The Red Wings have been one of the worst teams in the NHL for several years now.
They finished 31st in the overall standings in 2019-20 -- if only because there weren't 32 teams then -- and 27th last season.
And while GM Steve Yzerman seems to be implementing a sound plan for revamping and reviving the franchise, that process won't be finished anytime soon.
So even when the Red Wings dress their strongest possible lineup this season, it doesn't figure to be a particularly imposing group.
And rest assured, the one Detroit used during its 5-1 preseason loss to the Penguins Sunday at PPG Paints Arena, bore scant resemblance to the best the Red Wings can assemble.
Oh, there were a few established, capable veterans such as Marc Staal, Bobby Ryan and Sam Gagner, but there were a lot more guys who figure to soon be laboring in the American Hockey League.
Or maybe a drive-thru window.
"I don't think they had their best roster in," Kasperi Kapanen said.
That defied dispute, but Mike Sullivan and several players who met with reporters said that the caliber of competition they faced does not complicate the challenge of accurately assessing how individuals or the team performed, or in any way detract from what they were able to accomplish during those 60 minutes.
"I don't think so," Sullivan said. "We're really focusing on just the details of the game, and how we're trying to play. There are areas we really liked, and we know we've got a lot of room for improvement. I thought it was a good start for our veteran players.
"I liked our energy. I liked our enthusiasm. I thought we were quick to pucks. I thought we were trying to play a speed game and we think that's when our team is at its best."
True enough, but kittens have a harder time getting the best of a ball of yarn than the Penguins, who employed a veteran-heavy lineup, did in toying with the Red Wings.
No one made more of the mismatch than Danton Heinen, who had been scheduled to play right wing on the third line, but switched to the left side on the No. 1 line after Jake Guentzel tested positive for COVID-19. Heinen was so shaken by the switch that he scored one goal and set up two others.
Kapanen also seemed to enjoy it, since he scored two goals. Same with John Marino, who picked up a pair of assists in his first preseason game since being reunited with Mike Matheson, his defense partner early last season before Cody Ceci supplanted him.
The Matheson-Marino tandem was on the ice for three Penguins goals, as their games seemed to mesh quite nicely. (Again, keeping in mind that it was against an opponent with a watered-down lineup.)
"It was one preseason game, so I don't read too much into it," Matheson said. "Last year, when we were paired together, I thought it did work well. Our games complement each other well."
Marino pointed out that "Last year, we didn't have that preseason, all those reps together in order to feed off each other" and that "this preseason and the whole training camp has helped a lot."
Sullivan seems confident that Round 2 of the partnership can be effective.
"They're both really good 200-foot defensemen, I think," he said. "They can help us on both sides of the puck. They defend with their mobility and their reach and their size. They can help us generate offense by helping us get out of our end zone. They have the ability to make outlet passes. ... When they don't complicate the game and they take what the game gives them, we think that's when they're at their best."
They were pretty good against the Wings, and Matheson said he doesn't believe the quality of the opposition had an impact on that.
"At the end of the day, it's hockey," he said. "And if they're competing for a spot at this level, they're good hockey players. I wouldn't say that it's an easy game at all in preseason."
Perhaps not, although there were times Sunday when Kapanen and others made it look that way.
He scored his first goal on a shot from the top of the right circle during a power play, his second from close range after a nice setup by Evan Rodrigues, who did nothing to jeopardize his temporary hold on the No. 2 center job between Kapanen and Jason Zucker.
"I thought (Rodrigues) has been good all camp," Kapanen said. "Obviously, that pass was a really good pass."
The Penguins made a number of those. Fact is, they did a lot of things well.
How much, if any, of that can be attributed to the makeup of the team team they were facing is conjecture. The way the Penguins, 2-1 in preseason play, see it, though, it laid a solid foundation for the work ahead.
"It was a good start, from our standpoint," Sullivan said. "We'll just build on it and we'll try to get better from here."
MORE FROM THE GAME
• After making it through last season without having a single player diagnosed with COVID-19, the Penguins have had two in a week after Guentzel tested positive Sunday. Last Monday, Zach Aston-Reese did likewise. The team has been adamant about adhering to guidelines to keep the virus out of the locker room, and Sullivan said that the Penguins might restore some that had been used previously. "We're going to do everything within our power to mitigate the risks," he said. That will include daily testing of players and staff "for the foreseeable future" and reintroducing last season's social-distancing standards to the locker room.
• Brian Dumoulin has never had a fight during a regular-season or playoff game in the NHL, but he traded punches with Red Wings forward Turner Elson during the first period. Dumoulin's teammates seemed to appreciate seeing him drop his gloves, but the coaches and management probably didn't enjoy it. Between surgeries and COVID-19, they're already going to be down some key personnel when the 2021-22 season starts Oct. 12 in Tampa. Having a top-pairing defenseman break a hand in a meaningless fight would be less than ideal.
• With Sidney Crosby recovering from wrist surgery and Evgeni Malkin rehabbing a knee injury, Jeff Carter will be the Penguins' No. 1 center when the regular season gets underway. He might also fill Crosby's niche as the go-to faceoff guy; Carter, who opened the scoring, won nine of 14 draws against the Wings. Tryout candidate Brian Boyle had a generally solid showing, but was 2-4 on faceoffs.
• Tristan Jarry wasn't severely tested by Detroit, but stopped 25 of 26 goals and was beaten only during a 5-on-3 power play, when a Pius Suter shot deflected off Chad Ruhwedel near the net before eluding Jarry. "He was confident," Sullivan said. "He made a couple of real timely saves. That's certainly something he can build on. He got better as the game went on, which for me is a good sign, as well." Sullivan said he expects Jarry and Casey DeSmith each to play all of one of the Penguins' three remaining exhibition games.
• Kris Letang got the Penguins fourth goal when he left the penalty box after serving a goalie interference minor, took a feed from Marino and lashed a slap shot past goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.
• Brock McGinn is the heir apparent to Brandon Tanev on a line with Teddy Blueger and Aston-Reese. And for a while Sunday, it looked as if he was intent on inheriting Tanev's spot as the team's most frequent hitter, too. McGinn had four of them in the opening period, but was credited with just one the rest of the way, in the third period.
• Blueger was the only Penguins forward who failed to record at least one shot on goal. Matheson and fellow defenseman Juuso Riikola tied for the team lead with four.
THE ESSENTIALS
THE THREE STARS
As selected at PPG Paints Arena:
1. Kasperi Kapanen, Penguins
2. Danton, Heinen, Penguins
3. John Marino, Penguins
THE INJURIES
• Sidney Crosby (wrist surgery) is expected to be out for several more weeks.
• Evgeni Malkin (knee surgery) is expected to be out until at least December.
• Jake Guentzel was diagnosed with COVID-19 Sunday.
• Zach Aston-Reese was diagnosed with COVID-19 Sept. 27.
THE LINEUPS
Sullivan’s lines and pairings:
Danton Heinen-Jeff Carter-Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker-Evan Rodrigues-Kasperi Kapanen
Brock McGinn-Teddy Blueger-Dominik Simon
Drew O'Connor-Brian Boyle-Sam Lafferty
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Mike Matheson-John Marino
Juuso Riikola-Chad Ruhwedel
And for Jeff Blashill's Red Wings:
Robby Fabbri-Pius Suter-Bobby Ryan
Adam Erne-Kyle Criscuolo-Vladislav Namestnikov
Jonatan Berggren-Sam Gagner-Givani Smith
Jonathan Martin-Turner Elson-Mitchell Stevens
Marc Staal-Troy Stecher
Jordan Oesterle-Gustav Lindstrom
Alex Cotton-Brian Lashoff
THE SCHEDULE
The Penguins will have Monday off, then face Buffalo Tuesday at 7:08 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.
THE CONTENT
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