Detroit Red Wings News

With Elvis Merzlikins being given some time to rest and regroup, the Blue Jackets will turn to Trasov between the pipes on Thursday for his second start of the young season. Tarasov was unspectacular in his first start, allowing four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%), but salvaged a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets enter action on Thursday as +112 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres club that was defeated 6-5 in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.

Elvis Merzlikins started the Blue Jackets' season opener but Tarasov will start Saturday in Colorado. The Blue Jackets are massive underdogs (+275) tonight and Tarasov was a 4-5-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .902 SV% on the road last year. However, he was unbelievable in his only start against the Avalanche last year, stopping 45 of 46 shots in a win.

Johansson was a second-round pick (No.60 overall) in 2019 and will replace Jeff Petry (upper-body) to make his season debut on Saturday. The 23-year-old blueliner spent the 2023-24 season in Grand Rapids (AHL), where he had 21 points (6G / 15A) in 66 games.

Gibson underwent an emergency appendectomy on September 25th and is about two weeks into his original 3-6 week timeline. The American netminder has failed to produce a save percentage above .900 in each of the last two seasons and beginning 2024-25 on the Injured Reserve is a tough way to ensure a bounce-back campaign after only 13 wins in 2023-24.

Gibson's 2024-25 is already starting out on a negative note after Anaheim announced Thursday that the 31-year-old had undergone emergency appendectomy surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be out for approximately 3-6 weeks. The American netminder has failed to produce a save percentage above .900 in each of the last two seasons and beginning 2024-25 on the Injured Reserve is a tough way to ensure a bounce-back campaign after only 13 wins in 2023-24.

Just one day after locking up Lucas Raymond, Detroit has completed their UFA signings by extending Moritz Sieder to a seven-year deal worth $8.55M AAV ($59.85M total). The 23-year-old was Detroit's 2019 1st-round pick (6th overall) and has appeared in all 82 games for the Red Wings in every season since his debut in 2021-22. Seider set career highs in goals (9), PIMs (51) and PPG (3) in 2023-24 while putting up 42 points in 82 games played.

Brandsegg-Nygard was Detroit's 2024 1st round pick (15th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings. The 18-year-old right-winger spent 2023-24 with Mora IK (HA) and had eight goals and 18 ponts in 41 games played.

Detroit added to Grand Rapids' depth chart on Monday as it added Sheldon Dries on a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old winger last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in 2022-23 but had a successful full season in Abbotsford (AHL) in 2023-24, with 29 goals and 52 points in 55 games played.

Bryson will remain a Buffalo Sabre after four successful seasons after signing a one-year, $900,000 contract extension on Monday. The 26-year-old was Buffalo's 2017 4th-round pick (99th overall) and has appeared in 206 career games, picking up four goals and 36 points.

Detroit added to their defensive depth on Monday as they added William Lagesson to a one-year, $775,000 contract. The 28-year-old appeared in 40 games between Toronto and Anaheim in 2023-24 and had four assists, 32 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus.

After an injury-filled campaign in 2023-24 that consisted of 18 total games played, Viktor Arvidsson has decided to take his talents to Edmonton after signing a two-year deal worth $8.0 million ($4.0M AAV). The 31-year-old still managed an impressive six goals and 15 points despite only playing in 18 games in 2023-24 but has five 20+ goal seasons to his name over his 10-year career.

Kiiskinen was Nashville's 2023 third-round pic (68th overall) and has been dealt to Detroit alongside a 2024 second-round pick for Andrew Gibson. Kiiskinen is an 18-year-old right-winger who has spent his entire playing career in Finland and had four goals, and 10 points in 38 games with Pelicans (Liiga).