In Red Wings Land

Red Wings’ Anthony Mantha out one month with rib injury | Detroit News

Blashill said there’s no issue with Mantha’s head or shoulder, and the injury is concentrated to the rib area.

Mantha is second on the Wings in goals (12) and points (24), despite missing nine games this season.

It’s definitely bad news that Anthony Mantha is hurt again and going to be out for awhile, but it’s absolutely good news it’s not a brain injury.

World Juniors

USA beat Germany yesterday 6-3. Moritz Seider registered an assist (video in the tweet below) and led all players in the game in ice time with 25:36. It was a nice showing by the Red Wings prospect.

We're tied at 2! Peterka has his 2nd of the game for Germany.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/MnYpp0JSqn

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) December 27, 2019

#LoseForLafreniere

Canada’s Lafreniere shows he’s more than just skill at world juniors | Sportsnet

“I thought he was all skill,” said Bahl, who crushed American forward Bobby Brink moments after Lafreniere upped his physical play. “He loves to throw around the body and I absolutely love that.”’

That desire to be in the middle of the fray sounds a lot like Crosby, who had his No. 87 jersey retired by both Rimouski and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in September.

”I always try and bring some physicality in my game,” said the six-foot-one, 194-pound Lafreniere. “Getting involved physically, it’s always good.”

I’m 100% sold on Alexis Lafreniere.

Around the League

NHL Mailbag: Which star is ready to break out in the new year? | Yahoo!

Anderson asks: “Who will Steve Yzerman replace Blashill with when the time comes? Is he waiting for Cooper to get canned?”

Because of all the coaching changes this year, there are actually a few good candidates who might want the job provided Yzerman can carpet-bomb the roster to make it either cheap and bad or expensive and good.

That’ll take a lot of doing, obviously, but doesn’t a DeBoer or Hynes make at least some sense there? There are a couple more coaches or the chopping block right now, like Laviolette, who could work as well. They could also go internal and just hire Dan Bylsma.

• Jon Cooper
• Peter DeBoer
• John Hynes
• Peter Laviolette
• Dan Bylsma/

Do you want any of the coaches above behind the bench in Detroit next season?