Red Wings Rumblings
A pretty nice deep-dive into Detroit’s prospects from Tony Ferrari that goes over the strengths and weaknesses. Simon Edvinsson has his own little section in this article:
“Edvinsson brings high potential in all facets of the game. Defensively, he uses his length and skating to cut down lanes and kill play. In transition, he can move the puck up ice as a passer or carrier. In the offensive zone, he has the vision and mobility to walk the line and set up plays. He could fill the role of power-play quarterback on the second unit while also eventually finding a role on the penalty kill. Edvinsson may not quite reach the status that Moritz Seider has as a true No. 1 defenseman, but he could be an excellent complement who can alleviate some of the load Seider has to take on.”
I have to give Tony a little flak, though. He mentioned Marco Kasper as a “surefire” NHLer but made a comment that states he doesn’t bring much offensive skill. I don’t agree with that because, well, Kasper has had some of his growth stunted by injuries. He bounced back quite nicely this past season with 14 goals and 21 assists in the regular season, then seven points in nine playoff games. I just don’t think it’s fair to say Kasper won’t bring much offensively. Sure, his offensive game may not fill out like, say, Dylan Larkin’s did… But I’m not sure you can accurately forecast the offensive abilities of a 20-year-old forward who has only one season of pro hockey in North America.
Meanwhile, there’s still nothing on the contract front for Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. It’s making some fans a little nervous, and it’s certainly valid to have those feelings. There’s still time left in the offseason to get these deals done. Detroit has the cap space, so that shouldn’t be a concern. I feel confident this will all get taken care of before we head into training camp. Should be mentioned that one of Raymond’s peers, Quinton Byfield, recently signed a five-year extension at $6.25 million AAV. That could, perhaps, be a glimpse at what Raymond’s extension may look like, though I think Lucas should get more term if possible.
NHL News
Joe Pavelski officially retires
Pavelski is done with the NHL after 18 seasons. I always thought Pavelski was a great player, and it’s a shame that he never actually won anything outside of a silver medal. Also interesting to read that Pavelski spoke with the Sharks about returning before reaching a decision on his retirement.
Anyways, happy retirement to one of the best 7th-round picks in NHL history.
