from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman took a low-risk gamble on Gemel Smith, seeing in him a chance to potentially strengthen the bottom-six mix.

Smith, the older brother of Wings forward Givani Smith, was claimed off waivers Wednesday and with his new team Thursday, though he did not practice. Coach Jeff Blashill said he “anticipates Gemel being available Friday” when the Wings (18-17-5) face the Dallas Stars (18-16-2) at Little Caesars Arena. The Wings, who have not played since Monday and were off Wednesday, have won two straight games….

“I talked with Steve,” Blashill said Thursday. “Steve would know him as well as anybody. He’s watched him a lot and knows his game. Steve talked to me a little bit about his strengths and potentially where he could help. Hopefully he can be a good addition to our depth here, and hopefully he can be a guy we can move in and play in that center spot and give us some energy and be an energy-type player.”

read on ($$$)

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/20/22 at 04:05 PM ET

Sounds like they saw another veteran grinder not
quite good enough to be a full-timer on a juggernaut
like Tampa, who could maybe fill the role they had for Mitchell Stephens.
Given also that Veleno is currently in that 4C spot and it’s a little to early not to
hope he can play at least an effective, two-way third line role in perhaps with more big mins in all situations in GR.

Good too see Berggren producing, though no need to burn a year when with any luck he’ll get his audition after things shake out at the trade deadline.

Posted by lefty.30 on 01/20/22 at 07:05 PM ET

from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Get better, accumulate points, improve defensively.

If there are boxes to check for the Red Wings’ in the second half of the season, those are the top items as the team reaches the halfway point Friday against Dallas. The second-half march, toward the finish line, starts Saturday in Nashville.

Coach Jeff Blashill sets a simple goal in the short term.

“I want to win Friday,” Blashill said.

The Wings are aiming to build on their first-half momentum. They enter Friday’s game with a better than .500 record (18-17-5), within five points of the second wild-card spot (Boston has played four less games). Detroit has established home-ice advantage at Little Caesars Arena, while struggling to win on the road.

“We’ve got some stretches coming up of playing some tough opponents, including this weekend,” Blashill said. “It’s a constant opportunity to measure yourself. I don’t think there’s a measuring game, but a constant opportunity to see where we’re at. We’ve played both teams already and lost to both of them. One game doesn’t make or break you. But how have we improved, and how have they improved.”

continued

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/20/22 at 08:04 PM ET