Detroit Red Wings Blue Line Report for the Week of December 11, 2022

1 of 3

After a 1-2-1 week, the Red Wings faced one of their most demanding road trips of the year. Any of these three teams could easily raise the Stanley Cup at the end of the season. Tampa Bay, Florida, and Dallas on the road is a difficult stretch.

The Detroit Red Wings were clear underdogs in all three games. If we remember, this was the point in the season last year where the wheels started to come off, and they never recovered. A 1-1-1 week against these teams is a good result for any team. The wheels are still comfortably attached.

A Look at the Detroit Red Wings’ Twenty-Fifth Game of the Season: Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay is one of the top teams in the league, but they only have two more points than the Red Wings at this point in the season. The first two periods were fantastic defensive periods. The puck appeared to be bouncing more in this game than others, making a coherent offense tricky.

Yet, the consistent defensive pressure had something to do with that. Husso continued to be very good, but this win was a complete team effort. The Lightning pulled the goalie with five minutes left and got on the board.

They tried it again with three minutes left, and this time Adam Erne fired a 180-foot shot into the empty net. And again, with two minutes remaining and the Lightning pulled within one without a goalie. Then another empty net goal by David Perron to seal the deal. Four goals were scored with an empty net. But eventually, a win. An excellent, high-energy all-around defensive effort.

Detroit Red Wings: Game Twenty-Five Individual Reports

Ben Chiarot – Grade B. The first pairing has been the weakest of the three pairings over the last three weeks. Playing every night against the league’s superstars is among the most challenging tasks in hockey. We know who Chiarot is, a hard player to play against but limited. Chiarot seems like he wants to be an offensive defenseman but has a stay-at-home defenseman skillset. When he plays within himself, he is a major contributor.

Moritz Seider – Grade B. Too bad that advanced scouting has deprived us of the tremendous reverse hits we saw last year. Players don’t challenge him the same way anymore. But when Seider makes a big hit early, he tends to have a great game. This was a solid and hard-hitting game. The first pairing was strong.

Filip Hronek—Grade A-. Another assist and terrific defensive play headlined Hronek’s performance. The second pairing has been the strength of the team this season. Their ice time has increased to the point that Maatta and Hronek may be the first pairing now.

Olli Maatta—Grade A. A quality game. Maatta is great with the puck in his own end. He is perfectly positioned all the time. And he earned another assist. The second pair has been great all season, but this was his best game in a Red Wings uniform.

Jordan Oesterle—Grade B. The third line has been strong. Their ice time has increased accordingly. The Red Wings are closer to having three equal pairs. Having a dominant first pairing is often an essential characteristic of a winning team, but three quality pairs are not bad. Oesterle has blossomed in his pairing with Walman. They looked strong.

Jake Walman—Grade B+. Walman has solidified the third pairing. He does not simply hold down the fort until the first pair is ready. Walman has the confidence to step into the offensive zone, a good shot to be a threat, and the skating skill to hustle back. Walman has dramatically strengthened the blue line.

Dec 8, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) moves the puck ahead of Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) during the third period at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

A Look at the Detroit Red Wings’ Twenty-Sixth Game of the Season: Florida Panthers

This is a game better forgotten after a great road win against Tampa Bay. The energy was low for the Detroit Red Wings. The return of Aleksander Barkov energized the Panthers in all aspects of the game. In addition, Husso, Maatta, and Walman did not play. Playing without three players who are crucial to keeping the puck out of the Red Wings’ goal was not a recipe for success. A 5-1 defeat was to be expected. The depth on the blue line and in goal is not strong enough to give starters a break or withstand injury and illness. Alex Nedeljkovic was not strong.

Detroit Red Wings: Game Twenty-Six Individual Reports

Moritz Seider – Grade C. Barkov and Tkachuk were all over the Red Wings. I am starting to be convinced that the Seider and Chiarot pairing is not working as the first pairing. Being on the ice for so many defensive zone faceoffs against the opposition’s top lines takes a toll. Seider and Maatta would be a strong first pairing. Hronek is playing so well, his defensive game has improved dramatically, and he is now taking charge when he is on the ice. Chiarot and Hronek are worth the experiment.

Ben Chiarot – Grade C. After such a tight and strong game, this game was an undisciplined effort from Chiarot. He chased the play throughout.

Filip Hronek – Grade B. He has been the best player on the blue line. This was a test, as Olli Maatta missed the game with an illness. In a game of poor performances, Hronek played well.

Jordan Oesterle – Grade C. Oesterle is the utility infielder on this team who steps in when needed. He was asked to do a little too much, but he was also solid.

Robert Hagg – Grade D. The third pairing on the blue line was where momentum went to die. Hagg was not strong and had a rough return to the ice.

Gustav Lindstrom – Grade D-. A minus three is a pretty fair summary of Lindstrom’s evening. And it could have been worse. It had been several games since he had been on the ice. He did not make a case for additional ice time.

Dec 10, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Gustav Lindstrom (28) cross checks Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) as Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso (35) defends the goal during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

A Look at the Detroit Red Wings’ Twenty-Seventh Game of the Season: Dallas Stars

The Stars are a tough team to play against after the Florida road trip. But the Red Wings were back to being tight on defense and limiting opportunities. Husso returned to the net and had another quality start. An overtime loss is not the worst result. But that overtime period was awkward and chaotic. A miscommunication between Chiarot and Larkin led to a two-on-one and the final goal by the Stars.

Detroit Red Wings: Game Twenty-Seven Individual Reports

Moritz Seider – Grade B. This has not been a great season so far for Seider. But he remains an outstanding penalty killer and adds much to the team in this regard. He is still a key figure on the offense with subtle plays and getting second assists.

Ben Chiarot – Grade B. A nice shot at the end of the second period that David Perron deflected helped to get a huge last-minute goal in the second period. I’m also not sure that Chiarot is the best choice on the ice for a three-on-three overtime situation. After Seider and Hronek, Walman may be the best defenseman on the team for the overtime situation.

Filip Hronek – Grade B+. The soaring confidence of Hronek means that he is taking control of the puck and often dictating the game when he is on the ice. His defensive deficiencies that have been noted so often are nearly invisible when he carries the puck and controls it in this fashion.

Jake Walman – The four-minute-high sticking in the second period could have been the game’s turning point. The Stars scored a goal, but the Red Wings will off the rest of the penalty. Walman showed excellent skating. He and Hronek are a quality pairing.

Jordan Oesterle – Grade C. Not a bad player and an upgrade over Hagg. But he is not good enough to pull Lindstrom up. The result is that this third pairing will need major protection from the forwards. When this third pair is on the ice, the Wings will spend some time scrambling in their own end. This tendency is exaggerated when playing on the road.

Gustav Lindstrom – Grade D. The way he was burned on the second goal was horrid coverage on a two-on-two rush. The third line is back to being the team’s weak link in the last two games. He’s always trapped by forecheckers on the rush.

Home / Red Wings News