Speaking June 21 before the NHL Draft, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman spoke of his preference for a two-goaltender system. It makes practice rotations easier, game assignments easier. While he emphasized that he wasn’t 100% opposed to running with three goaltenders, it was clear that Yzerman preferred to move on from that if he could.
“I don’t see us really doing three goaltenders throughout the course of the season,” Yzerman said. “That wasn’t really the plan last year, either, but injury kind of dictated that. And we kind of hemmed and hawed a little bit at the end of the season as far as OK, what do we want to do and then Ville (Husso) got hurt and the issue was resolved.”
If the Red Wing wanted two goaltenders for 2024-25, then signing two more in free agency certainly complicated matters. Detroit gained a potential starter in Cam Talbot, while Jack Campbell is likely destined for the AHL. Those two are added to a system that already has Alex Lyon and Ville Husso at the NHL level, re-creating the three goaltender situation that Yzerman wasn’t so keen on.
Forget about the complications this system might present to simply getting goaltenders enough ice time. This could also have costly ramifications for the roster spots available to the Red Wings’ many budding rookies. By occupying a healthy scratch slot that limits lineup changes and roster adjustments, the three-goaltender rotation presents roster management problems that Detroit is going to have to address at some point.
Assuming they get defenseman Moritz Seider and forwards Lucas Raymond and Jonatan Berggren under contract, the Red Wings are set to start their offseason with all 23 roster spots claimed by returners, free agent adds, or prospects who are now waiver eligible. Right now, defensemen Albert Johansson and Justin Holl are projected to fill the two healthy scratch spots available to skaters, and if it isn’t them then some defenseman they displace will be in those shoes. When it comes to forwards, whether a rookie or an established vet, there just isn’t a roster spot to bring them on right now with Lyon, Husso and Talbot all on the NHL roster.
This presents a challenge for both the short – and long-term futures. With roster space so tight, rookies such as forwards Marco Kasper, Carter Mazur and Nate Danielson will find it exceedingly difficult to make the roster. Unless something gives — a trade, a waiver assignment or even LTIR — then they’re going to have to play so well that they force Detroit to free up a roster spot. That’s a far different task compared to simply making it onto the roster. It’s also one that gives Yzerman all the incentive to let those three overripen in the AHL per his usual M.O., no matter the impact that has on their NHL timelines.
This complicated nature was entirely avoidable had Detroit gone with two goaltenders, but it felt that solid goaltending through three contributors gave it a better chance of winning games next season. Goaltending is one of the key areas Yzerman feels can dictate whether this Red Wings team can be a playoff chaser like last season, alongside some players exceeding their current expectations.
Where might Detroit go next with goaltending? Speaking after free agency July 4, Yzerman said he isn’t in any rush to make a move.
“We brought in three goaltenders last year,” Yzerman began. “Our goal wasn’t to go with three throughout the season, and we debated initially on placing one of the goalies on waivers and ultimately waited. And then with injuries, we were glad we didn’t. We’ll see how Ville’s health is in training camp. We expect him to be 100% ready to go. And then we’ll kind of do what we did last year. We’ll play it by ear. We’ll figure it out as we go along.”
So, the potential paths out of the three-goaltender rotation appear to be a Husso appearance on the injured reserve list, should he not be healthy enough to play, or potentially a waiver assignment for someone. Injuries could also present playing time opportunities for young players, but this is a rather unpredictable avenue to rely on.
Outside of the most visible impacts on the actual goaltending room, any resolution to the Red Wings rostering three goaltenders will alap open up a roster spot for a skater. That could be a veteran, such as AAAA players Sheldon Dries and Joe Snively. It could also be a rookie a la Mazur, Kasper or Danielson. But this availability is dependent on a move that Yzerman and Detroit have no urgency to make. It’s probably going to take a while.
Rostering three goaltenders may not have been the most optimal plan, but it’s one that the Red Wings believe will help them win games. At what cost to their prospects and their timelines is up for debate, but this appears to be a cost Yzerman and Co. are willing to pay in the present.
Also from THN Detroit
From the Archive: MASSIVE STANLEY CUP RALLY JOYOUS END TO HEADY YEAR
What Could the Red Wings’ Lineup Look Like in 2024-25
From the Archive: “Czeching Game Key to Historic Gold” and Dominik Hasek’s Olympic Brilliance
Must Watch: Buchelnikov Scores Dazzling Shootout Goal
Around the League: What Does Michkov’s Arrival Tell Us about the Draft and the Flyers?
How Long Until the Red Wings Get Aggressive in their Rebuild?
Where Does the Offseason Leave the Red Wings Fourth Line?
Former Red Wing Forward Signs in Switzerland
UFA Daniel Sprong Signs with Vancouver Canucks
Red Wings’ Offseason Moves Leave Cap Space Flexibility for Raymond, Seider Extensions
