from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

The Detroit Red Wings have eased Simon Edvinssons transition to the NHL, playing him in three home games on the third defense pairing, exclusively at even-strength.

He gradually will face more challenges. He might get some shifts in the top four tonight against Carolina (7:30, ESPN-Plus/Hulu), one of the top forechecking teams in the league. He eventually will play on the road, where he will face tougher matchups. He will get a look on the penalty kill at some point.

Coach Derek Lalonde said Edvinsson will play six of the final nine games at most, to avoid exhausting a year off his entry-level contract. He has mapped out a plan with general manager Steve Yzerman.

Its part of his development, Lalonde said. We will get him on the road. I dont know if well play him in the back-to-back situations, but its all part of his growth and development.

He played in every situation in Grand Rapids, which is why it was such a positive for him to get those games and minutes down there.

continued

from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

When general manager Steve Yzerman signed Copp to a five-year contract worth $28.125 million ($5.625 million per salary cap hit) last summer on the first day of free agency, Yzerman was looking for a two-way center who could be depended on to fill a long-standing hole in the Wings lineup.

Coach Derek Lalonde feels Copp has ably done the job asked of him and the Wings ask a lot of Copp, using him in a variety of situations and roles.

"I've been very happy," Lalonde said. "When you look at Andrew's season, he'll be hard on himself because the offensive numbers aren't there (40 points this season, 53 last season) but he's been very productive, a very good player. Some nights he's our No. 1 center depending on the matchup. We've asked a ton of him and his underlying numbers will be very good, the expected goals for and against. He's been real good.

"He's hard on himself and he feels the way we're built, and especially now we've been depleted with the injuries and trade deadline, he feels a bit of pressure to produce offense. But I don't think that's what Steve signed him for. He's been a real good player.

"We're very happy with him."

The plus-minus rating can sometimes be archaic in today's dizzying array of metrics and statistics, but it can also deliver a powerful statement.

Copp, while playing often against the other team's best lines and facing some of the NHL's best players, was the Wings' lone regular forward who was a plus player going into Thursday's game, with a plus-three rating.

That resonated with Lalonde.

"We're a .500 team and a minus goal-differential, and he gets the top assignment mostly every night and he's a plus player," Lalonde said. "That bodes very well for our core going forward."

more ($)

Tonight's game on ESPN+/Hulu,

Play-by-Play: Mike Monaco

Analyst: Brian Boucher

Reporter: Dom Moore

In Studio: John Buccigross, Arda Öcal, P.K. Subban, Chris Chelios

from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

In his second day of his professional career, Grand Rapids Griffins rookie Carter Mazur was more than thankful to find himself playing beside two players who totaled more than 650 games of pro experience.

Having two good linemates like (Danny) ORegan and (Taro Hirose) who have been around for a long time.. they kind of helped me settle down, and find my game, Mazur said. Once I found my game, I felt pretty confident. I stuck with what I know.

Mazur has made a solid first impression.

The prize Red Wings forward prospect left Denver University Tuesday to sign a three-year contract with the Red Wings. That will start next season. First, he signed an amateur tryout offer from the Griffins to give him pro games this year.

Detroit fans have been awaiting his arrival because he blends a scoring touch with a feisty playing style. He could end up playing a role similar to what Tyler Bertuzzi played before he was traded to the Boston Bruins. Mazur plays a brave game and he scored 22 goals in 30 games this season.

read on

"He's hard on himself and he feels the way we're built, and especially now we've been depleted with the injuries and trade deadline, he feels a bit of pressure to produce offense. But I don't think that's what Steve signed him for."

i have been saying this about Robocopp since he arrived. He has never been an offensive juggernaut. Solid defender.