DETROIT — At least Trent Yawney, the Red Wings’ assistant coach, was honest.

Yawney, who oversees the defense, was asked late in the season about what he knew of Albert Johansson when Yawney and head coach Todd McLellan came aboard in late December .

Yawney’s knowledge of Johansson was limited.

“I knew nothing about him,” Yawney said.

There was the one commonality between player and coach. Yawney played in the NHL with Johansson’s dad, Roger, in Calgary. But as the Wings’ season progressed and Yawney got to see more of Albert in the Wings’ lineup, Yawney was suitably impressed.

“One thing he does very well, and it’s hard for a young defenseman to do, is play both sides,” said Yawney, who was impressed with Johansson’s versatility. “He can play both sides in the course of a game. You

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