Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman answered questions in his season-ending news conference at LCA.
Steve Yzerman answered questions during an end-of-season news conference: ‘We need to improve’
Detroit — The Red Wings didn’t make the playoffs, but defenseman Justin Faulk is going to play more hockey.
Faulk, acquired at the trade deadline in March, will represent Team USA at the upcoming men’s world championships May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
Faulk, 34, provided the spark general manager Steve Yzerman was anticipating Faulk could provide the Wings, with five goals and eight points in 17 games. Faulk had 16 goals and 40 points last season with the Wings and St. Louis Blues.
Joining Faulk will be forward Max Plante, the Wings’ top prospect who last month won the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey. Plante, 20, is returning to Minnesota Duluth for another season, with an opportunity to play with his two brothers.
Also on the USA roster, with local connections, are defenseman Declan Carlile (Hartland/Tampa Bay Lightning) and forwards Paul Cotter (Canton/New Jersey Devils), Isaac Howard (formerly Michigan State), Ryker Lee (Michigan State) and Max Sasson (Birmingham/Vancouver Canucks).
Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato (Livonia) is an assistant coach on the USA staff.
The USA won its first gold in 92 years at last year’s world championships.
@tkulfan
