Abel to Yzerman

Abel to Yzerman

A2Y- What To Do With Pius Suter And Jake Walman's Growth

04/28/2023 at 2:30pm EDT

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

Pius Suter presents a perpelxing problem for the Detroit Red Wings. On the one hand, the versatile Swiss forward was undoubtedly a valuable performer for the team during the 2022-23 NHL season.

Of that there is no debate.

“He filled a lot of quality roles for us,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde acknowledged. “That’s certainly a credit for him. A lot of it out of necessity and a lot of it a credit to him. Very useful player.”

At the same time, Suter’s contract is up. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, so the Red Wings face a decision as to whether Suter fits into their future plans.

On this side of the issue, there’s much debate.

“Where he fits in going into the future, where he fits in in the league, I don’t know,” Lalonde said. “That’s the player-management-coach dynamic. But obviously, the way I used him down the stretch speaks volumes for what he did for us.”

continued

from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Walman played a career-high 63 games, with career-bests in goals (nine), assists (nine), and points (18). Walman also had a plus-10 rating, a testament to his defense.

That was the part of the game that often got Walman booted out of the lineup in St. Louis. But, it's become one of his hallmarks since joining the Wings.

"There was probably some inconsistencies in his game," Lalonde said late in the season when discussing Walman. "What I like about Jake is his dedication to the defensive side of the game. He’s getting defensive stops. He loves the matchup versus top (lines). You see the odd rush from him, you see the blueline offense creativity, but for me, it’s been his defense.

"He’s just managing his game better. He’s been real good for us."

Given the depth of the Wings' defense, Lalonde often admitted this season he wasn't sure how Walman was going to be used. How far Walman rose up the depth chart even surprised Lalonde.

"We did not see that," said Lalonde. "I did not have expectations of him being in our top pair and us using him like we are. That’s a huge credit to him."

General manager Steve Yzerman, likewise, has been pleasantly surprised.

more ($)

Paul

from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

Going into the May 8 NHL draft lottery, the Red Wings own the No. 9 pick and also the New York Islanders No. 17 pick. Yzerman received the Islanders pick from the Canucks in the deal that sent defenseman Filip Hronek to Vancouver. The Canucks acquired the pick from the Islanders in the Bo Horvat swap. Should the Islanders reach the conference final in these playoffs, the pick would be the last four picks in the first round. The Islanders currently trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Red Wings can move up from the No. 9 pick if they win the lottery. They have a five percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick where they would take dynamic scorer Connor Bedard. The Red Wings have a 5.2% shot of winning the lottery for the No. 2 pick. The projected No. 2 pick is University of Michigan forward Adam Fantilli who won the Hobey Baker Trophy this season as college hockeys top player. He scored 30 goals in 36 games.

Maybe we get some luck in the lottery, maybe not, Yzerman said. But regardless we have ideas who were gonna pick if we stay close to where were at today.

Odds Favor Detroit Drafting 9th

The odds are with the Red Wings staying right where they are. According to tankathon.com, the Red Wings have a 64.4% chance of picking ninth and a 23.5% of picking 10th with their own pick. Theres a 1.7% chance of pick at No. 11 if two non-playoff teams ahead of them in the standings win the two lotteries. (Teams can only move up 10 spots. So only bottom 11 can end up at No. 1).

Here is a quick look at some of the players ranked near the No. 9 pick, or have been mentioned as possible Red Wings picks at No. 9:

Center Oliver Moore (Team USA)

Some say he is the best skater in the draft. At worst, hes among the best skaters. His skating reminds some scouts of Dylan Larkin. Some mock drafts have Oliver landing in the top seven, but others have him going around No. 10.

more

Wingding

For some reason I love the sound of "I guarantee he will give the best interview (regarding Ryan Leonard)"..... I am intrigued.

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Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that.

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