Month: October 2018

It’s technically the ‘Red Wings’ birthday today

Per the NHL on Sirius XM radio:

Update: The Wings’ current players have the giggles, too:

On the empty seats at LCA (for home game 1 of 41, anyway)

Paul Kukla touched upon this issue this morning, and I want to talk about it as well:

According to NHL.com’s game sheet, the announced attendance at last night’s Red Wings-Blue Jackets game was 19,515, but The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline and the Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa noted that the rink was…not full:


My understanding is that a significant number of full and partial season-ticket holders did not renew their seats for this season, which is why the Red Wings are aggressively pitching $20 seats and are working very hard to advertise that the product’s trending younger…

But it’s hard to pay X amount for tickets, then pay $15-25 for parking, and pay arena prices for concessions when you’re a single person or pair heading to the rink, never mind a family of 3 or 4.

It’s very, very early, but it appears that the fans don’t feel that the Wings provide enough bang for their buck, and they’re voting with their butts.

I certainly hope that the Wings can sell more tickets as the season progresses, and I hope that the fans feel that they’re getting a solid return on their investment, but I get the feeling that we will be seeing a lot more empty seats this season as the “new rink” excitement has worn off, and the reality of witnessing a mediocre team at top-dollar prices has hit the fan base.

What do you think about the situation?

 

Tweets of note: Griffins open their season tonight; Z on the red carpet and Wings-CBJ stuff; NTDP begins season this evening

Of disparate Twitter note this afternoon:

1. The Grand Rapids Griffins open their regular season in Texas this evening, and you can watch the game for free on AHL.tv:

2. Regarding last night’s game: Continue reading Tweets of note: Griffins open their season tonight; Z on the red carpet and Wings-CBJ stuff; NTDP begins season this evening

Pack-and-go injury updates: Ericsson out for Kings and Ducks games, Kronwall on track to return

The Detroit Red Wings held a team workout at Little Caesars Arena and packed their gear for a road trip to Los Angeles and Anaheim, and after their workout, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill updated the team’s injury situation, per the Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa and MLive’s Ansar Khan:

Update: The Red Wings posted some player videos from the post-workout media availability, starting with Thomas Vanek, and continuing with Christoffer Ehn and Trevor Daley before coach Blashill weighed in:

Continue reading Pack-and-go injury updates: Ericsson out for Kings and Ducks games, Kronwall on track to return

Regarding Zach Gallant being named captain of the Peterborough Petes

The Peterborough Examiner’s Mike Davies spoke with Peterborough Petes coach Rob Wilson and Zach Gallant about Gallant’s new status as Peterborough’s captain:

“Ever since the summer Zach has shown that he wanted it,” Wilson said. “He plays a two-way style of game and that dictates a little bit of influence for coaches, guys who can play on both sides of the puck. I really like what he’s been doing with the guys. He’s taking control in the room and on different areas of the ice. We’re really happy with what we’ve seen from Zach.”

“It’s definitely something I was hoping to get,” Gallant said. “It’s a huge responsibility and I want to be able to set the example in the room this year. Especially with what happened last year with how badly things went.”

Gallant said he wants the team to be close.

“I want to make sure guys are getting together off the ice and doing the little things to make sure we have good team cohesion this year,” Gallant said. “I’m not saying we haven’t had it in the past but we just want to have a better year than we did last year.”

He also he sees his role as holding players accountable.

“Making sure we’re working hard on a daily basis and trying to eliminate the complaining and the complacency.”

Continued

 

Wings pack and go

It appears that the Red Wings won’t practice today ahead of the team’s road trip to Los Angeles (where they play the Kings on Sunday night) and Anaheim (where they battle the Ducks on Monday night):

Update: The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa reports that the Wings worked out this morning:

Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, other venues are ‘storm ready’

You can’t make this up, per PR Newswire:

National Weather Service Certifies Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park And Four Other Concert And Sports Venues As ‘StormReady’

Ilitch Holdings and Olympia Entertainment partner with Michigan State Police, Oakland University and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties to earn certification from the National Weather Service

Partnership across Southeast Michigan’s emergency response organizations key in building storm readiness program

Specially-trained weather spotters track weather conditions during events.

DETROIT, Oct. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Metro Detroit’s major sports and entertainment venues are now certified to spot, report and prepare for a wide range of weather conditions. “The National Weather Service (NWS) now recognizes Ilitch Holdings, Inc. as “StormReady” for Olympia Entertainment’s major event venues both owned and operated by Olympia Entertainment.” The sites include Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre at Oakland University, the historic Fox Theatre and the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill.

Continue reading Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, other venues are ‘storm ready’

Custance on Zetterberg’s first game night as a civilian

The Athletic’s Craig Custance went behind the scenes with Henrik Zetterberg as the Red Wings’ former captain dropped the puck at the Wings’ home opener:

“Coming down today, it felt like a normal game. Same time. Left the house at the same time,” Zetterberg told The Athletic, moments before he walked out in front of the crowd. “But obviously it’s different.”

It’s definitely different.

Zetterberg is told that Justin Abdelkader will be taking the ceremonial puck drop with Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno. It probably would have been Niklas Kronwall but Kronwall is injured too. So is fellow defenseman Jonathan Ericsson. Johan Franzen had just been nearby, two blonde-haired little boys following him down the hallway — one in a Franzen jersey and another in a signed Dylan Larkin jersey. These last holdouts from the Red Wings’ glory days, all in suits and nearby to support their fellow Swede.

“This is going to be hard for him,” Ericsson said, earlier in the day. “It’s going to be a big change. It’s going to be good for him to spend a lot of time with his family.”

It’s not easy, but right now they’re having fun. Ericsson and Kronwall stop to chat with Zetterberg as he prepares to drop the puck.

“I want to go out there to hear the cheers,” Ericsson says to Zetterberg, who laughs. Zetterberg says he wants Ericsson out there with him so the cheers are louder. Then the conversation turns to puck-dropping technique.

Continued (paywall)…

The Athletic’s Bultman on Cholowski’s debut

The Athletic’s Max Bultman penned an article regarding Dennis Cholowski’s first game as a Red Wing:

Beyond the sheer exhilaration [of scoring], though, there was a larger process at work. In August, as Cholowski got set for the series of camps and exhibitions that would make his opportunity possible, he already knew what the recipe would be if he was to have a chance.

“It’s mostly just be more confident,” he told The Athletic then. “Be the guy that just wants the puck — be able to make the play, lead the rush and join the rush.”

At first blush, Cholowski is not someone who seems particularly demanding. He is quiet, and plays a game built more on poise and intelligence than flash.

But when Larkin went into the corner…

“I saw him look over his shoulder (and) just yelled as loud as I could for the puck,” Cholowski said, “because I was wide open.”

Continued (paywall), and here’s Cholowski’s first goal, via AWood40:

 
NHL.com took note of Cholowski’s debut from a fantasy hockey perspective:

Detroit Red Wings: Rookie defenseman Dennis Cholowski (6 percent owned in Yahoo) scored a goal in his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He played 19:51 on the top pair with Danny DeKeyser, saw 0:59 on the power play, and benefited from even-strength exposure to forward Dylan Larkin, who had the primary assist on Cholowski’s goal. Cholowski had 66 points (14 goals, 52 assists) in 69 games in the Western Hockey League last season and is worth considering in deeper leagues with Mike Green (illness) out for at least one month. The Red Wings’ next game is on the road against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.