Month: June 2019

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman appeared on this morning’s Jamie and Stoney Show on 97.1 the Ticket (audio will be coming along shortly), and Yzerman discussed the team’s decision to draft defenseman Moritz Seider 6th overall:

Most projections had the 6’4 defenseman from Germany going somewhere in the middle of the first round. But Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings had him ranked higher, and they knew Seider would be off the board if they waited until their second pick. So in his first major decision as Detroit’s general manager, Yzerman trusted his instincts. 

“I don’t pay attention to the mock drafts at all. We can’t. We have to do our jobs and hopefully do them well and kind of tune out the noise, so to speak,” Yzerman told the Jamie and Stoney Show on 97.1 The Ticket. “But we had him right at six on our draft list. I wasn’t sure where he was going to go. I know there was a lot of interest in him from a lot of teams.

“I actually looked at the options of trading back and trying to get an extra pick and keeping my fingers crossed that he would be there, or we had a plan B in the event that he wasn’t. Trading back didn’t prove to be an option, so we were comfortable selecting him at that spot. I know he was surprised. But we felt he was going to go if not to us, potentially Buffalo who was picking right after us, and by probably the 12th or 13th pick he would be gone.”

Continued

The annual Bob Probert Ride took place on Sunday in Windsor, Ontario, and the Blackburn News’s Adelle Loiselle reports that the charitable endeavor surpassed a significant financial marker:

A popular event that helps cardiac patients in Windsor-Essex get the treatment they need close to home has raised more than $1-million.

The Bob Probert Ride has brought more than 1,300 motorcycle enthusiasts from across Canada and the U.S. together every year for almost a decade. The ninth-annual event hit the milestone this year.

“From our contribution to the angioplasty suite, to exercise equipment at the cardiac wellness gym, and now towards the establishment of a satellite cardiac wellness program in Tecumseh, we are making a huge difference right here in our community,” said Dani Probert, the widow of former NHL player Bob Probert.

The expansion to Tecumseh will allow patients to take part in a six-month program close to their home.

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. MLive’s Ansar Khan posted an article discussing the Red Wings’ 2019 draft class. Before Khan breaks down the Wings’ 11 picks, he takes note of the Red Wings’ GM’s version of Ken Holland’s “You Can’t Rush the Kids” mantra:

“The danger is we all want our draft picks playing as soon as possible; it helps justify the picks a little bit,” Yzerman told media at the draft. “Ultimately, you really have to make sure you’re doing what’s right for these kids, that they’re playing at a level that they can be competitive and improve and excel at. 

“There is stress. Very few 18-year-olds play in the NHL today. Now that they’re in the fold, we’ll try to set them up as best as we can, educate them and provide them with resources to develop and then we’ll see. If it’s one year, two years, three years … some of these kids will be five years. It doesn’t mean they’re not going to be good players. But it’s going to take five years for some of them.”

Khan continues, and it’s a relief to read Yzerman stating that the Wings will take player development on a case-by-case basis.

2. The Free Press’s Helene St. James also posted a Monday morning article offering “takeaways” from the draft. HSJ also quotes Yzerman as his draft-day comments pertained to this week’s development camp at Little Caesars Arena, which begins on Tuesday:

The newest crop of picks start their immersion into the organization at this week’s development camp. There’ll be daily on-ice activities culminating with a scrimmage Saturday. The value from the Wings’ point of view is more about what happens off the ice. 

“You get to know the kids a little bit, and educate them if they need it,” Yzerman said. “And then try to set them up.”

This entails educating the prospects on what they need to do in the kitchen and in the gym to put themselves in the best position to further their careers. “Make sure they understand what they need to do — the lifestyle, the education, the training, to get to the NHL,” Yzerman said. “It’s more education and development than conditioning.”

St. James also continues…

The Red Wings’ front office has received a few slings and arrows from the media due to its decision to draft a defensively-oriented group of 11 players. This morning, however, the Sporting News’s Steve Kournaios suggests that the Wings’ 2019 draft class might not be nearly as bad as it’s been made out to be:

Steve Yzerman’s first draft as Red Wings GM went relative well for a guy who was armed with double-digit picks at his disposal. Overall, he could have done better, but he also picked up a half-dozen quality prospects with legitimate potential for NHL success. Although his weekend began with his surprising selection of big-bodied puck mover Mortiz Seider at sixth overall, Yzerman went on to overdraft another physical presence in Finnish blueliner Antti Tuomisto (35th). Both can run the power play, skate the puck out of trouble and shoot with authority. But both were taken a nearly a half-round too high while leaving incredible forward talent on the board. The Seider pick notwithstanding, the impressive part of Detroit’s draft was the middle portion, where they scooped up underrated sniper Robert Mastrosimone (54th), physical puck rusher Albert Johansson (60th), abrasive two-way winger Albin Grewe (66th) and speed merchant Ethan Phillips (97th).

In the later rounds, the Red Wings opted for size and two-way play, beginning with high school puck rusher Cooper Moore (128th), who will play college hockey for North Dakota. As expected, the Red Wings continued mining Sweden for talent, taking a huge 200-foot forward in Elmber Soderblom (159th) and project puck mover Gustav Berglund (177th), albeit while passing over more talented (and consistent) Swedes like Victor Hedstrom, Max Wahlgren and Albin Hjalmarsson. Diminutive Russian winger Kirill Tyutyayev (190th) not only has skill, but also was a standout on a veteran Avto team and nearly led them to an MHL championship. Lastly, big goalie Carter Gylander (191st) was solid for Sherwood Park of the AJHL and will play college hockey at Colgate. Grade: A-

Kournaios continues, grading the NHL’s other 30 teams, and it’s a little refreshing to read someone who goes by “The Draft Analyst” on Twitter suggest that the Wings’ amateur scouts did something other than extend themselves beyond their reach.

The Windsor Star’s Jim Parker spoke with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman and director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright regarding the team’s 11 2019 draft picks. Wright told Parker that the Wings didn’t go into the draft emphasizing defensive additions, but that’s how things played out:

“As a staff, I thought we identified this as being a pretty deep draft defensively,” Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said. “I don’t think we’re quite in a position where we have to start really picking by position. It just happened to be that defence were kind of heavy in this draft.”

In the second round, the Red Wings added six-foot-four, 193-pound Finnish defenceman Antti Tuomisto.

“This is a guy that’s six-foot-(four) with real bite to his game,” Wright said. “We were ecstatic to leave with him.”

With the team’s third pick in the second round, Detroit added Swedish defenceman Albert Johansson, American defenceman Cooper Moore was taken in the fourth round and defenceman Gustav Berglund in the sixth round.

“At the end of the day, we just needed good players,” Wright said. “It just kind of happened it was defence (heavy).”

Parker continues. I understand the Wings scouting staff’s reticence to suggest that they picked a particular position and bolstered it, but that’s how it played out.

Updated at 5:36 PM: Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

1. The Red Wings’ amateur scouting staff chose to focus on replenishing the team’s defensive depth during this year’s draft–though they won’t admit as much–as the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan notes:

“As a staff, we identified this as being a pretty deep draft defensively,” said Tyler Wright, the Wings’ director of amateur scouting. “I don’t think we’re quite in a position where we have to start really picking by position. It just happened to be that defense was kind of top-heavy in this draft. You watch the playoffs and you see the size of these guys with St. Louis and Boston being in there – that doesn’t mean they’re just big.”

Meaning, size with skill. And the Wings are optimistic they picked some big bodies who can do a variety of things.

Moritz Seider (first round) and Antti Tuomisto (second round) are both 6-foot-4 with mobility and offensive skill, while being stout defensively.

Getting Tuomisto with Saturday’s first pick was an aim for the Wings, who had targeted the Finnish defenseman for some time.

“We think he’s a good prospect,” general manager Steve Yzerman said. “He’s a big kid with a good shot. He’s a smart player. He moves well for a big guy and he plays hard. We just like the way he thinks the game. We like his tools and size. Somewhat like Seider. They’re different players, but big right-shot defensemen that move pretty well, that can pass the puck and defend reasonably well.

Kulfan continues…

2. Kulfan also posted a story which includes shorter snippets of comments made by Hakan Andersson and Yzerman. This time, he notes that the Red Wings’ draft class is “dog-free”:

Continue reading On defense, ‘dogs,’ Swedish steals, crushing on Tuomisto and more

Early this morning, the Red Wings posted a 45-minute podcast in which Red Wings special assistant to the GM Kris Draper discusses the Wings’ 11 2019 draft picks:

Kris Draper joins us on Episode 114 of The Red and White Authority to review the #RedWings 2019 draft and offer an analysis of Detroit’s 11 picks.

Listen/rate/subscribe: https://t.co/epOmJaeK7Z pic.twitter.com/rMzUZUq7Kp— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 23, 2019

The Red Wings’ decision to draft Moritz Seider with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft yielded consternation, confusion and frustration for many of the Red Wings’ faithful.

The Wings felt that their rationale for making a “surprise” pick was straightforward–the team had a need on defense, so they filled it with the best defenseman available–and this morning, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox discusses Seider’s upside, both on and off the ice:

Seider is coming out of Germany’s DEL, where he played for Mannheim. That’s not the same as someone coming out of, say, Finland or Sweden, but there’s something to be said about any teenager who spent a full season playing against full-grown professionals and held their own. The thing most prospects need to do as they rise through the professional ranks is get stronger physically, but Seider already has NHL size at six-feet-four and 207 pounds. He’s also a right shot who can move the puck and with the potential to be a top-pair NHL blueliner one day. Though this pick was a Day 1 surprise, he very well may end up as the best defenceman out of this draft.

He was also a draft-combine favourite. Stylish and with a fun personality, Red Wings fans will find Seider very easy to cheer for — he may even become a fan favourite one day.

German D Moritz Seider, who’s apparently a big fashion guy, said he wasn’t sure what to pack for NHL combine. Debated full suits but opted for less formal wear. Some teams commented on business casual/sneakers look. “I’m famous for that, maybe,” he joked. Kid’s got a personality.— John Matisz (@MatiszJohn) June 1, 2019

Fox continues at length, and, if you missed it, the Wings posted a video chronicling Seider’s draft day experiences:

The Athletic’s Max Bultman wrote an intriguing article late last night, offering “19 Thoughts” regarding the Red Wings’ 2019 draft performance. I can’t share them all with you, but I feel that Bultman’s words of caution regarding the hit-or-miss nature of drafting players is too important not to share:

If this all sounds a little too positive, allow me to refer you to a quote from former Detroit scout Christer Rockstrom when I recently asked him what he was thinking when leaving the Red Wings’ legendary 1989 draft.

“Every scout leaves the draft happy,” he said.

That’s the deal here. Yes, the Red Wings like the guys they drafted. It’s why they drafted them. And maybe their rationale makes it a little easier to be excited about a class that — whether because of the publicly available draft rankings or sheer unfamiliarity — hasn’t necessarily been met with the same enthusiasm as last year’s class. Just make sure it also doesn’t fool you into thinking Detroit just drafted 11 NHL studs. Pronman gave the class a “B.” That sounds about right to me.

I don’t like to deal in absolutes, but the chance most — or even half — of these prospects pan out as the Red Wings hope they will is incredibly small. The goal is getting a few to hit, and one or two to hit it big. And that still might not happen.

Bultman continues (paywall) at length, and my take on the draft class, at least very, very early on, is this:

Continue reading The Athletic’s Bultman offers ‘draft Thoughts’ (and so do I)

I’m admittedly a bit of a “front office comment” nerd here. I will watch and/or listen to the comments made by a general manager and his contemporaries, usually made at the beginning, middle and end of the regular season, as well as at the draft, at least a couple of times. During Ken Holland’s reign as GM, I found his rambling, 45-minute pressers to be a treasure trove of philosophy regarding the team’s direction and management, and while Steve Yzerman is more succinct, his commentary is no less important.

I’ve already watched/listened to the Red Wings’ videos of Yzerman, director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright and director of European scouting Hakan Andersson speaking with the media, and, this morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an article which discusses a bit of the “Yzerplan” as it applied to this year’s draft:

Continue reading HSJ in the morning: Talking about the ‘Yzerplan’ as St. James grades the Wings’ draft performance