Month: February 2018

The Detroit Red Wings will attempt to build upon Saturday night’s win over Nashville when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening (7:00 PM EST on FSD/Sportsnet/97.1 FM).

The 35-20-and-5 Maple Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division standings. Toronto’s 6-game winning streak was snapped at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night, but the Leafs’ 5-3 loss to Pittsburgh was Toronto’s second regulation loss over the course of 11 games.

STATS’ game preview helps set up tonight’s game:

Continue reading Red Wings-Maple Leafs set-up: Wings hope to ding streaking Leafs

The Detroit Red Wings did a very good job of out-working the Nashville Predators en route to a 3-1 victory on Saturday night, and the Wings’ weekend gets harder as the team hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday evening (7:00 PM EST on FSD/Sportsnet/97.1 FM).

As posted by AWood40 on YouTube, the Red Wings’ first goal on Saturday came from an unlikely source in Luke Witkowski:

Gustav Nyquist ultimately scored the game-winner as Detroit took a 2-0 lead that the Wings held until 5:25 remained in the 3rd period, when Craig Smith scored on a power play breakaway; Petr Mrazek stopped 31 shots, and the Wings blocked another 26 Predators attempts as Detroit out-worked and out-ground the Preds over the course of one of Detroit’s rare 60-minute efforts this season.

Our friends from Nashville were still relatively satisfied with their effort, as they told NashvillePredators.com’s Brooks Bratten:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators wrap-up: Wings beat an elite team, led by…Witkowski!

The Detroit Red Wings headed into Bridgestone Arena to tangle with the Nashville Predators on Saturday, with the Wings hoping to earn a rare win against the powerhouse Predators.

The Wings played an excellent 60 minutes’ worth of hockey, out-working, out-hustling and out-scoring the Predators, with Luke Witkowski scoring his first NHL goal, Gustav Nyquist scoring his 16th and Darren Helm scoring an empty-netter as Detroit emerged with a 3-1 victory.

Petr Mrazek stopped 31 of 32 shots and the Wings blocked a staggering 26 shot attempts in a superb effort.

Now the Wings head home to host the Maple Leafs, who lost 5-3 on the road to Pittsburgh on Saturday night.

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators quick take: Wings out-work, out-Wit the Preds

Via “The Vyrus” on Twitter, Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines video included a discussion of Seattle’s GM search…which Nick Kypreos says may involve Ken Holland? Check out the 5:50 mark. Kypreos says that Ken Holland hasn’t had talks with the Wings yet regarding his expiring contract, and his contract may not be addressed until the end of the regular season:

Update: Via Sportsnet’s Mike Johnston:

If and when Seattle gets a franchise, there’s likely to be a number of high-profile candidates to be GM and Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland appears to be “at the top of the list,” according to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos.

“Let’s make no mistake about it, Kenny Holland is out there,” Kypreos said during the Headlines segment Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. “His contract is going to expire at the end of the year. No talks at all scheduled. It appears it might go all the way to the end of the season before it gets addressed. You’ve got to put him at the top of the list.”

Via KK, the Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby wondered aloud whether the Maple Leafs really want to acquire Luke Glendening:

Preceding the Maple Leafs’ arrival in Detroit on Sunday are recurring reports Toronto is pressing the Red Wings to acquire Luke Glendening.

Head coach Mike Babcock likely is applying the most pressure, having been a strong supporter of the big checking centre going back to their time together in Detroit. Glendening’s best season, 12 goals and a plus five, was Babcock’s last season with the Wings. The undrafted University of Michigan star signed a four-year deal with Detroit last summer, but at $1.8 million US a season, it’s not a cap-breaker.

The Wings, who are not likely in the playoffs again this year, have a good relationship with the Leafs through Babcock’s former boss Ken Holland. But that doesn’t mean Glendening would be acquired for nothing. Like many teams ahead of the Feb. 26 NHL trade deadline, the Wings would like to pry away some of Toronto’s prospects or draft picks. As for an assertion that idled winger Matt Martin would go to Detroit because of his Windsor roots, he has neither a desirable contract, nor the inclination to make such a move go smoothly.

The Leafs are also trying to add depth on defence. While Toronto was in Pittsburgh the past two days, rumours resumed about defenceman IanCole, who was linked to the Leafs earlier this year, or Matt Hunwick, a Babcock favourite who is not being utilized at present. The  rumour that never goes away is the Pens might approach the Leafs about centre Tyler Bozak, now on an expiring deal, based on his previous success with Phil Kessel.

I can assure you that the Red Wings want nothing to do with Martin’s $2.5 million cap hit for the next two years…

DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji spoke with Wings players and their fathers/mentors regarding the Dads’ Trip:

Continued

The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa suggests that Pavel Datsyuk still looks superb as he plays for Team Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Olympics:

He played so well! Watching Pavel Datsyuk lead his team of Russian players against the United States Saturday, bright and early TV, tested resolve.

Red Wings fans had to let him go. In the case of one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise, with his enthralling talent and beguiling, impish humor, it dumped a heap of separation anxiety.

To break the habit after 2016, and Datsyuk’s departure to his homeland, nearly required a 12-step program. Make it 13, in his honor.

And so, a preliminary-round Olympic game, played halfway around the globe at a most un-hockey-like hour, arrived as grotesque temptation for the dependent.

What, of comfort? Maybe, at 39, the oldest player in the men’s ice hockey tournament in the Pyeongchang games would not be quite so alluring, especially after plying his trade for a couple of years in the KHL.

Yeah, well, forget about that. Datsyuk looked like he was 26, again, except for two things: he is even smarter a third of a lifetime later, which is noteworthy given his big head start in the cunning department, and way more physical.

Krupa continues at considerable length, and his article is worth your time: I will say that Datsyuk looks like he’s finally recovered from the ankle surgery that hobbled him during his final campaign with the Wings…

Of Red Wings-related note ahead of tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators (8:00 PM EST on FSD/FS Tennessee/97.1 FM), a game in which Jusse Saros and Petr Mrazek will face off in goal, Mike Green will sit due to an upper-body injury and Luke Witkowski will substitute:

Update: here’s the Wings’ Game Day Preview video:

Also:

1. The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that Trevor Daley will replace Mike Green on the power play via a video conversation with coach Blashill:

2. NashvillePredators.com’s Thomas Willis posted a set of Predators lineup notes:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators game-day updates: Green-less Wings prepare to battle Predators’ ‘process’; Mrazek vs. Saros in goal

Among MLive’s Ansar Khan’s trade scoops is the probable destination for Mike Green…

One player almost certain to be dealt is Mike Green. Tampa Bay is the most likely destination for the 32-year-old defenseman, who has agreed to waive his no-trade clause if a deal with the Lightning can be made, a source told MLive.

The Red Wings and Lightning have had many discussions and will continue to talk. Detroit would like Tampa Bay’s first-round pick this year, which is sure to be in the high 20s, if not 30^th or 31^st. If the Red Wings must settle for a second-round pick, which would be around 60^th overall, they’ll also want a young player who can step into their lineup next season.

Luke Glendening…

Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock coached Glendening for two seasons in Detroit and is desperately seeking a fourth-line center and “shut-down guy.” The Red Wings have made it clear they’re not giving him away; they want a decent pick or one of Toronto’s many good prospects. Right wing Kasperi Kapanen, who’s appeared in 16 games for the Leafs this season, is a possibility.

The Wings’ goalies…

The Red Wings tried to move goaltender Jimmy Howard to the New York Islanders earlier in the week, but their asking price of a high pick wasn’t being met.

Since then, Jaroslav Halak made 50 saves Thursday in a 3-0 victory vs. the New York Rangers and Thomas Greiss stopped 45 shots in a 3-0 win at Carolina the next night. That could curtail talks with the Islanders.

The Red Wings offered Howard or Petr Mrazek to Philadelphia after Flyers goalie Brian Elliott was injured last week (he had core muscle surgery and is expected to be out 5-6 weeks). The Flyers said they’re not interested in either. They appear content with Michal Neuvirth, who has gone 3-0-1 since Elliott’s injury.

And Khan discusses Gustav Nyquist and Xavier Ouellet’s potential futures as well…

The Grand Rapids Griffins hope to sweep their two-game series with the Manitoba Moose this evening (8 PM EST on WOOD Radio), and Griffins announcer Bob Kaser sets up tonight’s game: