Breaking Down the Pink Wings' Organizational Goalie Depth forward of Coaching Camp

Final season, a three-goalie system proved to be the Detroit Red Wings’ saving grace. In a season wherein their beginning goaltender spent many of the yr injured, the Pink Wings obtained good goaltending from Alex Lyon and James Reimer. Heading into this season, one other three-goalie system appears to be the reply but once more.

However the NHL is not the one stage the place there are advanced selections to be made in regards to the staff’s goalies. Forward of coaching camp, right here’s a take a look at the place Detroit’s goaltending stands up and down the group.

The NHL Degree

Cam Talbot

Talbot’s two-year, $2 million cope with the Pink Wings flew within the face of every thing Yzerman mentioned heading into free company. He did not need his roster to tie up an additional spot for a goaltender. He believed Ville Husso can be wholesome heading into the season. And but, on July 1, Yzerman grabbed one of many high goalies in the marketplace in Talbot.

On the very least, Talbot brings depth to the goalie room. Between him, Lyon and Husso, the Pink Wings have three potential starters within the combine. Detroit coach Derek Lalonde desires to see a “wholesome competitors” from the group, as he mentioned in early August.

“Talking with all three goalies, I believe Steve did a fairly good job of explaining to them the state of affairs, that it’s going to be a contest,” Lalonde mentioned. “And all three goalies during the last couple years have confirmed to play at a really excessive stage. They’ve all proven it.

[Read More: What to Expect from Detroit Red Wings’ “Healthy Competition” in Net]

Talbot has maybe proven essentially the most not solely prior to now couple years, but in addition in his whole profession. At 37, he continues to defy age by averaging about 41 begins per season for the previous 4 years. Final yr in Los Angeles, Talbot began 52 video games throughout an All-Star season that noticed him backstop the Kings into the playoffs. If there was a favourite to be the one true starter among the many Pink Wings’ triumvirate, Talbot’s it.

The questions with Talbot are: Can he proceed to succeed behind certainly one of final season’s worst defensive groups? And, can he proceed to defy the age curve? If the solutions to these questions are sure, Detroit can be making out like bandits having introduced him in on such an inexpensive deal. If no, then it solely muddies an already advanced goalie state of affairs.

Alex Lyon

Lyon’s in a troublesome place this coaching camp as a result of nothing he did final season deserved a demotion, and but he’s in all probability not going to see as many video games as his career-high 44 appearances final season (essentially the most since his first professional season in 2016-17 with Philadelphia’s Lehigh Valley AHL affiliate). Per knowledge tracked by Moneypuck, Lyon’s 2.1 targets saved above anticipated ranked 18th amongst NHL goalies who performed 41 video games or extra. These stats can be far increased if it weren’t for a private 10-game shedding streak in March and April that noticed overuse tank his efficiency.

Now, Lyon is the incumbent starter battling for his job. Lighter utilization this season alongside Talbot and a wholesome Husso might enhance Lyon’s efficiency in his second season in Detroit. Even so, for a participant who lastly broke by way of as an everyday NHL choice final season, demotion by roster addition would undoubtedly damage.

One caveat to Lyon’s state of affairs is that his stage of capacity, costing a cut price $900,00, makes him an fascinating participant for groups searching for goaltending choices. Detroit is 4 deep proper now on NHL goaltenders counting UFA signee Jack Campbell, and a wholesome and — most significantly, efficient Husso might show Lyon superfluous. Groups whose goaltending is in disarray could also be within the providers of Lyon. There would definitely be threat in buying and selling him away after such a very good season final yr and with Husso’s damage historical past elevating concern. All that is to stipulate an choice, not essentially an expectation.

Ville Husso

After two decrease physique accidents final season, Husso gave the impression to be on the mend when he took on a conditioning stint in Grand Rapids final April. That lasted till warmups, when he tweaked an damage and needed to depart the ice. That ended his season, however extra importantly raised questions on his long run future. Going by way of so many accidents in a single season is, frankly, scary.

[Read More: What Would a Bounce Back Year Look Like for Ville Husso?]

After an offseason of getting his physique proper, Husso seems to be able to go for the season. Yzerman and Lalonde have each maintained this offseason that Husso is 100%. Extra telling, Husso spent the summer season understanding with a bunch of elite NHLers in Plymouth this summer season. Just some of the names: Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Copp, Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck, and all three Hughes brothers. You don’t face pictures from NHL All-Stars in the event you aren’t absolutely wholesome. Husso understanding with that crew is pretty much as good an indication as any that he’s again to full well being.

With well being, the place does Husso match into the goalie room? He’s in all probability not getting his beginning job straight away with Talbot and Lyon within the combine, however he ought to be capable to compete for the function. His begins, even when wholesome, weren’t stellar in 2023-24, although nagging accidents might have performed an element in that. Husso is beginning on sq. one, in a method, although beginning in any respect is a giant win for him contemplating the place he was 5 months in the past.

The AHL Degree

Sebastian Cossa

Cossa’s improvement has developed a sample. When he takes on a brand new stage of hockey, the beginning of his season sees a extremely shaky, up-and-down efficiency as he adjusts to the extent. Then about midway by way of the season, he hits his stride and turns into one of many league’s most dominant netminders.

Cossa did it in Toledo again in 2022-23, backstopping the Walleye to the convention finals with a 5-2 document and a pair of.32/.917 stat line. Then he did it in Grand Rapids, placing collectively a record-breaking 19-game unbeaten streak from January to April. There have been nuances to each cases, equivalent to improved staff play and plenty of objective help. For essentially the most half, although, Cossa was good in these performances.

[Read More: Prospect Roundup: Sebastian Cossa Breaking Records in AHL]

The issue is, that sample doesn’t fly on the NHL stage, and never when 4 NHLers are already within the goalie pipeline. So, Cossa is destined for an additional season within the AHL except he convincingly proves in any other case.

The largest want for Cossa going ahead is to be taught to deal with extreme utilization. As Detroit’s high goalie prospect, the expectation is that he turns into a beginning goaltender — that’s, enjoying 50-plus video games every season. Cossa has by no means topped 46 in an everyday season, matching that quantity on the WHL and ECHL ranges. So, this season is about working the pitch depend for Cossa, getting him used to enjoying a complete lot of video games.

None of those begins are simply going to be handed to Cossa — Yzerman’s organizations don’t fly that method, as is well-known. Former NHL starter Jack Campbell is searching for a profession revival with the Griffins, and he’s going to place stress on Cossa to maintain his job. That’s good stress for the 2021 first spherical decide. How he handles it will likely be a very good knowledge level for his future timeline.

Jack Campbell

Edmonton appeared to have its beginning goaltender when it signed Campbell to a five-year, $5 million contract within the 2022 offseason. Two years later, it resulted in a buyout. For Campbell, a profession reclamation is the objective for this season, proving he nonetheless has what it takes to play on the skilled ranges. He’s on a one-year, league minimal deal.

A state of affairs like that’s sure to make Campbell hungry. He’ll have an uphill battle to win begins from Cossa, however being within the combine for what ought to be a high AHL playoff contender is an efficient state of affairs to place himself in.

There’s a query of whether or not Campbell might get into some NHL video games this season. Previously when NHL goaltenders have been injured or in any other case unavailable, Detroit wasn’t too eager on interrupting the seasons of its prospects to throw them into the NHL fireplace. Final season, Yzerman opted to improve AHL signee Michael Hutchinson to an NHL contract slightly than name up Cossa when each Husso and Lyon have been damage in December. Campbell finds himself in that function this season. There’s no assure that a possibility will come up for him to play a sport with Detroit, however the avenue is there.

The ECHL Degree

Carter Gylander

Gylander was spectacular within the Pink Wings’ prospect video games over the weekend — a lot in order that he was certainly one of THN Detroit’s six takeaways for every sport. Gylander moved properly for a 6-foot-5 goaltender, and he got here up with a lot of very nice saves on his approach to stopping 29 of the 30 pictures he noticed throughout 90 minutes of play. It was an excellent entry to his first professional season.

[Read More: 6 More Takeaways from Day 2 of Red Wings Prospect Games]

It’s actually not a query that Detroit ought to play Gylander within the ECHL. For a prospect recent out of the NCAA, and with two established goaltenders with the Griffins, there simply wouldn’t be sufficient video games for him in Grand Rapids. With Toledo, Gylander can ease right into a tandem alongside Griffins signee and former Pink Wings fourth spherical decide Jared Bednar, who performed about half the season with the Walleye final yr.

Organizations prefer to play goalie prospects the place they’ll get quantity, versus enjoying them towards one of the best competitors accessible. Gylander acknowledges this, even when he does need to stand up the ranks with haste.

“I need to make it tough for administration to ship me down if I am enjoying very well,” Gylander mentioned Sunday. “It is my first yr (as a) professional, so I perceive it’s a must to undergo it a bit of bit, nevertheless it’s a matter of simply getting the video games in — particularly as a goalie. It is about seeing minutes and seeing pucks. So no matter occurs within the subsequent yr or subsequent two, it would not actually change. It is simply extra so play on the highest stage that I presumably can.”

Gylander’s best choice for quantity comes on the ECHL, however just a few AHL video games wouldn’t be stunning. That’s what Cossa did in 2022-23, and whereas there are clear variations between the projections of a primary spherical decide and a seventh rounder, there’s a door for Gylander to stroll by way of ought to alternative come knocking.

Gage Alexander

Alexander is the latest addition to the Detroit goalie depth chart, acquired as a part of the Robby Fabbri cap dump with Anaheim. Alexander is a 6-foot-6 tree, crammed out to 205 kilos in a method that’s typically tough for goaltenders of his dimension. Final season, he performed 19 video games with the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers, going 5-8-1 with a 3.76 /.887 stat line. He hasn’t br0ken the .900 mark since 2022, his second-to-last season within the WHL.

The expectations for Alexander ought to be low contemplating his observe document, and it will be a shock to see him play wherever increased than the ECHL. The place he matches in — with Gylander and Bednar within the image round him — might be as a third-string backup.

The Reserve Record

Trey Augustine

Augustine ought to be one of many NCAA’s high goaltenders this season, enjoying for Michigan State as soon as extra within the NCAA. He will even be Staff USA’s starter within the World Junior Championship. Not unhealthy for a second spherical decide in 2023. Not unhealthy for a second spherical decide. His poise and management are his superpowers in internet, producing some heroic saves in clutch moments. Consistency is the secret this season — that’s, constantly enjoying on the high of his sport, even when he’s adequate to get away with an off night time.

Augustine’s NHL readiness is a bit huge open. There’s no indication that this can be his ultimate collegiate yr, and what ought to be an more and more aggressive Spartans staff might draw him again after this season. At any time when he does get to the professional ranks, stops within the minor leagues would possible be so as. So, for now, hold watching him play, however don’t financial institution on a professional debut.

Landon Miller

Miller is a challenge goaltender, a 6-foot-5 goaltender with loads of tough edges who Detroit is making an attempt to purchase early on with a fourth spherical decide. Miller goes to tackle an expansive function with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds this season, after placing collectively some good tape final season. He didn’t have a robust exhibiting within the prospect video games over the weekend, permitting two targets in half of Sunday’s 3-2 win. Granted, Dallas performed a few of its higher hockey in that stretch, however the distinction between a man like Gylander and Miller was absolutely obvious. He’s a good distance off from NHL readiness, however that’s A-OK to Detroit.

[Read More: In Goalie Landon Miller, Red Wings Spot Size to Build On]

“With the goaltender factor it is a bit of extra difficult in that you just need to be sure that they’ve a runway, so to talk, to get to professional the place they are going and a possibility after they do flip professional to have a spot to play,” Yzerman mentioned on the NHL Draft in June, “You do not need to have a logjam of goalies since you solely have so many spots for them to play.”

Rudy Guimond

Guimond is Cedar Rapids’ high goaltender within the USHL, with a Yale dedication for the 2025-26 season. He has a protracted approach to go earlier than being professional prepared — if he ever is professional prepared. He struggled to separate himself on the USHL stage final season. That comes with the territory while you gamble on a sixth spherical goalie popping out of highschool.

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