Detroit Red Wings | Succeed, not just survive

(Detroit) The Detroit Red Wings, it’s well known, drag the old reputation of letting their players mature before sending them into the arena.

Simon-Olivier Lorange
Press

This reputation could not be more true: of all the players they drafted in the 2000s, none played a full season in the NHL before the age of 22. The trend eased slightly over the following years, as Riley Sheahan and Andreas Athanasiou broke through the roster at 21. It wasn’t until 2015 that Dylan Larkin set a precedent when he landed a job at age 19.

Since then, some of the club’s prospects have started to shine at a younger age, as the club has been rebuilding for a long time – the Wings were the worst team in the NHL from 2016-17 through 2020-21. However, never before had the keys to the city been given to two green recruits during the same season.

Here, however, are Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. The Red Wings’ first-round picks in 2020 and 2019, respectively, each have just 15 games of NHL experience. But they are already establishing themselves as key elements of the team’s unexpected success so far – 7-6-2, at 3^e Atlantic division rank.

Raymond, 19, leads the rookies on the tour with 14 points, including 11 in his last 10 games. Seider, 20, is next on the list, with 11 points. The German is also the league’s most-used freshman defender.

However, the two have this in common: Despite their young age, they made their classes in the pros outside of the NHL. Raymond spent the last season more in Sweden, his native country, playing a second campaign with Frolunda, in the first division. Seider has also played in the land of the three crowns, having played in the American League and in Germany for the previous two years.

“There are times when I would have liked to count on him last season, but that’s why the general managers are there,” sneered head coach Jeff Blashill, Friday at noon. Steve [Yzerman] did it right. We didn’t know if Moritz would have been in a good situation with us, if he could have played a lot. ”

Take time

There is a lot of talk these days, especially in Montreal, of the benefits of giving young players time to gain experience and maturity before graduating within the “big club”. In Detroit, it has been made a religion: even if the rookies have “rejuvenated” in recent years, none made the leap into the NHL the year of their draft. The team’s first pick in 2021, Simon Edvinsson, is no exception. The Swedish defender is currently playing in Frolunda, not Detroit.

The reason is quite simple. And again, it comes from the top of the pyramid.

“This is something Steve insists on: we don’t want guys to come here to survive, but to succeed,” Blashill sums up.

In Raymond and Seider, Blashill is aware that he is dealing with two extraordinary clients. The coach was unsure how Lucas Raymond’s success in Sweden would make the trip with him to North America.

“Some guys make tons of points [en Europe], but can’t do it in the NHL; they have to cheat to create attack, they don’t have enough pucks, they lose the coach’s confidence and end up in the minor leagues. ”

However, the “maturity” in the game of Raymond left him optimistic. And he’s not disappointed so far.

“Looking back, I think it was the right choice for me to stay in Sweden last year at 18,” said the young man in an interview with representatives of the Montreal media.

“Sometimes it’s good to relax a bit and take it one step at a time,” he adds. Laughing, however, he said he was aware that “it’s easier to say today”.

As for Seider, “it looks like he’s been in the NHL for a long time,” said the forward, praising his maturity as well as his talents as a passer and shooter.

Blashill doesn’t have to have his arm twisted to speak good of the German either. He’s already made him his power play quarterback and also gives him, to a lesser extent, man-short assignments. After “three years of professional hockey playing against men,” Seider was definitely ready for the next step. “There are challenges unique to the NHL, and he is still learning, says the coach. But he learns quickly. ”

Down to earth

Funny detail: as Lucas Raymond pointed out his teammate’s humor, Seider, who hadn’t heard anything of the discussion, walked behind him and friendly banged the cap he was wearing upside down. Obviously, the two recruits are having a good time, on the ice as in the locker room.

Within a very young team, but still not as young as them, does giving so much responsibility to the last two arrivals represent a management challenge for the group of coaches?

Not really, retorts Jeff Blashill.

On the one hand because of the personality of the two players – “they are down to earth, take nothing for granted and know that they have to earn their place every day”.

On the other hand because of the state of mind that reigns within the group.

Blashill, again: “If we put forward players because they are high picks in the draft, the others would be frustrated. But the guys in the locker room know when players are really good, and if they’re really good, they want them to play a lot. Ultimately, what we want is to win. ”

On the other hand, the coaches made sure that the enthusiasm aroused by Raymond and Seider remained outside the locker room. And that the two gifted do not sit on their success.

“If they stopped improving, they would already be two good players,” said Blashill. But I don’t want them to be just good. I want them to be great players on a great team. ”

It may still take a little while before this last wish comes true. But obviously, in Detroit, we are moving in the right direction.

In short

Bertuzzi, finally

On Saturday night, the Red Wings’ top scorer, Tyler Bertuzzi, will finally play a first duel this season against the Habs. The latest NHL player to refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Todd’s nephew cannot play his team’s games in Canada since he would have to observe a two-week quarantine each time he crosses the border. He therefore watched the Wings’ two defeats against CH (6-1 and 3-0) in the warm comfort of his living room. With 15 points in 12 games, however, he will represent a new threat with which the Canadiens’ players will have to contend.

Flowers for Tanguay

The news did not cause much noise in the province, despite being a Quebecker and a former player for the Canadiens, but Alex Tanguay was hired during the offseason as a coach. – Assistant to the Red Wings. This is his first experience behind an NHL bench, after two seasons spent in a similar role in the American League with the Iowa Wild, school of the Minnesota Wild. We were refused interview requests with Tanguay, but his boss, Jeff Blashill, described his assistant as “smart, hardworking and passionate about coaching.” Few of the coaches on the tour have enjoyed very prolific playing careers, he noted. With 863 points in 1088 games, Tanguay thus brings a different “perspective”. “He played for great teams and for great coaches. He understands what it takes to win. ”

Flowers for Norlinder

In Frolunda, last season, Lucas Raymond was the teammate of Mattias Norlinder, a defender belonging to the Canadiens organization. After injuring himself during training camp, Norlinder played three games with the Laval Rocket, in the American League, and then joined the Habs. He is accompanying the club to Detroit, but it is not yet known whether he will play his first NHL game on Saturday. Raymond praised his compatriot, describing him as “the best skater” he saw in action before reaching the NHL. “He’s a really good guy,” added Raymond. He is humble, he works hard and he wants to be successful. I would like to play that against him on Saturday night. “At first glance, the odds seem low, but you never know …