Month: April 2018

Last week, Anthony Mantha told DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner and other media scribes that coach Jeff Blashill encouraged #39 to seek out a boxing coach this summer.

This afternoon, Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff delivers a superb quote regarding the rationale behind Blashill’s suggestion:

“Greg Cronin, the assistant (coach) for the Islanders actually told me about it a long time ago,” Blashill said of boxing as a hockey training tool. “It teaches people how to handle fear. Not fear of getting hit necessarily but fear of life and overcoming that, and not having any fear at all. But I also think it brings out aggression.

“I think with Anthony, I just want him to continue to see that there’s more there in terms of pushing himself beyond his comfort level. I’m hoping that in summer training he can push himself beyond his comfort level. If he comes back and has the same year next year that he had this year, not good enough.

“We need guys to make significant steps. There’s teams in this league that last year were out (of the playoffs) and this year are in, and if you look at it, certain individual players made real significant steps. That’s what we need from guys that have that biggest area of growth.”

Duff continues, and I hope that the coaching staff and front office take Blashill’s words to heart. It wouldn’t hurt if some of the veterans push themselves to take “significant steps” forward, either.

Red Wings prospect Filip Hronek scored a goal and added 3 assists in last night’s Grand Rapids Griffins win over Cleveland, and the Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner discussed Hronek’s potential:

He potentially gives the organization a productive offensive-minded blueliner that’s been missing since Niklas Kronwall in the mid-2010s. Kronwall was the Red Wings’ second leading scorer in 2013-14 (8-41-49) and was effective the following year as well (9-35-44). Since, Mike Green had led the team the past three seasons with a high of 36 points (14-22-36) in 2016-17.

Hronek, who tacked up 14 goals and 61 points in 59 games in juniors with the Saginaw Spirit in 2016-17, has made the most of his production this season. His 11 goals have included three on the power play and four game-winners. He was also two of six in shootouts.

“I give him all the latitude possible to play offensive as long as he’s responsible on the right side of the puck and making the right reads,” coach Todd Nelson said. “I’m got going to stifle anyone’s creativity especially someone like him.”

Wallner continues…

 

I’ve heard this rumor very quietly but very persistently proffered by both Wings scribes and others, and it’s worth noting not so much to make you or I dream of an unrealistic scenario, but as to note that it continues to make the rounds.

Newsday’s Andrew Gross penned an article handicapping the sweepstakes for New York Islanders captain John Tavares, should he not re-sign with the Isles, and Gross mentions a familiar destination as a possible landing spot:

Put another way, which team wouldn’t want Tavares? However, Tavares’ salary cap hit, his presumed preference for being as low key as possible and his stated desire to play for a winner would seem to eliminate some destinations. The Sharks, always in the playoff hunt, seem like a logical landing spot as a Joe Thornton replacement. The chance to play with Vladimir Tarasenko with the Blues may also be very attractive. The expansion Vegas Golden Knights are doing pretty well so far but, based on how far they get in the playoffs, could envision Tavares as a final piece to a Stanley Cup team. The Red Wings are likely to be active bidders as well and the Canucks, losing Henrik and Daniel Sedin to retirement may try to woo Tavares also.

Gross continues…

And I would suggest that the Red Wings are a long shot in terms of landing Tavares, both cap-wise (the Wings have some cap space, but when you add up the costs of re-signing Andreas Athanasiou, Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha, signing a back-up goalie, and the high probability of the Wings retaining Mike Green, and that cap space disappears in a hurry) and in terms of what the Wings have to offer…

But this rumor has stuck around, as an undercurrent of sorts, prior to last July, and I’ve learned to discount lesser persistent rumors (see: Mike Green, Frans Nielsen, Stephen Weiss and even Luke Witkowski coming to Detroit) at my peril.

You should know by now that I don’t like to stir shit up to stir shit up, and I don’t want you to start dreaming of “JT” having to change his number come July 1st, but this is a legitimate possibility, as improbable as it might be.

In the AHL, the Grand Rapids Griffins wrapped up their regular season with a wild one, winning 6-4 over the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday night.

Filip Hronek had a great game, registering a goal and 3 assists; Colin Campbell had a hat trick, and Jared Coreau stopped 19 shots for the Griffins.

The Griffins’ website posted a game recap:

Continue reading Hronek posts 4 points, Campbell scores hat trick in Grand Rapids Griffins’ win over Cleveland

Of Red Wings-related note this evening:

1. The Athletic’s Prasanth Iyer penned his Red Wings season grades:

Anthony Mantha:Midseason Grade (B) | Final Grade (B)

Similar to Athanasiou, Mantha also struggled to end the season on a high note. Mantha scored just one goal in his final 16 games, despite playing the majority of his minutes with Zetterberg and Bertuzzi. Looking at the big picture, Mantha led the Red Wings in goals (24), had a 5v5 score-adjusted Corsi For percentage greater than 50 and was a force on the power play. It’s important to remember that he’s still just 23. The Red Wings will definitely need Mantha to be better moving forward, but it’s difficult to penalize someone that young for scoring at close to a first-line rate in just his second full NHL season.

Iyer continues (paywall)…

2. The Detroit News’s Sarah Rahal and Free Press’s Chris Nelsen penned articles regarding Murray Howe’s appearance in Canton, MI to sign copies of his book, Nine Lessons I Learned From My Father:

Murray, who has done other book signings in Michigan, Ohio and Canada, was excited to be at Waltonwood. His father- and mother-in-law, Jerry and Maureen Moore, have been residents at the community for more than a year.

“It means a great deal to us,” said Sherie Ingels, executive director at Waltonwood, said. “He was such a wonderful man, and so many people loved Gordie Howe. We weren’t expecting such a big crowd at first, but everyone was ecstatic to have Murray here. They loved hearing all his stories.”

While dating his future wife, Colleen, in 1980, Murray discovered that Jerry Moore was a huge Gordie Howe fan.

“He knew my dad better than I did,” Murray said. “We could talk for hours, and that really meant a lot to me. (Coming to Waltonwood) is a way of giving back to my father-in-law. He has always honored me and honored my father.”

Jerry Moore recalled his first encounter with Mr. Hockey.

“About a year after Murray and Colleen began dating, he said, ‘You have to meet my mom and dad,'” Moore said Saturday. “I stayed home from work that day, and as Gordie and (his wife) Colleen drove up the driveway, my heart was beating. It was like meeting Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb at one time. Gordie came in our kitchen and we sat there for an hour talking hockey. That was one of my biggest thrills ever. I followed him since the day he got to the Wings; I watched him all the time. As a person, he was so gentle. I never heard him curse or do anything bad. He was so very, very nice.”

3. And the Free Press’s Carol Cain reports that Ken Daniels is starting a foundation to honor his departed son Jamie’s memory while advocating against opioid addiction:

Paperwork for the Jamie Daniels Foundation as a 501(c)3 is underway and Daniels hopes to have the foundation ready within a few months. You can visit the site at jamiedanielsfoundation.org and pledge to make a donation in the future, while work continues.

Ken Daniels also is active on the speaking circuit and will appear May 3 at the Northeast Guidance Center’s Anti-Stigma Forum: Opiates — Wonder Drugs for the Wonder Years event held at the Salvation Army Center on Conner in Detroit.

 

The Free Press’s Helene St. James complements her regular-season grades with a breakdown of the Red Wings’ roster as she believes will return, leave, and/or may provide possible potential going forward:

F Andreas Athanasiou

Age: 23.

Status: Restricted free agent. He has arbitration rights this summer so there’ll be no holdout like last year. The club has the right to select a one-year or two-year deal.

F Tyler Bertuzzi

Age: 23.

Status: Restricted free agent. Does not have arbitration rights. He used 48 games this season to show he’s a top-six guy, adding grit to the lineup. Look for a two-year deal.

F David Booth

Age: 33.

Status: Unrestricted free agent. Will not be re-signed.

G Jared Coreau

Age: 26.

Status: Unrestricted free agent. May still have a future with Grand Rapids Griffins, but disappointed during his time in Detroit and does not figure as the backup to Howard.

Continued

No surprise here, per the Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner…

Defenseman Dennis Cholowski, the top pick in the 2016 draft (20th overall), is scheduled to report to Grand Rapids by the middle of next week, Ryan Martin, the Red Wings assistant general manager, said Saturday.

Whether he plays in the first-round series against Manitoba is still to be determined. Last year, after signing and leaving St. Cloud State, Cholowski arrived in time to play in the regular-season finale and then did not play in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Cholowski’s junior team, the Portland Winterhawks, were eliminated Friday from the WHL playoffs by Everett, which, interestingly, will next face the Tri-City Americans.

Tri-City is led by Michael Rasmussen, the Red Wings’ touted top pick last year. He has 24 points in eight playoff games – two sweeps.

Ramussen will join the Griffins depending on the timing of the playoffs.

And the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:

Defenseman Dennis Cholowski, the team’s 2016 first-round draft pick, will join the Grand Rapids Griffins this coming week after his junior team was eliminated in the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) playoffs.

Portland was eliminated Friday by Everett, the series lasted five games, ending Cholowski’s junior career.

In 12 playoff games, Cholowski had seven points (five goals, two assists).

For the regular season, split between Prince George and Portland, Chowlowski had 66 points (14 goals, 52 assists).

From the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRIFFINS-MOOSE SERIES STARTS SATURDAY IN WINNIPEG

Continue reading Griffins-Moose series begins in Winnipeg on Saturday, April 21st

Of brief Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. In the “coming attractions” category, somewhat close to literally, Fox 2 Detroit’s Woody Woodriffe spoke with Russian Five novel author Keith Gave and Russian Five film director Joshua Riehl regarding the story of the Red Wings’ most famous Russian imports.

The film was aired twice at the Freep Film Festival, and I’m assuming that it will be made more widely available soon; Gave’s novel is available on Amazon presently;

2. Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels will appear on CBS 62 on Sunday at 10 AM to discuss his son Jamie’s battles with drug addiction on Michigan Matters. Daniels also has a book out, If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Red Wings;

3. The Athletic’s Craig Custance spoke with Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill about the beneficial aspect of playing at the World Championships, all while Custance attempts to handicap Team USA’s roster:

“It’s positive and negative,” explained Red Wings coach and Team USA head coach Jeff Blashill. “The fact you get to coach the Worlds – one of the reasons is you’re one of the coaches not in the playoffs. The positive is it’s an unreal tournament. You get to stay in a real competitive environment for another month.”

Custance continues, picking no Wings other than the already-named Dylan Larkin for Team USA’s roster.

 

 

Of playoff-related prospect note:

In the OHL, Givani Smith finished at -1 with 3 shots as his Kitchener Rangers won 3-2 in overtime over the Sarnia Sting.

Kitchener now leads the teams’ second-round series 3 games to 2;

Jordan Sambrook finished even with 1 shot as his Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds won 4-1 over the Owen Sound Attack.

Sault Ste. Marie tied the teams’ second-round series at 2 games apiece;

And in the WHL, the Portland Winterhawks loaded up with Dennis Cholowski and other players in order to challenge for WHL title and a Memorial Cup, and instead, they’re out in the second round.

Cholowski finished at -1 with 3 shots as the Winterhawks lost 4-1 to Everett, bowing out of the second-round series in 5 games.

Cholowski had an OK WHL playoffs, finishing with 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points in 12 games, but he also finished at -9.

His regular season was excellent, producing 14 goals and 52 assists for 66 points in 69 games played with the Prince George Cougars and the Winterhawks, and Cholowski is likely to head to Grand Rapids to join the “Black Aces” during Grand Rapids’ playoff run.

Everett advances to the WHL’s Western Conference Final, where they’ll play Michael Rasmussen’s Tri-City Americans:

Dates for Western Conference Finals announced! Join the Ams and pack the house to cheer on this talented team! #AmsNation#WHLPlayoffs Details | https://t.co/HUXbnnPYkepic.twitter.com/ulWP7B2GVN

— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) April 14, 2018

 

In non-playoff action, in the USHL, the Filip Larsson-less Tri-City Storm lost 3-2 to Sioux City.

Tri-City will wrap up their playoff-less season on Saturday night. Losing Larsson (who is headed to the University of Denver next season) to a groin injury really hampered their playoff hopes.