In Red Wings Land

Red Wings head back to work, ‘flushing’ frightful stats so far | Detroit News

Many of the numbers the Wings have compiled so far are frightful:

►The Wings’ 9-26-3 record (21 points) puts them 31st of 31 teams and the 30th team, New Jersey (12-19-5), is eight points better (29) while having played two fewer games.

►The Wings are the only team in the NHL that hasn’t reached double-digits in wins.

►The Wings’ goal differential is minus-68 and the next worst is New Jersey at minus-37.

►For good measure, the Wings are the NHL’s lowest-scoring team (2.16 goals per game) and they’re giving up the most goals (3.92).

Only 3+ months until the NHL Draft lottery!

Speaking of which…

Around the League

Lafreniere scores winner as Canada defeats USA in thrilling World Juniors opener | TSN

Seven seconds – that’s all it took for Alexis Lafreniere to make something out of nothing. June’s consensus No. 1 overall pick picked off a pass and slipped it by Spencer Knight, responding for a shell-shocked Team Canada against its biggest rival.

The Red Wings could really use a player the caliber of Lafrenière. He had a goal and three assists yesterday against the U.S. and played most of the game alongside Detroit prospect Joe Veleno.

Joe Veleno on Alexis Lafreniere: “He can take over the game when he wants to; he’s a phenomenal talent, competes hard and hates to lose so it’s nice to play w/ guys like that.”

— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) December 26, 2019