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A big “thank you” to Karine Hains of the HB MTL blog. I reached out for some insight from her, and she was kind enough to drop me a couple of lines. I’d stated that I thought part of Montreal’s problem was losing 2 huge pieces in Weber and Price. She responded in kind:
Of course missing Price and Weber is huge but the Canadiens’ problem runs deeper than that i’m afraid. The blue line is a mess because Bergevin builds his D with big punishing guys who can’t really move, result no one can launch an attack or move the puck (aside from Petry, who’s having his worst start of season ever).
I volunteered that my favorite MTL players right now are Toffoli (loved him since L.A.) and I’m glad to see Drouin on the ice. Hoping he’s put whatever has been hurting him in the rear view. I asked for Karine’s favorite wings: Larkin and Bertuzzi (though she knows Bert won’t be in the lineups vs MTL). She then shared that she doesn’t pick a favorite Hab anymore because they always get sent packing. I confided that, a long time ago, I made similarly poor decisions and have an autographed Ritola jersey on my side of the closet (Griffins of course) and my wife has a Brendan Smith Griffins Jersey.
Montreal is in a bad mood. A very bad mood. It feels like a trade will be made soon because the GM has said he’s not looking to make a trade. Of all the clubs, Montreal is the one that says they’re not going to do what they end up doing most often. I don’t know if Detroit has anyone they’ll be looking for. Last year, Larkin/Raymond/Seider were listed as untouchable. Based on that model, Edvinsson and Cossa may be on that list as well (though I haven’t heard anything).
If Yzerman is still wide open for business with the right deal, it will be interesting to see if any clubs come calling. Chicago desperately wants to move Strome (NYR has been linked) but most of you don’t want him. NYR has an estranged forward, though who knows how that’s going to pan out. Detroit has been sending scouts to many of the games. Only 4 players are signed for the 23/24 season, Detroit will have 8 UFAs after this season. Each year has seen significant change, so I’m sure Yzerman will at least converse with many of the other GMs.
The next 2 games are against teams that have had really bad starts (Montreal/Chicago) and could easily find their confidence against a Detroit team that still doesn’t really have an identity fully in place. This could be a tough couple of days. Hopefully the team comes out hungry and ready to go.
Some of you have been making a case for some line swapping in the comments section. Montreal will force the case as Bertuzzi is unavailable but will be back the next night in Chicago. In the “bump up” category, Fabbri or Zadina may be the choice to go up to Larkin’s line. Maybe Suter, get him out of the center position for the night. Rasmussen could bump up as 2nd line center (2nd best of team centers on faceoffs) or have Fabbri take the draws with Ernie and Zadina/Suter. Regardless of the moves, Detroit will have some different looks vs. the Canadiens.
Before Calgary shut out Detroit, the Wings had scored 13 goals in 3 games. Only 2 of those were on the power play. 5 goals were scored by Bertuzzi, 2 by Namestnikov (1 EN) and 6 players are tied at 1 goal apiece. That’s actually a decent “smattering”, and the team had some decent looks vs the Flames. The problem was generating sustained pressure. Passes were all over the place, and when the team did get to the net, Markstrom was very, very good.
In part, the team is thin in the top 6. 2 of those players are new this year (Raymond, Suter) and 2 (Larkin and Bertuzzi) are still getting their “groove” back from injury/surgery (respectively). Fabbri missed a chunk of last year due to COVID. Zadina is the lone player who played most of last season (49 games), isn’t coming off of injury or surgery, and he’s played just his 90th NHL game. The team just hasn’t come together quite yet.
The absence of Vrana, while pointless to dwell on, would certainly alter the look. The second line could well be Bertuzzi/Suter/Zadina with Vrana/Larkin/Raymond up top and Fabbri working in at the third line. There’s no guarantee that’s how it would pan out, but it’s possible. All of a sudden, the team would have a different feel to be sure.
Read my previous posts:
Soderblom leads Frolunda in goals
Wings shutout by Flames
Wings vs Flames pregame
Edvinsson logs 25:18
Detroit played their best game of the season against CBJ. 
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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