NOTEBOOK: Lalonde says Red Wings are 'building a core here'

MONTREAL --The Detroit Red Wings' lineup in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena could have been a peek into the future.

Taking the ice together for the first time Sunday were the organization's last four first-round picks: Marco Kasper (eighth overall, 2022 NHL Entry Draft), Simon Edvinsson (sixth overall, 2021), Lucas Raymond (fourth overall, 2020) and Moritz Seider (sixth overall, 2019).
"The message all along, I know it was really tough how this team got completely flipped at the deadline and through injury, but I've tried to preach the positive of our core," Detroit head coach Derek Lalonde said. "We're still building a core here and that core is still around. We just wanna build our game and we've done that of late. That's a result of some really quality wins."

Seider assisted on Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's second goal of the game, becoming the sixth active NHL defenseman to record multiple 40-point seasons before the age of 22.
Raymond, who was playing his 150th career NHL game, was credited with an assist on Jonatan Berggren's first-period goal.
Kasper made his NHL debut for Detroit, registering 14:59 of ice time. As for Edvinsson, his 22:25 of ice time against the Maple Leafs trailed only Seider (22:49).
"Any minute they can get," Lalonde said about Kasper and Edvinsson. "Even last night, we get the open netter. Obviously the game is in hand, but I wanted to get them one or two more shifts in the last two minutes. Just different situations, I think any minute you get out there in any situation is important."

Kasper day-to-day, Husso will start against Montreal Canadiens

Kasper did not participate in Monday's practice at Bell Centre and, according to Lalonde, is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
"We'll still play him tomorrow if he's able to get through morning skate and how he feels," Lalonde said. "If not, it's obviously easy just to put (Austin) Czarnik in for him."

Lalonde also said that Ville Husso will start against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, marking the 28-year-old goalie's first game since March 20.
"We've been working to get him," Lalonde said. "He was in that day-to-day when he came back. I think it's very important to get him games. Ville will be back in the net tomorrow, which we're excited about."
In three career starts against Montreal, Husso is 2-0-1 with a 1.60 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.

Doubleheader in the D set for Thursday, April 6

The District Detroit is the place to be for Detroit sports fans on Thursday, April 6.
The Wings and Tigers are excited to offer an exclusive
"Doubleheader in the D" ticket package
, which includes a standing-room-only ticket for the Tigers' 2023 Home Opener at Comerica Park against the Boston Red Sox, as well as a lower level or upper level ticket when the Red Wings host the Buffalo Sabres for Tigers Night at Little Caesars Arena.

"We're thrilled to welcome Tigers fans back to Comerica Park for what will be a memorable Home Opener as well as seeing the tremendous home-ice advantage that Red Wings fans continue to create at Little Caesars Arena," said Spencer Ambrosius, Senior Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. "We're looking forward to feeling the energy our passionate fans will bring to both games."
First pitch at Comerica Park is scheduled for 1:10 p.m., while puck drop at Little Caesars Arena is set for 7 p.m.