Here’s part of a press release from the NHLPA stating that Red Wings prospects Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina will take part in the “NHLPA Rookie Showcase.”

The event is scheduled to take place at Mastercard Arena in Toronto next Monday, August 26th, and it’s a photo shoot in which Upper Deck Hockey takes pictures of the players presumed to earn “Young Guns” rookie cards this upcoming season, as well as a media event in which the players give interviews to the press:

2018 NHLPA ROOKIE SHOWCASE

AUGUST 26 AT MASTERCARD CENTRE

TORONTO (Aug. 17, 2018) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) will host its 10^th annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase Sunday, Aug. 26 at Mastercard Centre in Toronto, with 26 NHL® prospects and rookies scheduled to attend. This unique event provides Upper Deck – the official trading card partner of the NHLPA and the NHL – with an opportunity to capture photographs and videos of many of the game’s top young prospects and rookies in their official NHL team uniforms. The content collected will be used for upcoming Upper Deck trading cards, memorabilia products and digital video posts.

2018 NHLPA Rookie Showcase Scheduled Attendees:

The following 26 NHL prospects and rookies are scheduled to be in attendance for the 2018 NHLPA Rookie Showcase:

Vitaly Abramov (Blue Jackets), Rasmus Asplund (Sabres), Rudolfs Balcers (Sharks), Drake Batherson (Senators), Kieffer Bellows (Islanders), Henrik Borgstrom (Panthers), Evan Bouchard (Oilers), Daniel Brickley (Kings), Travis Dermott (Maple Leafs), Ryan Donato (Bruins), Dillon Dube (Flames), Adam Gaudette (Canucks), Jordan Greenway (Wild), Carter Hart (Flyers), Miro Heiskanen (Stars), Jordan Kyrou (Blues), Timothy Liljegren (Maple Leafs), Casey Mittelstadt (Sabres), Michael Rasmussen (Red Wings), Ilya Samsonov (Capitals), Dylan Sikura (Blackhawks), Nick Suzuki (Golden Knights), Robert Thomas (Blues), Juuso Valimaki (Flames), Gabriel Vilardi (Kings) and Filip Zadina (Red Wings).

*Please note the player list is subject to change.

Both Jimmy Howard and Keith Petruzzelli were invited to the Warren Strelow [U.S.] National Team Goaltending Camp in Plymouth this week, and DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji spoke with both the Wings’ goaltenders and Wings goalie coach Jeff Salajko about their experiences at during the five-day camp:

“I’ve worked for USA Hockey in various camps over the years and this is the first year we’ve added a pro segment, a pro division, ironically enough named Team Howard,” Salajko said. “But we have 10 goalies that have played pro here. Connor Hellebuyck was slated to come out but he went to a camp out in BC last week and just got back. It’s great having Jimmy here, just for these young kids to be able to see him and watch him work and do some of the same drills, to see how he handles himself and for some of these other guys, Charlie Lindgren of Montreal, some of these other guys that are pros, to see how they carry themselves. So it’s great having them and just being able to watch them work for the week.”

Often the hockey camps have all positions but the Warren Strelow camp is different because it’s only goaltenders.

“You’re bringing in the top goalies, not only in junior and college-age and pro but the big part of it that has always been has been the younger kids,” Salajko said. “We’ve got kids here as young as 16, 17, 18, a lot of kids that are draft-eligible next season so it’s great to be out here. We’ve got a lot of scouts out here, Las Vegas is here, Minnesota is here, Carolina is here. There are teams here. We’re represented here this week, just watching these guys, getting an early look at them before they start their season, going into the USHL or whatever college teams.”

Because Petruzzelli attends Quinnipiac University, he cannot take part in the prospect tournament in Traverse City so this was his first chance to meet Howard.

“He seems like a good guy, like to have fun, joking around with the guys in the locker room,” Petruzzelli said. “Obviously he’s a damn good goalie out on the ice, too.”

Continued

From DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner…

#RedWings‘ goaltending coach Jeff Salajko is our guest on Episode 79 of The Red and White Authority. He offers an overview of the organization’s goaltending situation and evaluates the Wings goalies of the past, present and the future –> https://t.co/BpdXrnPC6y pic.twitter.com/5AvZr1Rfnd

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 17, 2018

The Toledo Walleye have added a big body to their defense today:

Walleye continue to bolster defense with Kotyk

(Toledo, OH) – Defenseman Brenden Kotyk has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2018-19 season.

 

Kotyk, a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, spent his first pro season mostly in Greenville appearing in 51 contests with seven goals, 10 assists and 41 penalty minutes. He also spent time in the AHL with Hartford, skating in seven games for the Wolfpack, scoring once with an assist. Kotyk showed his offensive ability during a five game stretch in November (4-17) in which he scored three times with two assists.

“We are looking forward to adding Brendan to our defensive mix,” said Head Coach Dan Watson. “He has terrific size and the skill to match from the blue line.”

The 6’5”, 225 pound defenseman spent three years (2014-2017) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he performed at a plus 25 in 97 contests. Twice he reached three goals in a season and posted a career-best 13 points (3G, 10A) over 41 games in 2016-17, helping the Bulldogs to a NCHC Championship. Kotyk also collected 57 penalty minutes in that same season. The 26 year old was a member of the NCHC All-Academic team during the 2016-17 season and finished his college career with 97 games, seven goals, 16 assists, 25 points and 85 penalty minutes.

 

The Grand Rapids Griffins have posted a video spotlighting forward Trevor Yates:

 

Niklas Kronwall spoke with Hockeysvergie.se’s Sixten Funqvist regarding several Red Wings-related topics. Here’s a rough translation of his conversation:

The city has done it–and now the Red Wings will rise

When the city of Detroit almost collapsed at the end of the 90’s, it was sports, and especially hockey, that gave the residents hope. The sports united the city and gave people an identity. The city of Detroit, at least, is on its feet again. Now the Red Wings’ journey begins.

Niklas Kronwall is 37 years old. He’s been on the absolute top, a Stanley Cup title and hard-won playoff series.

During his 14 NHL seasons, he’s also experienced how Detroit was a city that fell and is now rebuilt, much better:

“Even before everything crashed, people didn’t go downtown unless you were going to hockey or baseball. You just didn’t. Now people go in and have dinner, one goes out. It’s become a whole new city. It’s crazy. The city of Detroit has a good reputation now,” says Niklas Kronwall when we meet in Stockholm.

Continue reading Roughly Translated: Niklas Kronwall speaks with Hockeysverige.se

As part of a promotion in which the NHL Network will discuss the “Top 20 wings” in the NHL via a 1-hour TV special this Sunday evening, NHL.com asked its writers to name 10 young players who may join the list in short order, and Mike G. Morreale picked Filip Zadina as a potential quick-riser:

Filip Zadina, RW, Detroit Red Wings — It remains a mystery to me how one of the finest goal-scorers of the 2018 NHL Draft fell to the Red Wings at No. 6. Zadina (6-foot, 195 pounds) will prove to be one of the steals of this draft class as the 18-year-old challenges for an NHL roster spot as early as this season. He’s a playmaker with hockey sense, great on special teams, and has a wicked wrist shot. In his first season in North America, he was named the top professional prospect in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after finishing first in rookie scoring with 44 goals and 82 points in 57 games for Halifax. — Mike Morreale, staff writer

Continued

MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses Jimmy Howard’s 2018-19 season outlook this morning:

2018-19 outlook: Howard started strong last season but lacked consistency from mid-November until the end of the season. If he stays healthy, he’s in line for another heavy workload, possibly 50-plus games. But he’ll be pushed for playing time by veteran free-agent signee Jonathan Bernier.

Howard’s performance will determine whether he earns another contract from the Red Wings. If he plays well, they’ll likely re-sign him to a short-term deal (two years). It’ll be a few years before any of their prospects (Filip Larsson, Keith Petruzzelli, Joren Van Pottelberghe, Kaden Fulcher) is ready to challenge for an NHL roster spot.

If Howard doesn’t perform well enough, he could be shopped at the trade deadline if there is a market for him.

Continued

Expressen’s Magnus Nystrom and Johanna Dahlen spoke with several NHL’ers regarding concussions, using Johan Franzen as a prime example of outmoded policies and player attitudes toward head injuries, and Niklas Kronwall is consulted regarding his teammate’s career-ending injury:

Brutal–I get goosebumps when I think about it”

Johan Franzen has not been able to play for three years. The Swedish hockey star still suffers from the symptoms after concussions–and his fate has been shaken in the NHL.

After a series of serious brain injuries, several significant pros are now trying to get rid of the ‘game culture’ from the ice:

“It’s tragic that it had to get to this level at this moment,” says Gabriel Landeksog.

“I think the league and NHLPA players have set up good guidelines in recent years, it feels like there have been fewer ugly hits,” says Niklas Kronwall.

Johan Franzen has two years left on his contract with the Detroit Red Wings, but he can’t play ice hockey. He hasn’t been able to do so since 2015.

Then, the Swedish star was hit by Rob Klinkhammer, and had a serious hit to his head that forced him to finish his career.

Niklas Kronwall is still significantly affected when he speaks about the fate of Franzen:

“It’s brutal, I get goosebumps just thinking about it,” says Kronwall, who continues:

“He got a brain injury and was forced to step off, and then you think…that’s it.”

Continue reading Roughly Translated: Kronwall and Swedish NHL’ers talk about concussions and Johan Franzen

Twitter provides information for your hockey-watching needs! Via a question from Wingnut289, here’s the answer to your question, “Hey George, when does the annual MSU Pro Camp at Munn Arena take place?” via MSU Hockey:

Spartan Hockey Pro Camp Begins Monday

Annual camp will take place at Munn Ice Arena.

Aug. 16, 2018

EAST LANSING – The Michigan State hockey program’s annual Pro Camp will take place next week at Munn Ice Arena. The camp will run Monday, Aug. 20 — Friday, Aug. 24 with players skating from 10 a.m. — noon on Monday — Thursday, and then 9 — 11 a.m. on Friday. The camp is open and free to spectators.

The longtime camp, run by MSU director of hockey operations Brad Fast, goaltending coach Jason Muzzatti and former Spartan assistant Tom Newton, helps the players prepare for their upcoming training camps with their respective professional teams. MSU had players in the NHL, American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and in various European leagues last season. As in past years, several pros that did not play collegiately at MSU will also attend the camp.

Justin Abdelkader usually leads the list of Red Wings who participate in the camp, and next week is very busy for hockey fans as the Joe Kocur Foundation’s softball game will take place on Saturday the 25th, with Dylan Larkin’s Stars and Stripes Showdown to take place on Sunday the 26th.