NOTEBOOK: Red Wings return to practice after 2024 NHL All-Star Break

DETROIT -- Key reinforcements are on the way for the Detroit Red Wings, who returned to practice Thursday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center following a seven-day hiatus during the 2024 NHL All-Star Break.

Ben Chiarot (upper body), Patrick Kane (lower body) and goalie Ville Husso (lower body) all practiced with the Red Wings and, barring any setbacks, are expected to be available for Saturday’s home matinee against the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Canucks.

Chiarot has not played since Jan. 19, while Kane has been out since Jan. 14. As for Husso, the netminder has not played for Detroit since Dec. 18, but he posted a 25-save shutout for the club’s AHL-affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins on Jan. 26.

“Knock on wood, we’re healthy,” Lalonde said Thursday. “We’re going to have some tough decisions for scratches, but that’s all part of it. Those are good problems to have. You saw us in December, we had trouble fielding a lineup with how many guys we had out. Good timing on being healthy.”

Upon returning from the break, Detroit (26-18-6; 58 points) currently holds the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot. As the Red Wings gear up for their final 32 games this season, Lalonde said the club will continue to lean on its depth.

“You want to push,” Lalonde said. “It’s a constant battle of attrition on when you can get healthy throughout the year, and for the most part, I think we’ve been very fortunate this year with our health. It just also feels that because of our added depth.”

Strong goaltending has also helped Detroit keep pace in a tight Eastern Conference postseason race, headlined by goalie Alex Lyon. In 21 games this season, Lyon has a 13-6-2 record with a 2.51 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and two shutouts.

“I foresee having Alex in net on Saturday, which obviously makes sense with the run he had prior to the break,” Lalonde said. “But again, we’re comfortable with all three goalies and will let it play out. We’re very fortunate to have three goalies, especially when two of them went on IR. We’ll kind of let that play out. Certainly not easy to manage at times but again, a good problem to have.”

Detroit will practice again Friday in preparation for its first game action since Jan. 31, when the Red Wings fell to the visiting Ottawa Senators, 3-2, in overtime. Lalonde said while his players appreciated the extra rest, getting back to game speed might initially prove challenging.

“You can do the best you can with two practices to replicate game speed, but it’s going to be hard,” Lalonde said. “We’ll be at a disadvantage there, but it’s all part of it. The schedule is not perfect. It’s an impossible matrix. You get the bad end of some things and the good end.”

Berggren represents Grand Rapids Griffins at 2024 AHL All-Star Classic

This past weekend, Jonatan Berggren shined among some of the most talented young players in the sport while representing the Griffins at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic in San Jose, Calif.

Kicking off his first career AHL All-Star experience on Sunday, Berggren walked the Red Carpet before participating in three Skills Competition events – Puck Control Relay, Pass and Score, Breakaway Relay – for the Western Conference. Then in Monday’s All-Star Challenge, the forward prospect had three points (one goal, two assists) in three tournament games for the Central Division.

“It was fun to meet the other players, play against them and to get to know them without our helmets on,” Berggren said. “It was a cool experience.”

Through 31 games this season, Berggren leads Grand Rapids in goals, assists and points (13-21—34). He’s also earned five points in nine NHL games with Detroit.

Simon Edvinsson (undisclosed) was initially selected to join Berggren in San Jose, but the defenseman prospect did not participate in the festivities.

Grand Rapids (21-17-2-1; 45 points), which is second in the Central Division, will return from the AHL All-Star break on Friday against the Manitoba Moose at Van Andel Arena.

“We started a little bit slow as a team,” Berggren said about the Griffins. “The last couple weeks, we’ve started to play the right way. I think it’s been showing.”