In Red Wings Land
FROM ‘C’ TO GM | GriffinsHockey.com
Griffiti Magazine scored an exclusive 1-on-1 interview with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman. Check out our issue 1 cover story and get your copy at tonight’s Home Opener!
— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) October 11, 2019
This is a really good interview with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman. It’s a nice peek into the front office’s operations and philosophies.
A couple parts I really enjoyed reading:
Numbers – the fancy term is analytics – occupy an increasingly important space in the player evaluation process. Although he played in an era that preceded the current appreciation for analytical data, Yzerman confirmed that metrics may be another tool that an organization is wise to consult in the decision-making process.
“Analytics is a broad term, but we use data in everything,” he said. “We look at analytics, but we also try to look at things from a subjective point of view. The more information you have, the more you can make more informed, better decisions. We try to use analytical data in every aspect of running the organization.”
More information, more fun. I like that Wings management is looking at all the possible data that’s out there.
“So you learn from winning, but you can learn from losing, too. Our goal is to put a good team on the ice, but we’re not going to sacrifice the development of our young players. We’re not going to put together a very experienced, veteran team for the sake of trying to win. We need our young guys to play.
Love this.
I’m not all that worried about what the Griffins’ final record is at the end of the AHL season. I’d rather see players like Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno and Filip Zadina get a ton of ice time for their development than a bunch of AHL vets hitting the ice to try to win a Calder Cup. Of course, if the prospects end up as a championship winning group then all the better.
Around the League
Insider Trading: NHL scouts drooling over immense potential of Lafreniere, Byfield | TSN
McKenzie: No doubt about it. I’ll give the usual provisory, it’s early, a lot can happen between now and the end. But I’ll tell you what; NHL scouts have been blown away by how these top two prospects have played so far in the Quebec league and Ontario Hockey League. Start with Alexis Lafrenière, 19 points in 8 games for Rimouski, scouts are just raving about his hockey sense and everything he’s done in the early going. And then there’s Quinton Byfield, six-foot-four, 215lbs, he’s got 16 points in seven games.
Hey, I’m loving the Wings’ early success on the ice as much as anyone… but if/when the team comes back down to Earth and falls near the bottom of the standings, well, there are couple of really good players that could end up in Detroit if the ping pong balls finally fall our way.
