Detroit Red Wings: Greiss’ Effort Overshadowed by Vrana’s Breakout Performance
By Jeff Hawkins
Overshadowed by Vrana-mania, Detroit Red Wings goalie Thomas Greiss was content to stand in the background.
To coach Jeff Blashill, however, Greiss, next to Jakub Vrana’s four goal-effort, stood at the forefront of Thursday’s 7-3 victory over the Dallas Stars.
Greiss turned aside 43 shots and when his teammates needed it, “he stopped some tough chances,” Blashill said during the post-game press conference via Red Wings TV. “I thought tonight was his cleanest game. He got to pucks. He played the pucks well.”
In Blashill’s recent rotating system, goalie Jonathan Bernier likely will get the call for tonight’s four-game regular-series finale against the Stars at Little Caesars Arena.
But if Blashill goes by merit, Greiss would get the nod.
Red Wings Looking for Top Goalie
Over the past six weeks, Greiss has proven to be the organization’s top netminder, earning four wins in past five starts.
It would be interesting to see what taxi squad member Kaden Fulcher looks like after a few more starts with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, but Greiss is giving GM Steve Yzerman confidence going into next season.
While Jonathan Bernier is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Greiss, for his age 35 season, is signed for a cap hit of $3.6 million, according to spotrac.com.
Bernier will be entering his age 33 season and had capt hits of $3 million the past three seasons.
Bernier was rumored to be on the move at the trade deadline, but Yzerman did not come down off his high demands.
Prospect Evaluations
There’s a sense, Yzerman will roll with Greiss-Bernier one more season so he can further evaluate the organization’s top prospects, like Fulcher, Victor Brattström, Jesper Eliasson and Keith Petruzzelli.
Greiss’ play over his past nine starts could make his 2021-22 deal a bargain.
“He’s done a good job for the last stretch, for sure,” Blashill said.
Considering the desert of offensive support Greiss received early this season, he probably wouldn’t mind being overshadowed a bit more by Vrana-mania.