When you look at the Red Wings preseason goalie rankings, it needs to be remembered that they are a reflection about the team as much as they are about the players.
After nine consecutive playoff misses, nobody trusts what the Red Wings are doing these days.
Cam Talbot was a credible performer last season, and John Gibson is coming off a quality season in Anaheim but it requires too much faith to believe the Gibson acquisition is enough to shove this team back into the playoffs. Undoubtedly, Detroit’s absence from the playoffs plays a part in its absence from NHL.com’s Top 16 goalie tandems.
If you look closely at that list, 13 of the 16 tandems were playoff qualifiers last season. The New York Rangers were one of the non-playoff teams to make the Top 16 list and they own Igor Shesterkin. The New York Islanders missed the playoffs and made the top 16 because they have the noteworthy Russian tandem of Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov. Neither Talbot, nor Gibson boast reputations of that ilk.
When it comes to Detroit goaltending, this is a season of “Show us what you got.”
Red Wings In Case You Missed It
Are the Red Wings already tracking blue-chip 2026 Swedish NHL draft pick Viggo Bjorck? Nicklas Lidstrom recently offered a favorable review of his ability to the Swedish media.
No love for Detroit’s new goalie tandem. The John Gibson/Cam Talbot duo didn’t make the cut for a list of the NHL’s Top 16 tandems.
Bob Duff compiled a list of the most underappreciated goalies in Red Wings history. One of them is Jimmy Howard.
Red Wings Extra
Detroit prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov turns 22 today, and he will play his first regular-season game with CSKA.
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