Red Wings hope new faces, commitment to puck possession yields better results in 2021
Updated Jan 13, 2021;
Posted Jan 13, 2021
Detroit Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha (39) skates the puck up the ice in the first period of their NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Facebook Share
The Detroit Red Wings for many years were predicated on puck possession. With players like Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom, they played keep-away with the puck on many nights, leading to much success.
The current Red Wings do not have nearly that kind of talent and haven’t for several seasons, leading to a painfully prolonged rebuild.
Red Wings waive Evgeny Svechnikov as roster decisions loom
Updated Jan 11, 2021;
Posted Jan 11, 2021
Detroit Red Wings right wing Evgeny Svechnikov (37) reacts after his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)AP
Facebook Share
The Detroit Red Wings had high hopes for Evgeny Svechnikov after drafting him 19th overall in 2015.
But after several seasons marked by injuries and inconsistency and only 20 NHL games under his belt, the Red Wings are prepared to take the chance of losing the 6-3, 208-pound winger for nothing.
Svechnikov was waived on Monday. If he clears at noon Tuesday, he can be assigned to the taxi squad (four-to-six players) or the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, who aren’t scheduled to start the season until early February.
How Red Wings’ newcomers can help team improve in 2021
Updated Jan 09, 2021;
Posted Jan 09, 2021
Bobby Ryan will play a top-six role and help the Red Wings on the power play. (Dan Mannes/Detroit Red Wings)
Facebook Share
The Detroit Red Wings could have as many as seven new players in the lineup Thursday when they open the season.
The acquisitions of forwards Bobby Ryan, Vladislav Namestnikov and Mathias Brome, defensemen Marc Staal, Troy Stecher and Jon Merrill, and goaltender Thomas Greiss provide the Red Wings with more NHL-quality players than they had during a disastrous 2019-20 season when they were buried in the league’s basement.
Mathias Brome is in game mode, and that may just work out for him and for the Detroit Red Wings.
The Wings regularly take a flyer on an undrafted European player, hoping he can come over and help them win games.
The latest such example is Brome, a 26-year-old Swedish forward who was signed to a one-year deal last April. He’s had a good showing in training camp, highlighted by regulation and shootout goals in the first scrimmage.
“Impact on the game is a big part,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “You can have a good skill set but if your impact on the game is negligible, then it doesn’t really help. His impact in practice and his impact in the game has been pretty positive.”