from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,
Signed as an unrestricted free agent last summer, the arrival of the 6-foot-3, 231-pound Chiarot was designed to alter the culture of the Detroit club. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is wanting a club that’s more irascible, harder to play against. That could be the scouting report on Chiarot.
“That’s just what he knows,” Lalonde said. “It’s how he became a regular, everyday NHLer. That’s what he knows and I’m sure one of many reasons why Steve wanted him as part of this organization.
“Ben’s been through it. He’s experienced it and you just see it in Ben’s approach. He is an everyday guy. When he comes out to practice, he comes out to practice hard.”...
Lalonde caught an eyeful of the impact Chiarot can make on another team when his Tampa Bay Lightning were facing Chiarot’s Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 Stanley Cup final. Though Tampa Bay won in five games, Chiarot never stopped competing.
“He played in the Stanley Cup final against us,” Lalonde said. “We also played him in the playoffs last year (when Chiarot was with the Florida Panthers) and you appreciate him as a player.
“He’s probably got way better feet than I had anticipated. His stick’s even better than I anticipated.”
Looking like Yzermans free agent signings are really adding to the team, unlike previous years signings who played out as unimpactful place holders. Hope they keep it up. Perron looks to have a great finish to his shot. So does Kubalik. Missing three of their previous top six, Fabbri, Vrana, Bertuzzi, they are still more potent offensively. The defensive and goalie signings are also effective.
Good test on the road coming up against Boston, hope they can keep their structure together.
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