Todd McLellan says the Red Wings have stayed resilient through the chaos, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is a big reason why.
“The group's been really, considering all the crap we've gone through, it's been pretty resilient,” the Detroit coach said.
The crap isn't hard to spot. Dylan Larkin wants out, Simon Edvinsson's name keeps popping up in trade talk, and Shawn Horcoff only took over on September 15.
Through all of it, Detroit has picked up points in five straight games. Thursday's 5-2 win in Vancouver was the latest.
Brandsegg-Nygard, 21, has eight points and a +10 rating. Not bad for a kid playing through a storm he didn't create.
Emmitt Finnie, also 21, has six points over his last five games.
On the back end, Anton Johansson, 22, has four points over that same stretch.
Daniil Tarasov's hot start gives Detroit a crease question
Daniil Tarasov carries a .940 save percentage and a shutout through four games.
John Gibson sits at .871 on a $6,400,000 cap hit. McLellan's next big call might be in his own crease.
Lucas Raymond, 24, has found his touch too, with three goals over his last five games.
It's like a family dinner where the parents are arguing in the kitchen while the kids quietly set the table and serve the meal.
Larkin has five points through eight games. The younger crowd has been carrying more than its share.
That's the best news Horcoff could get. Whatever happens with Larkin, this group is proving it can handle chaos, and that should make him less desperate at the trade table.
Detroit sits 4-3-3 heading into Calgary on Saturday, then Edmonton on Monday. The Oilers will show just how resilient this group really is.
Should the Red Wings build around their kids and trade Dylan Larkin now?
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