The Detroit Red Wings opted to not offer forward Bobby Ryan a contract, and released him from his professional tryout:
Jeff Blashill said Bobby Ryan has been released from his PTO. Also said it was a tough call, he's a good person and a good hockey player. @DetroitRedWings #LGRW
— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 11, 2021
Ryan was a player so many Wings fans wanted to see back on the roster and was apparently well liked both in the organization and the locker room. Despite some good performances in the preseason, the Red Wings are now most assuredly keeping Joe Veleno and Lucas Raymond on the roster.
But for now, this will sum it up for many Wings fans:
Bobby Ryan released from his PTO. heartbreak ensues
— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 11, 2021
Red Wings Show a Shift in Roster
For so long, it was veterans who received the benefit of the doubt on the roster, but this move shows again, Yzerman and head coach Jeff Blashill are going with who they believe will help the team immediately. Yzerman started by buying out the contracts of Justin Abdelkader and Frans Nielsen, and has whittled the roster down to players he believes are ready to play.
The Athletic Max Bultman listed some practice notes on Twitter and the top six are certainly interesting:
Red Wings top six ahead of today’s roster deadline looks fairly set based on today’s practice
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 11, 2021
Raymond-Larkin-Bertuzzi
Fabbri-Suter-Zadina
But Detroit still rotating 8 other forwards practicing today for 7 roster spots and 6 lineup spots
With Raymond on practicing with the top line, it gives Red Wings fans a double dose of hope and what they wanted in that Raymond will not only make the roster, but be given prominent minutes. Though Ryan doesn’t make the squad, the Red Wings are now embracing their future and finally moving forward with the top picks making the opening night lineup.
Blashill’s press conference from this morning indicated that they’re still monitoring the health of some players before they make their final decisions. He was also very non-committal about final roster choices. But it certainly feels that the youth has a great chance of making it.
What does it mean going forward?
The rebuild is taking the next step forward. There’s still going to be a lot of patience required and the process won’t change over night. But what Red Wings fans really wanted–which was to see the team rebuilt and then led the kids take their rightful place is now occurring.
Whether it’s both Veleno and Raymond, or just one of them, with Moritz Seider making it and possibly two other first round picks–the future is slowly finding its way into the present.