Follow me on Twitter
Previous Post:
Hungry Habs Hamstring and Humble Wings
Detroit had success against Boston a before the COVID shutdown. They also had success against Montreal. Let’s hope the two series don’t mirror each other again.
Without Larkin, it feels like it’s going to be a long night. Bertuzzi is back in the lineup, and that’s always a plus. it’s hard to feel overly optimistic heading into this with the center position in the same state it was in for the Montreal game. Blashill went ahead and did a really hard game day skate, and that’s always a good idea….
Lucas Raymond played his 10th game in Montreal. Unfortunately, it wasn’t much of a night for celebration for the 19 year old winger. Still, he’s earned the trust of the organization so far, and grabbed a spot on the roster. And yet, NHL.com still doesn’t have his picture. Well done.
I spent more hours than I want to discuss thinking about Detroit’s central deficit. It’s keeping me up and just keeps coming back. The center position is the weakest in terms of on the team and in the pipeline. Left side defense is coming. A legitimate top 6 center feels like it isn’t. Suter is only 10 games in, and unfortunately the lack of consistency in linemates is already front and center. Would a line with he, Zadina and Vrana look better than what we’re seeing now? We won’t know until February.
Larkin is out again, and that’s a bad place to be. Veleno will get another game. He’s not an NHL center at this point. Once he sticks with the club, it really should be on the wing and in the bottom 6 (at least for a bit). Berggren has to survive a season in the AHL without getting destroyed to feel like he could make the leap at some point. Rasmussen is fine as a 3rd line guy.
Yzerman is well aware of the issues, and does more each season to address them. In going through the other 31 rosters and looking at the center position, it’s tough to tell who could slot in and be a 2nd line upgrade while still being in that 23-28 year old sweet spot. With 2 solid defenseman, 1 winger and an exciting goaltender picked in the first round of the past 3 drafts, I wonder if the middle is going to be a hyper focus this year. Red Savage (0 goals and 3 assists in 6 games) and Liam Dower Nilsson(5 games, 0 and 0) were grabbed last year in the 4th and 5th rounds. Theodor Niederbach the year before, and he’s just not having a strong campaign with Frolunda (winger Soderblom and rookie D Edvinsson both having good campaigns). Veleno and Berggren are the “top” center prospects right now, and neither looks like top 6 material at that position.
The kids can obviously develop, and in 3 to 5 years we’ll see. Veleno has speed and muscle, but just doesn’t commit enough defensively. As a winger, he’ll be a lot happier. Unless Yzerman swings a deal, the middle could be the source of pain for the time being.
Some of my previous posts:
Previous Post:
Hungry Habs Hamstring and Humble Wings
Previous post:
Seider gets rookie of the month, Montreal pregame
Previous Post:
Leafs win high tempo game over Wings
Previous Post:
Veleno called up. 
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»