Abel to Yzerman

Abel to Yzerman

The Improved Detroit Red Wings

07/20/2022 at 8:10am EDT

from Max Bultman and Shayna Goldman of The Athletic,

At Lalonde’s introductory news conference, he said he wanted the team’s identity to be “hard to play against.” And in about one week’s time, Yzerman seems to have upgraded every position group to give Lalonde a real chance at cultivating just that.

In Copp, the Red Wings finally have a two-way center to play behind Dylan Larkin. Perron and Kubalik can each add goal scoring and help the power play. Husso gives Detroit a reliable tandem partner for Alex Nedeljkovic with upside. And Chiarot and Määttä should both slot into the Red Wings’ top four, mentoring Detroit’s key young right-handers. Meanwhile, Pysyk will be part of a crowded battle for jobs on the third pair and may be an early favorite to win one.

“Harder to play against isn’t necessarily in running guys through the glass or anything,” Yzerman said after concluding the haul. “It’s being more dogged on the puck, being more responsible with the puck, being tighter defensively, more diligent defensively, competing harder.”

And on paper, they seem to have accomplished that.

In Copp, the Red Wings finally have a two-way center to play behind Dylan Larkin. Perron and Kubalik can each add goal scoring and help the power play. Husso gives Detroit a reliable tandem partner for Alex Nedeljkovic with upside. And Chiarot and Määttä should both slot into the Red Wings’ top four, mentoring Detroit’s key young right-handers. Meanwhile, Pysyk will be part of a crowded battle for jobs on the third pair and may be an early favorite to win one.

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