from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane have all represented Team USA at the world championships, but none would commit to doing so next month.

Larkin missed 14 games during the regular season because of injuries. Larkin had yet to take his season-ending physical before talking to the media last week, but his ultimate decision may be getting completely healthy rather than making the long trip to Prague.

"I really have to see where my body is and what the doctors say at my exit physicals," said Larkin, who has been to five world championships and won two bronze medals and been an alternate captain. "I haven't ruled it out but it's going to be a health thing."

DeBrincat is also a veteran of the springtime tournament but is likely to pass because his family recently welcomed a new baby.

"I'm not sure yet, I just don't know," said DeBrincat of whether he'd go if Team USA asked. "I have to talk to may family. With the newborn, it's probably not the easiest thing to get up and leave. (But) it's always an honor to be in the conversation and to play for your country."

Kane is a veteran of international competition and has played on two world championships recently with Larkin and DeBrincat. But given Kane returned this winter after having hip resurfacing surgery last summer, rest and then beginning off-season training is a more likely option.

One potential Team USA player who would strongly consider going is goaltender Alex Lyon.

Lyon has been a third goaltender for Team USA before, but would likely be more than that this time around.

"I would love to have a bigger hand in that," Lyon said. "It's always an honor, and to get asked would be an honor, and I'd take that pretty seriously. It has crossed my mind, and to get an opportunity to wear the USA jersey."

more ($), Seider and Raymond would love to play but have insurance issues since they are RFAs.  Also a look at the Griffi

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

In the post-mortem of the Detroit Red Wings 2023-24 season, coach Derek Lalonde focused on the teams DNA.

It needs to be altered. No team can survive on offense alone. There must be a balance and the Red Wings didnt find it, ranking 24th in goals against (3.33 per game). Thats not a formula for success, as close as they came to the playoffs.

Im not going to say we sacrificed some defense for some offense but we had two 18-goal scorers on our fourth line, Lalonde said. We had a lot of guys throughout our lineup whose DNA was to score goals. We need them. There were a lot of nights we appreciated them, but you can also see a lot of our forwards, defense-first is maybe not their DNA. I give a lot of them credit that it became their DNA when they started caring about winning and playing for the team and playing the right way.

Were going to have to learn to improve defensively. I think there will be some growth within the group. Youd like to build around some defensive DNA. You look at the change we had in our group when (the line of Andrew Copp, Michael Rasmussen and Christian Fischer) took a lot of pride in shutting down some top lines. They produced some wins for us. Maybe a little more of that in our DNA.

Its a team issue that cant be attributed solely on the defense or goaltending. The solution is a combination of personnel tweaks, a greater commitment to keeping the puck out of their net and perhaps some structural adjustments.

continued