Month: September 2019

The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s Lance-Michael Correia spoke with Red Wings assistant coach Adam Nightengale regarding his status as moving from the Red Wings’ video room to the bench:

“I’ve been very lucky to be around some great people, going all the way back to my playing days,” said Nightingale, whose promotion was announced in May. “I never got into this thinking I was going to be an NHL coach some day. That was never really a goal of mine. I was just lucky to be with people that I could learn from, both as coaches and as people.”

Nightingale left Cheboygan as a junior in high school to play for the Soo Indians, where he honed his skills against top Jr. A competition. After college, Nightingale played professionally in the East Coast Hockey League, spending four seasons with Greenville and Charlotte. He joined the Michigan State hockey staff in 2010, serving as Director of Hockey Operations. Nightingale then returned to Shattuck St. Mary’s as head coach of the bantam team, winning a national title in 2016.

After his stint with the Sabres, Nightingale coordinated video for Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Championships under Blashill. The head coach immediately recognized Nightingale’s keen eye and analysis.

“He has a very, very bright hockey mind and a bright ‘people’ mind as well,” Blashill said. “That much was evident right away. Now, we want to continue his impact on our staff and team by bringing him into a role that’s up the ladder a bit.”

Continued

Former Red Wings forward Luke Witkowski signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning this past summer, and he spoke with the Holland Sentinel’s Dan D’Addona about his decision-making process:

This hockey season will be much different for Luke Witkowski. It is not just because he is back on the Tampa Bay Lighting, though that move from the Red Wings is definitely different. By season’s end, Witkowski will be a father. He and his wife, Erin, are expecting.

“Got a baby on the way, due Feb. 12,” Witkowski said proudly. “It is pretty wild looking at strollers and cribs. Five months from now life is going to change. But we are very excited. That is the wild part.”

It isn’t easy for a hockey player unsure of making Tampa Bay’s roster. He might be headed to Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse. There is plenty up in the air.

“That is always tough. Pro sports, you never know what is going to happen. Last year, I was on waivers and I didn’t know whether I would be going Grand Rapids or staying in Detroit. I have a house in Michigan and my wife is pregnant,” he said. “Life comes at you quick.”

Continued

The Red Wings will be streaming tonight’s “Celebrity and Alumni Game” on YouTube, starting around 5:30 PM:

MLive’s Ansar Khan penned a mid-morning article regarding the comments made by defenseman and free agent signing Oliwer Kaski on Friday:

The right-shooting Kaski (6-0, 190) understands he’s not assured of a roster spot after the undrafted free agent signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings in May. Right now, it appears the top six is comprised of Danny DeKeyser, Mike Green, Patrik Nemeth, Filip Hronek, Jonathan Ericsson and Trevor Daley. Kaski’s main competition might come from Madison Bowey, Dennis Cholowski and Moritz Seider.

Kaski’s age (23) and experience in SM-liiga, where he led Pelicans in goals (19) and points (51) in 59 games last season might give him the edge. Jiri Fischer, the Red Wings’ associate director of player personnel, was instrumental in recruiting Kaski.

“Jiri Fischer had me watch on tape before we got him and he’s got some real weapons, and I got to see him play at the World Championship and he can really shoot it and he has a real good offense mind,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “The question is when a guy comes over from Europe is, ‘How will they defend on the smaller sheet?’ We’ll find out and the same thing with Seids (2019 first pick Seider).”

Continued

The Hockey News’s Sam McCaig posted a list of the NHL’s 31 starting goaltenders as ranked on a team-by-team basis, and Jimmy Howard finished higher than you’d think:

#19: Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings: Veteran stopper provides stability, leadership on a Wings team that will endure more growing pains.

The Red Wings posted videos of Moritz Seider, Luke Glendening and Patrik Nemeth speaking with the media on Twitter…

“I just want to become a better hockey player, a better person.”

– Moritz Seider | #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/azjcIloQWu— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2019

“Very humbling, but I’m honored. There’s so many leaders in that room, but to be a part of that, a part of the tradition of the #RedWings, is great.”

– Luke Glendening | #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/htVmRoOwpD— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2019

“With the history of the organization, the direction they want to go, with Steve coming in. I just think it’s a team that really wants to do the right thing.”

– Patrik Nemeth | #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/MdaVvMtxxa— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2019

If you want to hear Taro Hirose or coach Blashill, my audio post remains the place to go (until the Wings update their videos, anyway)…

Update: Here’s Hirose…

“I think everyone’s really focused and dialed in on making this team better and having a better season this year.”

– Taro Hirose | #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/qrRIEXUTwb— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2019

Also: Barwis is in town:

Hard work. #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/h7QBClC9lk— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2019

Update #2: Here’s Blash:

Jeff Blashill – #DRWTC day two.

Full ?️: https://t.co/uQuYQZRbhy pic.twitter.com/OKhyOz4mEU— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2019

Update #3: Also, from Fox Sports Detroit:

.@BrookeFletcher caught up with Joe Veleno after Day 2 of Red Wings Training Camp. #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/kE4fT3ywC0— FOX Sports Detroit (@FOXSportsDet) September 14, 2019

Update #4: Cool stuff here:

Here’s the shootout from Red Wings training camp on Saturday.

It features Taro Hirose, Michael Rasmussen, and Andreas Athanasiou pic.twitter.com/iGhgIqUIq9— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 14, 2019

One more:

Joe Veleno is working to prove to Steve Yzerman he belongs on the Red Wings roster.

The 2018 first round pick talked about playing with Alexis Lafrenière and his second NHL training camp. pic.twitter.com/zCU1p2fEex— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 14, 2019

The Red Wings broadcast an hour’s worth of training camp activities today, and they posted the broadcast on YouTube:

The Detroit Red Wings engaged in a spirited set of drills during the second day of training camp, and after their on-ice workouts, the Red Wings made the following players available to the media:

Taro Hirose spoke with the press regarding his attempts to earn a spot on the Wings’ roster, his desire to impress during his first training camp and more:

Moritz Seider spoke with the press and was his confident, direct self, discussing what it would take to stick in North America, his desire to become both a “better player and a better person” under the guidance of the Wings’ leaders, and what he brings to the table as a player:

Luke Glendening addressed the addition of an alternate captain’s “A” to his jersey, he talked about how he can help lead the team on and off the ice, his busy summer (he got married) and what Mike Barwis can bring to the team as their director of sports science:

Patrik Nemeth was a refreshingly positive fellow who believes that the Red Wings are closer to turning their team around than most anyone else suggests, with Nemeth suggesting that the Wings can in fact build from the defensive foundation that he will help establish on out:

Coach Blashill spoke for 10 minutes, addressing the aforementioned players, whether Hirose, Seider or Filip Zadina might make the team out of training camp, his take on the Red vs. White game to come and his status as playing in tonight’s “Celebrity and Alumni Game”:

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s Jake Atnip posted a notebook article summarizing Friday’s training camp storylines, including the prospect angle:

The Red Wings have had back-to-back sixth overall picks in the NHL Entry Draft and have rounded out their roster with a ton of young prospects looking to get their shot at the National Hockey league.

They selected forward Filip Zadina in 2018 and bolstered their defensive prospects with Moritz Seider on June 21. Zadina, 19, and Seider, 18, join a stable of prospects that the Red Wings have been developing over the past three years.

Forward Givani Smith and defenseman Filip Hronek, who were both second-round picks in 2016, have developed into NHL-caliber players in their time with the organization. Hronek played 46 games for the Red Wings in 2018-19 and Smith spent the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Joe Veleno, a first round pick in 2018 and the top scoring forward in this year’s NHL Prospect Tournament, spent the summer working on his defense and becoming a 200-foot player. Dennis Cholowski, the top pick for the Red Wings in 2016, spent a little time with the parent club last season and is one of many young guys who have a shot at making the 2019-20 roster.

“They definitely have a chance, there are spots on the roster and ice time available,” Yzerman said of his prospects’ shot at making the NHL roster. “The younger players are pushing to make the team and there are several of them who can make it.”

Continued;

2. And Fox Sports Detroit’s John Keating spoke with coach Jeff Blashill yesterday, engaging in a morning interview which aired on last night’s Tigers game:

Fox Sports Detroit posted its latest installment of its “The 313,” in which Brooke Fletcher speaks with Moritz Seider:

Update: The Red Wings also posted a slick little one-minute “nightcap”:

Back at it in the A.M. ?#DRWTC pic.twitter.com/bHoynEsdgK— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 14, 2019