6 1/2 minutes of talk.

Lalonde and Edvinsson today.

via the Detroit Free Press,

Detroit Red Wings on Simon Edvinsson's growth: A 'big boost for us'

from Sean Shapiro of Shap Shots,

Cossa is in his first full AHL season and has a .912 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 33 games. Hes taken major strides after struggling in his AHL cameos during the 2022-23 season.

Im happy with it, a lot of changes since last season when I was still adjusting to the pro game, Cossa said. The speed the size, the strength of the shot and stuff like that. I think Ive gotten more comfortable with all that and with that came confidence. I feel like I can go out and give my team a chance to win every night.

Cossa said one of the biggest changes hes seen came in how hes sharper in his execution and movement around the crease. Hes doing less swimming in his crease, which he got away with against ECHL shooters, but was exposed on in his three AHL games season....

So I asked him, is he NHL ready now?

The confidence is there, how I would do? Who knows, Cossa said. But Id like to think with the confidence Ive been playing with lately, Id be ready to step up for that chance....

Kaspers one NHL game, he says, was a motivator and a slight glimpse into North American hockey. But he also noted that he really didnt understand how difficult a transition it would be until the season started with Grand Rapids, and notably played heavier schedule.

Everybody is bigger, stronger, Kasper said. In one game, you can deal with it, when its multiple games, you learn its hard and carries (over). So I have to do my best each day to be one percent better, every day one percent. That has to be my goal.

That one percent can equate to a number of things, but Kasper said the small details are what will make a difference for whether hell make the NHL or not.

Its not just getting faster physically, its getting faster with decisions and the small details, Kasper said. Win more puck battles, win more face-offs, the things that you need to use your speed to win, but also build off of.

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Like I said elsewhere, maybe his contract makes him in easy mark, but still, theres gotta be something going on with Sprong we dont know about right?  Benching him this many games is complete horsesh*t in my opinion.  

Havent been in the fire Lalonde wagon, but the more I see Petry still in the lineup, the more I think we need a change behind the bench. 

from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

With Jake Walman available again after being sidelined since March 17 by a lower-body injury, someone else had to come out and that was Olli Määttä, a veteran of 678 NHL games. That's a nice nod for Edvinsson, who took 17 career games, nine of them from last season, into Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"He breaks pucks out, manages his game, has the long stick, keeping plays alive he's been really, really good," coach Derek Lalonde said after the morning skate at Amalie Arena. "What's exciting for us is his consistency."...

Now the big Swede he's 6 foot 6 in person, around 6 foot 8 on skates is part of the lineup that is trying to edge into the playoff picture with two weeks to go.

"Even his earlier call-up, and his time last year, some mistakes would find him," Lalonde said. "He's limiting those. He's been a big boost for us."..

"I feel like I've been more consistent in my game," Edvinsson said. "I feel like the defensive part has been good and there's improvement in building the offense I feel that's going to come with time.

"You read the game different from the first time you are up. Of course mistakes are going to come, but you try to cancel as many of them as possible. I've felt pretty good, actually. I feel like I'm in a good spot."

Lalonde said Ville Husso, who had been on the trip, returned to Detroit to get another image of the lower-body injury that has troubled him since Dec. 20. "He's progressing, but there's a wide time frame on it, and is still unavailable for us." Husso had been taking reps with the Wings, but for now, plans to send him to the minors for a conditioning stint remain on hold.

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The Petry signing is the cause of the recent spiral. Yeah ok. If only we'd locked up Gudas like, for some inexplicable reason, so many wanted we'd be leading the division. The eye test isn't completely useless but the metrics on Petry reveal he isn't nearly as bad as fans think. You may want to pay attention to all of the blown defensive coverages committed by our forwards. Having to simultaneously defend 2 opposing forwards makes great defenders look bad.

This team still needs a 1b center, a top 4 RHD,  and an actual no.1 NHL goalie. Blame Yzerman for not giving top money and term to guys 30+ years old i guess cause that's about the only way you're gonna secure them. The next 2 free agent classes are garbage too, btw. Stevie will have to get creative in the trade market this off season. You draft and develop your own and mix in veterans on short-ish deals to complement them. The talent still isn't here to compete with the league's upper echelon and you don't rush kids who aren't ready just to "mix it up".

Regarding Lalonde, I'll be totally shocked if he's fired after the season if we miss the playoffs.

Happy 52nd birthday Dmac.

This team still needs a 1b center, a top 4 RHD, and an actual no.1 NHL goalie.

And based on that I'd guess they're at least 2-3 years away from achieving all those things.

Happy Birthday D-Mac! You made all the difference during that run.