Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff a prolific author, and this evening, he penned an article for Featurd.io in which Wings assistant GM Ryan Martin discusses the NHL’s scouting combine.
As far as I can tell, Featurd.io is a website that won’t let you read its content if you have an ad-blocker and won’t let you copy its contents, so I’m not surprised that it’s shiny and new(s):
Of draft combine-related note this evening, and in companion with the Free Press’s Helene St. James’ three combine videos:
1. The Free Press’s St. James posted an article in which she discussed the Red Wings’ activities at the combine, which included interviewing 80 players and taking 20 to steak dinners in Buffalo:
This is an important draft for the Wings, who are trying to speed up the rebuilding process. They interviewed 80 players during the combine, and the 20 who received dinner invitations are the ones the Wings expect to be available over the four selections they have between sixth and 36th (Detroit’s first-round pick, Vegas’ first-round pick, Ottawa’s second-round pick and Detroit’s second-round pick).
“We’re going to draft a really good player for the Detroit Red Wings and then let’s be patient, let’s have a plan,” general manager Ken Holland said. “Great if they can play next year, but if they don’t, I don’t know if it really matters. We’re trying to build something.”
Continue reading Draft combine articles and videos from HSJ and THN + Holland on moving up-or-down
The Red Wings are posting Twitter videos from the NHL’s Scouting Combine in Buffalo, where fitness testing is underway today…
Fitness testing at the #NHLCombine is underway. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/wpd8ObdDtw
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 2, 2018
Continue reading Wings, St. James post videos from the NHL’s Scouting Combine
According to MLive’s Ansar Khan:
The Detroit Red Wings have the sixth pick in the June 22 draft, their highest selection since 1990.
But it might not be high enough to suit them. A couple of the players they covet, right wing Filip Zadina and defenseman Evan Bouchard, might be off the board.
That’s why the Red Wings are trying to move up the draft, to as high as No. 3, a league source said.
2. The Wings have begun to speak with their restricted free agents’ representatives (see: Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi, Martin Frk, Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha)..
Darren Ferris, the agent for Andreas Athanasiou, said he and Red Wings general manager Ken Holland had preliminary discussions during this week’s NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Athanasiou is arbitration-eligible this year, unlike last season, when he didn’t sign until October. If either side files for arbitration, it will assure him of having a contract no later than early August.
3. And Khan reports that the Wings are trying to re-sign Mike Green:
The Red Wings remain interested in re-signing defenseman Mike Green, if he’ll accept a two-year deal, and had talks with his representative in Buffalo. Green is an unrestricted free agent whose season ended in late March due to neck surgery.
The Sarnia Journal’s Jake Romphf penned a profile of Red Wings prospect Kaden Fulcher, discussing Fulcher’s background and Sarnia-area ties:
“Not getting drafted was tough, but getting the call from Detroit saying they wanted me to come to some camps with them was pretty unbelievable,” he said.
Last fall, after attending the Red Wings’ training camp, Fulcher signed a three-year entry-level deal.
“When you’re a kid you really want to make it to the NHL, but you never really expect it,” he said. “It’s been really special.”
This is an intriguing rumor from the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch:
There’s plenty of talk about the teams trying to move up in the draft and one of those could be the Detroit Red Wings. There’s speculation here that the Wings would like to move into the top three from the No. 6 position and may be dangling the first-round selection the club obtained from the Vegas Golden Knights at the deadline. Should be interesting to watch because the Carolina Hurricanes have already declared they’re willing to listen.
Updated 2x at 7:48 PM: The Red Wings and the Free Press’s Helene St. James took part in the media availability at the NHL’s Scouting Combine in Buffalo this afternoon, doing their due diligence in interviewing some of the more likely Red Wings targets at this month’s draft:
Talking to some top #NHLDraft prospects ahead of tomorrow’s fitness testing in Buffalo. #NHLCombine #LGRW pic.twitter.com/ne6oWQWGjx
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 1, 2018
“He said it’s going to be a tougher game. He always gives me good advice.” Andrei Svechnikov, on his brother, Evgeny. #NHLCombine #LGRW pic.twitter.com/MYKIRJEFWS
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 1, 2018
“It’s been fun. I mean this is what you dream of as a kid – coming to the #NHLCombine, meeting with the teams and obviously to be drafted.”
Noah Dobson, who is ranked 5th amongst North American skaters heading into the 2018 #NHLDraft, speaks with media. | #LGRW pic.twitter.com/9EnChlzDRY
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 1, 2018
Potential Red Wings draft pick Evan Bouchard at draft combine media day. pic.twitter.com/nRnHpjHR4r
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) June 1, 2018
And the Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a 4-minute clip of interviews with Evan Bouchard, Andrei Svechnikov and Noah Dobson:
Continue reading Wings, HSJ interviewing prospects at the NHL’s Scouting Combine
On Thursday, Toledo Walleye veteran Kyle Bonis signed with a team in Norway, and today, the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe and the Toledo Wallumni report that Simon Denis has signed with a South Korean team:
Another big loss for the @ToledoWalleye. Top defenseman Simon Denis will be playing overseas next season. https://t.co/wYvzqt3kTz
— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) June 1, 2018
Former Walleye D Simon Denis, who signed with a team based in South Korea today, on playing for the @ToledoWalleye: “It meant the world to me to be surrounded by an organization that’s first class and a fan base as amazing as Toledo’s. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) June 1, 2018
Simon Denis (cont): “I’m so grateful that I began my pro career as a Walleye.” https://t.co/mvDVzrHVYE
— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) June 1, 2018
Simon Denis, who played in 119 regular season games for the Walleye over the last two seasons, was the team’s top scoring defenseman in each of those seasons.
As a rookie, he produced 55 points (15 G, 40 A) in 70 games.
This past season, he had 35 points (6 G, 29 A) in 49 games. https://t.co/mvDVzrHVYE— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) June 1, 2018
Simon Denis’ father is French Canadian and his mother is Japanese. The native of British Columbia said part of the reason he opted to sign with a South Korean team was his Japanese dual-citizenship.
The league has a shorter schedule and is more financially lucrative. https://t.co/mvDVzrHVYE— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) June 1, 2018
According to the Grand Rapids Press’s Amy Biolchini, Van Andel Arena will undergo some necessary renovations in 2019:
The home of the Grand Rapids Griffins is set to receive a new roof and locker-room updates in the next year.
Money for the updates is among $5.1 million in capital projects approved Friday, June 1, for Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place by the joint public authority that oversees both buildings.
Overall the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention Arena Authority will be spending $19 million in the coming fiscal year to operate and maintain Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place Convention Center.
The authority is planning to use $4.4 million of its savings to cover the gap between revenue and expenditures, but still projects it will have $20 million left in its rainy day fund at the end of fiscal 2019.
The biggest capital projects include a $1 million roof replacement at Van Andel Arena. The money would cover the first phase of the roof replacement project. The arena was built in 1995.
Locker rooms at the arena will receive a $2 million upgrade — a request long made by performers and athletes, according to authority officials.
From Fox 2 Detroit:
A Red Wings legend and three local comedians are joining forces for a one-of-a-kind comedy show next weekend in Southgate.
Darren McCarty and comedian Jason Douglas join Fox 2 with more.
McCarty and Douglas explained the event to Fox 2’s Amy Andrews this morning:
