Red Wings Rumblings
Well, most players are on vacation right now, while a select few are getting ready for the start of the NHL’s Four Nations Face-Off tonight. It will be Team Canada vs Lucas Raymond and Team Sweden for the first game. Puck drop is 8:00 PM ET — watch it on TNT, truTV, or stream via Max. Dylan Larkin and Team USA will play Team Finland on Friday night.
Khan has a column out today that takes a look at where Larkin and Raymond fit on their teams lineups.
While we won’t have much to talk about for the next week or so, it’s worth mentioning a (somewhat older) report from Elliotte Friedman that Vladimir Tarasenko is a name to watch ahead of the NHL trade deadline. I’ll say that I’m a little surprised by this — I know things haven’t worked out perfectly in his first year of a two-year deal, but if it’s not working then it’s not working. I’m not entirely sure how much the Wings would get for Tarasenko since he hasn’t exactly been lighting up the scoresheet. Maybe it’s a third-round draft pick at most? Perhaps a lesser-known prospect? Future considerations? Your guess is as good as mine.
Nevertheless, from what we have so far, it sounds like Steve Yzerman will take a conservative approach to the trade deadline this year. That’s what I would like — I don’t think it’s necessary to mortgage the future for this team right now. The playoff race is tight and it could go any way when regular NHL action resumes. There’s always that report about Detroit being interested in Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens, though I’m not sure if there’s a ton of steam behind that. Kevin Weekes recently brought that scenario up on social media, further enforcing what Elliotte Friedman had reported before. All we know is that Detroit WAS interested in Cozens, but nothing came of it. Not sure that’s going to change.
Keep an eye out for a mailbag later this week or early next week. I’d like to know what’s on your mind, so start thinking of some questions. 😉
