Follow me on Twitter
Update - Jeff Blashill was extended. No word on term yet. Bylsma, as Mlive suspected, has moved on to pursue new opportunities. The fact that the team did show improvement even with a lot of roster turn over did bode well for the coach. I still suspect that, at some point, JB will be offered a different role if Yzerman finds his next head coach. To his credit, Blashill has helped young players like Zadina and Rasmussen adapt their games and improve. Detroit’s finish outside of the bottom 5 is definitely the result of a lot of hard work and forward momentum. For the all the criticism, I respect that the coach never “phoned it in”. He’s continued to put in the time to improve.
Roster turnover is a big part of getting things going in the right direction for Detroit. Steve Yzerman has made more big moves in the past 2 seasons than fans have seen in a long time. At some point, coaching will be one of them, but Mlive doesn’t think this is the year.
Mlive posted that a lack of chatter from the organization may be an indicator that Blashill is up for an extension. I smiled a bit because that is the reality of the Yzerman regime. The former captain is a master of keeping things close to the vest. But, we have to write something, right? Mlive goes on to say that Bylsma may be out but Doug Houda will remain with the team.
In digging even deeper in a nearly empty news bucket, the Bleacher report did a mock draft in which Detroit, selecting at #6, take Jesper Wallstedt. “Last Word on Sports” posted the following:
“In 2021, Swedish goalie Jesper Wallstedt hopes to become the first top-10 pick since Carey Price in 2005. Wallstedt has spent the season with Lulea HF in the SHL. Playing against men, he put up a 12-10-0 record, .908 save percentage, 2.23 goals-against average, and 2 shutouts in 22 games.
Wallstedt also played two games for Sweden at the World Juniors putting up an 0-1-0 record with a .923 save percentage, and 2.40 goals-against average. Wallstedt also helped Sweden to a bronze medal at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with a .936 save percentage in three games.”
I know some of you well enough to know the response. There’s three basic thoughts regarding goalie selection in the Hockeybuzz readership.
1 - some people say never, ever draft a goalie. You can sign a free agent or make a trade once you know if they’re any good.
2 - some people say never draft a goalie in the top 15 (or in the first round at all). Essentially, if you can’t trade down to get the goalie you want, get someone else because you just can’t draft a goalie that high without evoking an Old Testament curse of locusts, frogs or rivers of blood.
3 - the final group, if you want a goalie, draft one wherever you want. At times, I’m with this group. I’ll be honest, if Spencer Knight (mistake. Knight drafted in 19 thanks to Kooleus and H2 for
Correction) had been selected instead of Lucas Raymond, I wouldn’t be upset. He looks to be impressive already. Though, Yzerman’s scouting is intense so I trust that Raymond will have a better season coming up.
I continue to hold out hope that Keith Petruzzelli will sign his ELC. The club has until August before KP will be a free agent. If for some reason, they can’t get him signed, grabbing a highly ranked goalie prospect has to become a priority. Yes, we need help at every position. Goalies are the toughest to project. It can take 3 - 5 years for them to find their game, before ever playing in the NHL. Petruzzelli’s final two year’s were very good, and he even made the top 10 Hobey Baker nominees. It would be good to see him in Grand Rapids next season.
In fact, Grand Rapids could be really exciting for 21/22. Veleno is right on the cusp, so he could do well to get 20 mins a night in GR. Raymond could start with the Griffins as well. McIsaac and Johansson could be on the blue line. There are good things on the horizon, so it may be worth shooting down 96 on the next dollar hot dog night. (They shoot them out of a cannon too, but they’re a little better when you pay for them. Less bruising).
So, where are you? Never draft a goalie? Never in the top 15 or first round? Or, we need a goalie, grab one wherever you can? Let me know, and at some point there will be some organizational announcements to cover. For now, lets enjoy the speculation!
Check out my previous blogs:
Roster turnover
Albert Johansson playing for team Sweden
Are you rooting for former Wings Players in the playoffs?
Thanks for a great season
Why Culture matters
my thoughts on Blashill
your picks so far
Give me your picks and predictions 
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»