The Detroit Red Wings have dropped below .500 again with their loss last night to the Ottawa Senators, and the groans from hockey fans in Michigan are beginning again. Yesterday, our Nate Brown took a look at the coaching staff’s part in the sluggish start, and today Craig Custance of The Athletic went in depth on the trade value of a certain first-line asset.
Gustav Nyquist is an interesting piece for the Red Wings, under contract through the end of next season. The 28-year old forward was once one of the hottest scoring threats in the league, registering 48 points in 57 games in the 2013-14 season. That garnered him some Hart Trophy votes and a place on the Swedish Olympic team, but he hasn’t had quite the same impact since. Custance has some great quotes from scouts and front office types around the league on his perceived value, which isn’t as high as it could be if he can find some kind of consistency over the next few months.
- Cale Makar is off to quite a start at UMass reports Craig Button of TSN. The fourth-overall pick of 2017 is a shining light for the Colorado Avalanche in their continued defensive struggles. Makar is the kind of defenseman who can bring you to your feet at any moment, and is starting to adapt to playing against higher competition. It will be interesting to see how long he stays in the college ranks, before being recruited to jump to the NHL with the Avalanche.
- Although it’s clearly not serious, Carey Price wasn’t present at Montreal Canadiens practice today as he nursed a lower-body injury. The team is expected to recall a goaltender and will have Al Montoya start on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets. It might be good for Price to get some time off, as he’s struggled mightily through the early part of the season. With an .877 save percentage through 11 games, he’s leading the league in goals allowed and losses. About to start an eight-year, $84MM contract extension next season, the Canadiens need Price to get back to his all-world ways as soon as possible.
I suspect Price suffered the injury on Matt Cullen’s cross-ice goal in the 1st. It was an awkward looking save attempt and he didn’t look comfortable afterwards.
I suspect Price suffered the injury when he collapsed under the weight of his new contract and the pressure bruised his ego.
Red wings need a new GM
X, you have stated the absolute truth. Ken Holland has been awful ever since he couldn’t spend nearly a unlimited amount of money on free agents. He has single handedly destroyed the team & many younger players. There are many in Grand Rapids that would improve the team, more than some of these veterans on outrageous contracts. Someone needs to step in & fire both Holland & Blashill before they do any more damage to this franchise.
*an*
Price is so overrated is literally laughable. He’s a crybaby who goes crazy any time he’s mildly touched, and is probably just out because he was having Chris Kreider nightmares again.
Price, overrated? Come on, man, check his stats from day one.