askarov, Ontario Reign defenseman Brandt Clarke, Rochester Americans forward Jiri Kulich, Texas Stars forward Logan Stankoven and Coachella Valley Firebirds forward Shane Wright.

Edvinsson Ready For Red Wings

Edvinsson earned his first selection to the AHL All-Star Classic. He paced the team’s blueliners in points (30) and goals (eight). Edvinsson wound up tying for fourth among the league’s defensemen with three game winners.

He would earn a late-season recall to help with Detroit’s drive for an NHL playoff spot. That performance was leaving assurances that Edvinsson’s future is definitely going to be in the show. He was skating top-four minutes on the club’s rearguard during the NHL regular-season stretch drive.

“Simon Edvinsson was phenomenal down the stretch,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said.

Edvinsson was making a similar positive impression upon the veterans in the Detroit lineup.

“I was very impressed again when he came in,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “His approach was really good to see.
“He was very mature in how he prepared, how he analyzed his game, how he feels like he still wants to get better.

The post Potential of Red Wings Edvinsson Earning AHL Recognition appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

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The post Red Wings UFA Watch: Reimer Ended Season On A High Note (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

(Editor’s Note: Detroit Hockey Now will look at the UFA potential for each the Red Wings’ free agents. The second installment is on David Perron.)

Left Wing David Perron

Seasons in Detroit: 2

Stats in 2023-24: 17 goals, 30 assists, 47 points in 76 games

2023-24 salary: $4.75 million

2023-24 contract projection: two years, $2.8 million per season.

Perron Story

On the surface, there still seems to be a lot of spark left in the relationship between left-winger David Perron and the Detroit Red Wings. Management raves about his leadership qualities.

“He’s a take charge guy and the moment’s not too big for him,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said of Perron. “He competes hard, he’s determined, he’s a real professional. He has a real positive impact on our team.”

For his part, Perron is also embracing the notion of keeping the winged wheel on his chest.

“I like it here,” Perron said. “It’s a pretty special place.

(Let's try this again)

David Perron, a pending UFA and locker room leader, made it clear he wants to return to the Red Wings. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/RbUr337jJA

— Locked On Red Wings Podcast (@LO_RedWings) April 18, 2024

“There’s no reason at this point to think of anywhere else. I hope it works out.”

Plus

Perron is a valuable dressing room leader. Detroit players and staff can’t stop talking about what Perron has meant to the team’s leadership group.

“He’s such an emotional leader for us,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

Yzerman likes the intangibles that Perron brings to the table.

DAVID PERRON WITH SECONDS LEFT TO KEEP THE RED WINGS SEASON ALIVE!!! pic.twitter.com/BOXcP5jcr7

— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) April 17, 2024

“He has a very good impact on and off the ice on our team,” Yzerman said. “This guy’s been around for a long time. He’s a Stanley Cup champion. He can handle the pressure, he actually thrives on it.

He loves the challenge, he is a tremendous leader.”

Perron also remains a contributor to the offense. At the age of 35, his numbers were showing him in a tie for sixth on the team in points and eighth in goals.

“It’s a player I have to give strong consideration to bring him back,” Yzerman admitted.

Minus

Looking deeper into Perron’s productivity, his goal total was his lowest in seven seasons and his points output the smallest in six campaigns.

Another concern with Perron are his undisciplined penalties. For someone considered a team leader, this is simply unacceptable.

Perhaps the most prominent of these miscues came in a late-season home game against the New York Rangers. The Rangers would score the game-winning power-play goal midway through the third period with Perron sitting in the penalty box following an offensive zone infraction.

“That was a tough penalty,” Lalonde said at the time. “The momentum felt good and we put their power play on for the third time and they cashed in.”

Projection

It would be wrong to suggest that the wheels are coming off for Perron. However, it’s not a stretch to suggest that the lug nuts are loosening.

The Red Wings must be making room on the roster for the offensive productivity of winger Jonatan Berggren. He’s done everything the team’s been asking of him with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins to prove he’s ready for the NHL. On top of that, he’s out of options and would need to go on waivers in order to go back down to the minors.

Expecting to be tight against the salary cap, Detroit might take an interest in Perron on a one-year deal. But he’s a guy who’s scored 20 goals in two of the past three seasons and four of the last six. Some NHL team is going to be willing to give him a multi-year pact.

That team won’t be the Red Wings.

Prediction: Perron signs with Western Conference team for $2.3 million.

The post Red Wings UFA Watch: Perron Offers Leadership But Production is Decreasing (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.