J.T. Compher’s versatility has proven to be boon for Wings
>> When coach Derek Lalonde talks about depth, it’s not about a team’s ability to score goals or maybe offense or defense throughout its lineup.
Lalonde likes the think of depth of being able to win individual shifts throughout a 60-minute game.
That’s why forward J.T. Compher has been such a valuable addition.
When the Wings signed Compher in free agency last summer (five years, $25.5 million/$5.5 million annual average value), it was because of the versatility he showed with the Colorado Avalanche.
Compher has been the exact same player with the Wings.
“Winning those shifts, the growth in his game, he’s a very valuable player for us,” Lalonde said “He’s someone that can play in every situation. He can take faceoffs on both sides (of the ice). He has a lot of pride in penalty kill. He gets mad at me if after an extended shift I don’t put him out first on the penalty kill.
“That says it all right there. He wants those situations.”
Because of the value of the contract, most fans will look at Compher’s offensive numbers. With 13 goals and 20 assists (33 points), Compher is right about where he normally is offensively.
But you have to look beyond the numbers to see Compher’s importance, that’s why Lalonde was thrilled when general manager Steve Yzerman signed the Michigan product.
“I was a huge fan; that’s the one player I really wanted,” Lalonde said. “Managers manage, coaches coach, but when J.T. was in discussions, I just thought he was so versatile, accepting any role, and he’s been that. We’ve had him in every
situation.”
Lalonde added he needs to check himself occasionally when deploying Compher in a game.
“I have to be careful how I use him,” Lalonde said. “There’s some games he’s getting 22, 23 (minutes). I don’t know if that’s healthy or productive for him over time, but I just can’t help it. I’m trying to get through a matchup or end of a period and he’s on all the special teams.
“He’s been a really good player for us.”
With the Avalanche pushed to the brink with the salary cap there wasn’t much of a chance they were going to be able to retain Compher.
So when Compher went into free agency, there were some specifics he was looking for from teams and the Wings checked off many boxes.
“The Wings offered a lot of things I was looking for,” Compher said. “They obviously needed a center, but also wanted to push to try and win and wanted to improve. I felt that from Steve and the organization and all the players that showed there was a strong desire. We haven’t been in the playoffs (since 2016) and we want to be the team that does it.”
Sit and wait
With the All-Star break, then the Red Wings completing a four-game road
trip with no injuries or change in the lineup, defenseman Justin Holl hasn’t played since Jan. 31.
Holl has played in 35 games, so he’s been stuck being the healthy scratch more than anyone else on defense.
Lalonde believe it’s a situation that will work itself out and the coaching staff has “full trust” in Holl.
“We’re very fortunate this is one of the unique times we’re healthy,” Lalonde said. “I don’t know how many teams can say in the league right now they’re healthy this late into the season. We trust him. But we come off two wins like that, and there are a couple of guys within our depth of our defense corps that helps us on special teams, too.
“If we get through the rest of the season with all seven healthy defensemen, we might be the only team in history of the league to do that over the last 30 games. That’ll play itself out.”
Lalonde employed a loose rotation early in the season with Holl, Olli Maatta and Jeff Petry alternating games. But Petry and Maatta have cemented their spots in the lineup.
“We had the rotation early on, but we’ve gotten away from it,” Lalonde said. “It’s a not a perfect situation for him. He played five or six games in a row prior to the break and he gave us good hockey.”