On Tuesday, the Red Wings dressed five of their own former first-round picks as part of a youthful lineup that earned a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena. In front of goalie Sebastian Cossa, who made 15 saves, Emmit Finnie scored the go-ahead goal and had an assist while Michael Brandsegg-Nygård dished out a pair of helpers.
“They all looked good,” captain Dylan Larkin said of Detroit’s younger players. “They all looked like they can think, skate well and have the raw attributes that make someone a good hockey player.”
There are elements to preseason games that Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan can’t normally get from his players during practice. And having coached his share of exhibition contests, McLellan said the way in which he evaluates youngsters who are pushing for Opening Night roster spots has evolved over the years.
“As we get further into our career, we’re maybe more trusting of some of the younger players,” McLellan said. “We’re willing to maybe give them a little more leash and not look for perfection right off the bat. At least I feel like that – I can’t speak for all the older coaches. For me, I pay attention to them a little bit more now than I did…I feel better about paying more attention to them and still get to the, for lack of a better term, big boys. They’ll get my attention, but I look and maybe spend more time with them.”
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