It’s been nearly a month since I last wrote down my observations about the Red Wings and the rumor mill, so it seems as good a time as any to check back in with the team, especially since one of the truths from last time carried over. Since we last spoke, the Red Wings did finish the month of October above .500. In the last 10 games, however, they are 5-5. Just like I said, I really hoped they wouldn’t be. Funny how that works. In any case, let’s separate fact from fantasy in this mid-November edition of Two Truths and a Lie.

Truth: Red Wings still need to grow their five-on-five offense

It’s no secret around the league that Detroit is at its best on the power play and struggles somewhat in regular five-on-five play. So far this season, the Red Wings are continuing the trend with a -1 goal differential at even strength. Beyond the fact that they can’t be relying on getting penalties to score, Detroit’s forward corps needs to be more consistently scoring up and down the lineup. Even with a winning record, the team still has a goal differential of -2 on the season, and only two players have more than five goals on the season in Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat. Injuries to Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane early in the season certainly have contributed to these numbers being so low, but there needs to be more production outside of Detroit’s usual suspects.

The Red Wings have a variety of promising forward prospects, and I imagine all of them are itching for their chance in the show (or to get back to it).

Lie: Red Wings Should Trade Talbot

Wings fans (and anyone else who’s reading this) should caution themselves against the notion that Talbot is truly a movable piece for the Red Wings. For one thing, the Red Wings’ two top goalies in the AHL are both down with injury at the moment. The outlook is uncertain for newcomer Michal Postava.

Detroit’s struggles in net over the past three years, especially when it comes to depth, are well-documented. Last year, the team kept three netminders on the roster until Ville Husso was shipped off, and even then, it still ended up calling on Sebastian Cossa for his first NHL appearance before that.

So far this year, John Gibson, whom the Red Wings acquired in a trade from Anaheim as the presumptive 1A to their goalie tandem, has looked like he needs to shake the rust off at best. At worst, like in his Red Wings debut in the season opener, he’s been downright hard to watch. Unless another team is offering something outrageous for Talbot, the Red Wings shouldn’t let go of him. The simple reason is that, aside from Mo Seider, he’s the only player I trust to consistently keep opposing teams from getting pucks in net on the Red Wings’ roster.

Truth: Finnie has proven he’s here to stay

Detroit had three rookies on the opening-night roster. While that number remains the same heading into the second half of this month, not all the faces are the same. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was sent down to the AHL nine games into his first full season here in North America.

The Red Wings’ other addition from across the pond, Axel Sandin Pellikka, has seen his time on ice decrease. That’s including a now well-documented absence from the last half of the third period against Anaheim. However, Emmitt Finnie, the surprise of camp, has stayed in the lineup throughout it all. He has kept himself in contention as one of the better players on the team outside of Detroit’s main stars.

Said Coach Todd McLellan, “He does so much extra work for a lot of guys. He cleans up messes on the way back because he skates so well. He loosens up pucks on the forecheck. He’ll go to the net, he stirs things up a little bit, draws some penalties. There’s a lot of assets there.”

Finnie has seen his time on ice dip and has been moved off the top line. Still, the fact is that the seventh-round rookie has been one of the more consistent performers for the team. He’s taken on minutes in just about every possible situation here in Detroit in his first season. The young forward is still getting high praise from a coach who has been open in his criticisms of players’ effort and compete level.