The Detroit Red Wings are skating back at home for the first time in over a week after the conclusion of their four game road trip to the west coast, coming away with five of the possible eight points from the journey as the team found itself yet again getting significant contributions from this year’s rookie class.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Anton Johansson and William Wallinder have all impressed since making the opening night roster, but it was Michal Postava, who was called up under emergency conditions that was the main factor in the team’s shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL’s points leaders in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatl.
Red Wings lines: projected lineup and starting goalie →
Postava was perfect in the skills comp, and Brandsegg-Nygard’s eleven hits on the night led the team. The Norwegian winger has 54 total on year, leading the Red Wings, and his 4.5 hits per game pace through his first 12 matchups of the year has him only behind Cal Clutterbuck‘s 2008-09 record setting mark.
Go Ad-Free
Still, it’s not all good news. As the end of the first month of season draws closer, so too does the December 1 deadline to sign or trade Simon Edvinsson.
The RFA Swedish top pairing blueliner is still in the midst of what has turned into a bitter contract dispute with the Red Wings, and if left without one by December, won’t be able to play in the NHL this year.
Alexander Nikishin, the other star RFA defenseman with a contract dispute from this offseason, re-signed with the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this week, leaving the Red Wings as the only team with unfinished business on their blueline.
Red Wings Extra
64 years ago today, legendary goalie Terry Sawchuk recorded his 100th career shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs while playing for the Red Wings. Sawchuk would end his career with 103 regular season shutouts total in 1964, making a record that would stand until 2009, 55 years later.
