Detroit — Red Wings fans who were excited to hear about Elmer Soderblom and Joe Veleno making the opening-night 23-man roster before Monday’s deadline, brace yourselves.
Soderblom and Veleno might be in Grand Rapids before you know it.
After Tuesday’s practice, coach Derek Lalonde talked about how the coaching staff continues to evaluate the lineup and people in different positions. But mostly, it still comes down to the fact if Soderblom and Veleno aren’t playing major minutes and aren’t developing as players because of that, it’s still best for them to play in large roles in the American League.
How the lineups look in the next couple of practices before Friday’s opener against Montreal will determine whether Veleno and Soderblom remain in the NHL.
“It’s a day-to-day type of process,” Lalonde said of the roster makeup. “It’s a new staff and we’re still evaluating.
“It’s still a work in progress. As you can see, we had some changes within our forward groups (Tuesday). What we’re fighting through is if we’re not going to find significant minutes and roles for Elmer and Joe, than we have to have that balance of what’s going to be best for their development. We’re still fighting through that and that’s going to take a life of its self this week and even into the weekend.”
So what would “significant minutes” look like for Lalonde?
“Not to stay fourth line, seven or eight minutes (of ice time), that does no one any good,” Lalonde said. “That would probably be what that looks like, and game to game it’ll look different, but if he’s going to go through where he’s only playing seven or eight minutes, in a small role, again it isn’t healthy (for development).”
Soderblom skated on a line with Pius Suter and Dominik Kubalik and Oskar Sundqvist, with Suter and Veleno splitting center work, and Suter even seeing a spot time on the wing and either Soderblom or Sundqvist sitting out.
Both Soderblom and Veleno are taking the situation in stride.
“It’s day to day and I’m just trying to stay positive and keep working,” Veleno said. “The real work starts now and you just have to keep working from now on. Things can change. I didn’t start on the 23-man last year and I ended up being here for the majority of the season.
“They’re still trying to learn some of the guys, and I’m just trying to come here and have a good attitude and stay positive and keep doing what I can do.”
Soderblom’s parents are coming to Michigan later this week, regardless of whether he’s in the lineup or not. Soderblom is excited, at this point, to simply be in a competition to be in the lineup on opening night
“It’s really fun and exciting to be in this spot,” Soderblom said. “I’m just going to do my best and take it (from there). I feel like I have nothing to lose. I just have to play my game and if it’s going well, good. Otherwise, I have to play good minutes in Grand Rapids. I feel like I’m in a good spot, and I’m just going to play my game and go for it.”
The coaching staff has told both young players to control only what you can control.
“We’ve been up front in meetings with them,” Lalonde said. “Control things you can control as a player. With that said, big picture, if it doesn’t look like we’ll get you significant minutes and roles, then we’ll possibly explore Grand Rapids.”
The injury situations regarding Sundqvist and Andrew Copp likely played a large role of keeping Soderblom and Veleno through Monday. Neither Sundqvist or Copp played a preseason game because of lingering injuries, with Copp only returning to full-contact practices last week and Sundqvist on Monday.
Both Sundqvist and Copp appear headed to play Friday, but whether they can also play Saturday in New Jersey so quickly after sitting out most of the preseason is uncertain.
Copp centered David Perron and Jakub Vrana during Tuesday’s practice and appears further ahead physically than Sundqvist.
“It was a good day (Monday), and (Tuesday) he was a laboring a little bit at the end of practice, which is understandable,” Lalonde said. “It’s hard to get real game like reps, so that’ll be an evaluation.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan