Detroit Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff is wasting no time putting his stamp on the roster.
The clearest sign came Tuesday, when Detroit placed defenseman Jacob Bryson on waivers for the purpose of sending him to Grand Rapids. Bryson, a smallish blue-liner with 304 NHL games and a one-way contract, was signed July 1 by former GM Steve Yzerman. Horcoff’s move opens up room for a younger look on the back end, and maybe up front too.
By moving Bryson to the AHL, Horcoff puts himself in position to keep two of the team’s three young defensemen - Axel Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder and Anton Johansson - if Detroit carries eight defensemen. ASP and Johansson are waiver exempt, while Wallinder would need to clear waivers to be sent down.
There’s also another route: the Red Wings could keep 14 forwards and seven defensemen. In that setup, the Bryson decision helps create a path for Nate Danielson.
Opening Day status for Dylan Larkin could shape everything. The Detroit Hockey Now projection has 13 forwards as Alex DeBrincat, Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Emmitt Finnie, Andrew Copp, Victor Arvidsson, Carter Mazur, Marco Kasper, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Keegan Kolesar, JT Compher, Michael Rasmussen and Mason Appleton.
If Danielson is the 14th forward, and Horcoff prefers eight defensemen and 13 forwards, then Mason Appleton could be the odd man out and wind up on waivers. That wouldn’t be necessary if Larkin’s injury issues carry into the regular season.
The challenge for Horcoff is timing. He got the job one week ago, long after the free agents who might have helped had already signed elsewhere. Detroit still needs scoring, but the trade market isn’t exactly brimming with proven forwards looking for new homes.
So the most realistic way to change the roster is to turn to the kids. That’s clearly part of the plan. Even if they’re not fully ready, young players can bring a fresh jolt, the kind Detroit saw last season from Emmitt Finnie.
It feels like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Carter Mazur will be in the lineup to start the season. Both can score and bring a physical edge. Horcoff also seems eager to give Danielson a real shot to make the team.
Detroit needs another young center, and Danielson fits that need. He plays a responsible game, maybe almost too responsible.
The Red Wings need more offense from him, more willingness to take chances. The skill is there.
In Other News...
Red Wings Just Got An Early Injury Watch In Columbus
A preseason tuneup in Columbus brought an early injury note for a Blue Jackets defense group that could matter to the Red Wings once the games start counting. Dante Fabbro, projected to open the regular season on the third pairing, was knocked out of the game with an upper-body injury and did not return, adding a little uncertainty to a blue line that is still sorting itself out before opening night.
For Detroit, it is the sort of roster wrinkle worth watching because it can affect how Columbus lines up in division play. If Fabbro is sidelined, veteran Erik Gudbranson is the most likely option to step in, which would give the Blue Jackets a different look on the back end while they wait for more clarity on Fabbros status. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings May Have One Wild Shot To Fix Their Center Problem
Detroits search for help down the middle has already turned into one of the more interesting roster questions of the preseason, and one possible answer sits in the restricted free-agent market. The Red Wings have been casting around for ways to bolster their center depth, and the idea of taking a big swing on a young, high-end talent has come into view as the kind of aggressive move that can change the look of a lineup in a hurry.
The appeal is obvious: a player with top-line upside would immediately address a need that has lingered for Detroit, even if the path to getting him is loaded with risk and complications under the NHLs collective bargaining agreement. Any offer-sheet pursuit would be the sort of cap-and-picks gamble that forces a team to weigh the long-term cost against the chance to land a difference-making center now, which is why this kind of possibility tends to linger until the final moment before the window closes. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Got One Encouraging Sign In A Frustrating Debut
Detroit had one clear bright spot in a frustrating preseason opener, and it came from the newest face in net. Daniil Tarasov was sharp from the start against the Columbus Blue Jackets, stopping all 15 shots he faced in his first preseason game for the Red Wings. Michal Postava took over in the third period and overtime and added 10 more saves, giving Detroit a steady night in goal even as the rest of the game stayed stuck in a grind.
The problem for the Red Wings was that the scoreboard never moved their way. They could not solve Columbus in regulation, then came up empty in the shootout as the game slipped away in a 1-0 finish. For a team looking to set an early tone, the goaltending offered encouragement, but the lack of finishing left plenty of room for concern. [Read more 🡒]