The WHL examines its Red Wings prospect pool

The WHL’s Cami Kepke examines the Red Wings’ pool of 4 prospects drafted from the CHL’S Western Hockey League today:

Carter Bear

After a season that ended with injury and heartbreak, Carter Bear clawed his way to the top of the WHL mountain. The 2025 13th-overall pick iced 36 goals (including seven game-winners and three hat tricks) and earned a berth on Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he was part of a bronze medal-winning effort. Bear finished second on the Silvertips in goals and ninth among all WHLers in points-per-game before taking off for 22 points (7G-15A) in 18 playoff games. The 6-foot, 177-pound winger from West St. Paul, Man., helped the Silvertips clinch the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in franchise history and, with Captain Tarin Smith injured, was the first Tips skater to lift the WHL’s top prize. Bear, 19, was named to the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team and is expected to turn pro with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins next season. Not bad for a guy who was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft!

Continue reading The WHL examines its Red Wings prospect pool

Khan attempts to discern how much Alex DeBrincat’s next contract will cost

During a summer of spiraling salaries, MLive’s Ansar Khan attempts to discern how much money it will cost the Red Wings to extend Alex DeBrincat:

Only 10 players scored more goals than DeBrincat last season and he’s coming off a career-high 85 points. DeBrincat’s 80 goals over the past two seasons is tied for sixth in the NHL, only eight behind leader Cole Caufield of Montreal during that stretch.

DeBrincat is a proven goal-scorer, having tallied 27 or more in eight of his nine seasons, scoring 41 three times. He’s also durable, having played 456 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak in the league behind Brent Burns (1,007) and Nick Suzuki (537).

Put all these factors together and the end result is DeBrincat will be the highest-paid player in franchise history in 2027-28, up from his current $7.875 million AAV to perhaps around $12 million a season.

That’s what Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor signed for at the start of last season (eight years, $96 million). He might be the closest comparison to DeBrincat.

The NHL salary cap increased from $95.5 million in 2025-26 to $104 million this season. It’s projected to rise to $113.5 million in 2027-28 and $123 million the following season. The timing worked out nicely for DeBrincat.

It also shows why the Red Wings have a bargain in Larkin, who turned 30 today. He’s locked up for five more years at an $8.7 million AAV ($7.7 million average in actual salary). He requested a trade months ago, but you don’t relinquish a player like that in today’s NHL without making sure you get a good deal.

Bultman expects it to take a while for the Red Wings’ managerial search to play out

The Athletic’s Max Bultman provides a rare update into the Red Wings’ search for their next hockey executive:

If it’s seemed a little quiet around Detroit’s search so far, the best explanation I can give is probably the simplest: They’re still pretty early in the process.

Yes, the Red Wings started this search late. Typically, front office exits such as Yzerman’s occur in mid-April; starting a search in mid-July creates obvious potential complications — namely, that training camp begins in seven weeks. But my sense is that Detroit is focused on conducting a thorough search, and that’s going to take time. The Red Wings aren’t going to compromise the process for the sake of speed.

While there is some important business that needs to get done — restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson needs a new contract, and the Dylan Larkin saga remains unresolved — one difference in Detroit’s search taking place now, rather than at the start of the offseason, is that the Red Wings don’t have to worry about any other teams scooping up a potential candidate. They’re the only team in the market.

Continue reading Bultman expects it to take a while for the Red Wings’ managerial search to play out

Praise for JP Hulrbert’s tenacity and Victor Plante’s play-making abilities

Red Wings prospects JP Hulrbert and Victor Plante “made the cut” and remained with Team USA’s World Junior Summer Showcase team after Adam Nightingale’s team halved its roster halfway through the WJSS in Windsor.

This morning, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff has posted an article about Hurlbert’s tenacity, as described by coach Nightingale…

“He’s got poise with the puck, right?” USA World Junior coach Adam Nightingale said. He’s coaching Hurlbert on the USA roster at the current World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor. “I think he’s competitive at the puck. Sometimes that gets overlooked. You just look at the goals, but when I’m watching him, I see a guy that competes at the puck, and he definitely has a good sense for the game.”

From Hurlbert’s point of view, it’s an element of his game that never gets overlooked. His tenacious determination on the forecheck often wins him the puck, and as his goal output tells us, once he has the puck, he often wins the day.

“I think that’s a big thing for me,” Hurlbert said. “The more I can have the puck on my stick, the more dangerous I am. So, you know, the best defense is getting it back right away and creating offense. So that’s kind of something that I really focus on, and that’s just hard work getting the puck back.”

Hurlbert told Smith that he’s trying to remain grounded as he engages in whirlwind summer of being drafted, living Detroit to train with Red Wings prospects, and preparing to begin his freshman season at the University of Michigan…

“Yeah, it’s been nonstop,” Hurlbert said. “I think that’s what you want, but for sure I’m trying to, you know, stay where my feet are. I think I spent a lot of time in Michigan this summer, so getting to know the area and this is what you want. This is why you play hockey, to be a part of all of these things. So just having a lot of fun with it.”

And Smith also posted a bit of praise for Plante this morning:

Playing on the top line centered by Sammy Nelson, Plante has only been held scoreless once so far in his WJSS matchups, in the opening game against Finland. Plante followed it up with a three assist performance against Sweden on Monday, and notched another yesterday with the combined USA roster.

Another of the Red Wings draft picks, JP Hurlbert, has also been giving a solid showing. While Hurlbert hasn’t yet lit the lamp, he has drawn praise from Team USA’s Coach, Adam Nightingale. Nightingale will be seeing a lot of University of Michigan commit Hurlbert even after the Showcase as head coach of Michigan State.

Let’s call the whole thing off?

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an Atlantic Division preview as of the early morning hours of July 30th, and he’s already arguing that the Red Wings need to tear things down to the foundations as the rest of the Atlantic Division may or may not have improved thus far this off-season:

Detroit, 41-31-10, 92 points — Until the Larkin saga is decided, and whether Larkin is traded or kept on the roster, and who makes that decision with Yzerman no longer general manager (and his replacement yet unnamed) it’s difficult to know where the Wings stand in this division. With Larkin and possibly adding one more winger with goal-scoring ability, this lineup could possibly battle late in the season for a playoff berth. But if Larkin is traded, then the teardown begins with potential unrestricted free agents John Gibson, Justin Faulk, Alex DeBrincat and Andrew Copp all probably being traded at the deadline, the Wings would sink fast. Either way, you get the feeling the Wings are going to be closer to the bottom than the top.

Continued; until the Red Wings rectify the Larkin and Yzerman situations, I have little time or patience for the “LET’S ALREADY BLOW IT UP ALREADY FOREVER AND EVER” theory.

Trey Augustine and the NHLPA Rookie Showcase participants take part in a different kind of ‘media training’ event

NHL.com’s Tracey Myers filed an article from the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago today, and Trey Augustine, one of two Red Wings prospects taking part in the NHLPA/Upper Deck event, spoke briefly about his first hockey card memory:

Twenty-one NHL prospects are at this year’s Rookie Showcase, where players were photographed for their first Upper Deck trading cards and participated in video shoots on the ice for EA Sports and other promotional materials for the upcoming season and beyond.

…

The showcase is usually held in early September, but NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey said it was moved up to late July to allow the players more time to decompress before the start of NHL training camps.

“It gives the guys an opportunity to be here a little more laid-back as far as how we’ve done it historically the week before training camp,” Hainsey said. “A lot of these guys know each other already, some don’t. They’re all going to be competing against each other, but at the same time, there’s a brotherhood as well.”

It was a relaxed setting Wednesday as players went through media availability among their other tasks of the day. Getting their own hockey cards is an especially fun part for those who had hockey player cards in their youth.

“I had a bunch when I was real young. I think my first card was a Pavel Datsyuk card and I grew up watching his games at the Joe (Louis Arena),” Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect Trey Augustine said of the Hall of Fame forward, who played his entire NHL career with the Red Wings (2001-16).

Is Augustine glad he never had to face Datsyuk?

“Yes, very glad,” he said to laughs. “I didn’t want to be embarrassed too bad.”

Continued; Carter Bear’s also taking part in the event.

Tweet of note: Bear, Augustine appear at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase

The NHLPA Rookie Showcase is underway in Chicago today, and Red Wings prospects Trey Augustine and Carter Bear were snapped in a Tweet with their fellow Rookie Showcase participants…Augustine is wearing #31 today, Bear #41.

Red Wings release their 2026-2027 regular season theme game and promotional schedule (a little belatedly)

A day after WXYZ and the Detroit Free Press gleaned the Red Wings’ 2026-2027 regular season theme game and promotional schedule, the Red Wings themselves posted the sked on DetroitRedWings.com:

Detroit Red Wings announce 2026-27 theme games and promotional schedule

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings have unveiled Hockeytown 101, the team’s 2026-27 season campaign, with the announcement of the regular season schedule on July 16, followed by the announcement of the Red Wings’ theme games and promotional schedule.

2026-27 single-game tickets go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 4 at DetroitRedWings.com/Tickets. Fans can sign up for the priority presale list today for exclusive access to purchase tickets before the public by visiting the 2026-27 Priority Presale page.

The Hockeytown 101 promotional schedule features several exciting door giveaways, including a bobblehead series commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Red Wings’ 2002 Stanley Cup championship, as well as Salt & Pepper Shakers for the annual Thanksgiving Eve game and more.

The promo schedule also features themed ticket packages which come with a limited-edition item, including a “Build-Your-Own-Fit” series, Heritage Game shirseys, College Game hats and many more.

DOOR GIVEAWAYS (LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE): 

Oct. 4 vs. Winnipeg – Sergei Fedorov Bobblehead Giveaway (Presented by Little Caesars)

Oct. 29 vs. Chicago – Nicklas Lidstrom Bobblehead Giveaway (Presented by Henry Ford Health)

Nov. 5 vs. Vegas – Military Appreciation Night Hat Giveaway (Presented by Chevrolet) 

Nov. 18 vs. Boston – Scotty Bowman Bobblehead Giveaway (Presented by Meijer)

Nov. 25 vs. Vancouver – Thanksgiving Salt & Pepper Shakers Giveaway (Presented by Meijer) 

Jan. 23 vs. Tampa Bay – Moritz Seider Stein Giveaway (Presented by Fifth Third Bank) 

THEME GAMES and SPECIAL TICKET OFFERS: 

Continue reading Red Wings release their 2026-2027 regular season theme game and promotional schedule (a little belatedly)

WJSS Tweet of note: Plante, Hurlbert remain on Team USA’s combined roster

The World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ontario has moved into its second phase for Team USA, which cuts down its two USA Blue and USA White rosters into 1 team for the second half of the schedule.

Per NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale, Red Wings prospects Victor Plante and JP Hulrbert remain part of the Americans’ combined roster, but Brent Solomon is not listed on today’s forward lineup:

Update: Hurlbert is also wearing #2 for Michigan this fall: