Month: October 2020

Kulfan notes Yzerman’s get-‘er-done stance on Mantha, Bertuzzi contract negotiations

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan took particular note of Steve Yzerman’s remarks regarding his contractual negotiations with restricted free agents Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi:

In the grand scheme of things, there’s plenty of time before next season begins — whenever that’ll be — and the Wings aren’t hamstrung by salary cap issues.

Bertuzzi, in fact, filed for salary arbitration, with hearings beginning Oct. 20, guaranteeing the Wings will have a contract with Bertuzzi at some point — through arbitration or not.

Yzerman expects to talk with Mantha’s representatives this week.

“I’ll have some discussions and expecting to talk to Anthony’s agent in the coming days,” Yzerman said. “We’ll talk so more and I’m confident we’ll get a deal done. I can’t tell you exactly when or for howlong but it’s both of our intentions to get a deal done.

“And likewise with Tyler Bertuzzi. He field for arbitration, so ultimately we know we’ll get a deal done. It might be for one year or it might be longer,  We’ll continue to talk.”

Continued

Darren McCarty appears on The HUGE Show to discuss Yzerman’s free agency, trade and draft moves

Former Red Wing Darren McCarty spoke with The HUGE Show’s Bill Simonson today, discussing Steve Yzerman’s free agency, trade and draft moves over the course of an eight-and-a-half-minute interview:

Wrapping up a busy media day for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman

Updated at 8:01 PM: So Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman appeared in the media of his own accord twice today, which is rare for the Wings’ GM. First, he was on 97.1 the Ticket with Stoney and Jensen, speaking for 13-and-a-half minutes…

As annotated by 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield…

Continue reading Wrapping up a busy media day for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman

Roughly translated: Moritz Seider’s first practice with Rogle BK is ‘short but tough’

Moritz Seider skated in his first practice with SHL team Rogle BK today, and after he skated, he spoke with Rogle BK’s website‘s Lasse Mauritzson about his experiences. Here’s a rough translation of the interview:

Continue reading Roughly translated: Moritz Seider’s first practice with Rogle BK is ‘short but tough’

Griff wants you to register for the Griffins’ virtual 5K

Yes, this post is a little silly. I don’t really mind, because it’s for a good cause.

The Grand Rapids Griffins are holding a “Virtual 5K” to raise funds for the Griffins’ Youth Foundation, and here’s a gratuitous clip of a mascot–the beloved “Griff”–getting ready to run a 5K as a promotion:

You can register for the 5K here, and find out more about the Griffins’ Youth Foundation here.

Prospect round-up: Raymond dazzles as Frolunda beats Skelleftea (with snazzy .gifs)

Two Red Wings prospects had an international stage to themselves this afternoon, and they dazzled with their dangles. Lucas Raymond registered a shootout goal on 4 shots and 16:19 played as his Frolunda Indians won 3-2 in a shootout over Skelleftea AIK.

Jonatan Berggren had 2 assists for Skelleftea in 16:50 played, and both players received strong .gif games from Here’s Your Replay and Antonj85:

Here are two angles of Raymond’s shootout winner:

Elsewhere, in the Swedish Allsvenskan, Gustav Berglund played 8:05 in Vasteras IK’s 4-1 loss to Timra IK.

Khan speaks with Ken Daniels regarding the ‘Celebrity Roast of Scotty Bowman’

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels ahead of this Wednesday’s Celebrity Roast of Scotty Bowman, which will air at 8 PM EDT on Fox Sports Detroit:

“I think people will laugh; I think people will cry,” Daniels said. “Hopefully, they’ll be educated. We need to talk about what substance abuse disorder is to end the shame and stigma.”

More than 700 attended the inaugural event; this format will reach more people, Daniels said.

“We thought it best to keep the theme going rather than just disappear for a year and I think we made the right decision,” Daniels said. “To keep the message out there is so important because isolation, when you add to COVID, for those suffering from substance abuse disorder, just exacerbates the problem. They need social interaction, meetings. They’re doing things with therapy. At our site, jamiedanielsfoundation.org, we have that, and the ability to find places to go. But meetings and interactions for people suffering from this disease is so important when you look at the numbers.”

Daniels said Michigan ranks 10th in prescriptions written for opioids and 18th in opioid deaths.

“As we say with our foundation, end the shame and stigma of what is substance use disorder,” Daniels said. “We have to talk about it. It’s a mental illness. People need help.

“Our long-term goal is to build safe, long-term sober housing in Southeast Michigan and we’re making headway there, too. That’s where the funds are going, here and the collegiate recovery program (at Michigan State).”

Continued

97.1 the Ticket’s Burchfield annotates today’s Yzerman interview

As you know by now, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman appeared on 97.1 the Ticket this morning, speaking to Stoney and Jansen…

And 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield annotated some of the more important points that Yzerman made:

“There are a lot of changes,” Yzerman told 97.1 The Ticket on Monday. “It takes a little bit of time usually for everybody to fit in and figure out where everybody plays and who they play with, but I think we’re an improved team.

“I can’t tell you if it’s five wins, 10 wins, 20 wins, but I think it’s an improved team, a quicker team. A little bit more skill up front with Namestnikov and Bobby Ryan in the lineup. Our D was a little bit older and banged-up last year, and I’m hoping that with Marc Staal, Jon Merrill and Stetcher we’re a little bit younger, maybe a little bigger even, but a little bit more energy on the backend now.”

The Red Wings can also count on improvement from within. On the backend, Yzerman is expecting 22-year-old Filip Hronek to continue the ascent he began last season, and hoping 21-year-old Gustav Lindstrom can secure a full-time role in Detroit. Among the forwards, he’s eyeing further growth from 20-year-old Filip Zadina and bigger contributions from Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi.

“I expect us to be better,” Yzerman said. “I expect Filip Hronek to take a step. Does Gustav Lindstrom, who played a little bit for us last year, is he able to hang on to a full-time job and play regularly? I think Dylan, Anthony and Tyler are just going into their prime years. Filip Zadina unfortunately got hurt (toward the end of last season). He really showed signs that he was becoming an NHL-er with an ability to make plays and score goals, so I look to have him in there.”

Mantha and Bertuzzi are both restricted free agents in need of new contracts, but Yzerman has no worries about getting that done.

“We’ll sign Anthony and Tyler. I’m pretty certain we’ll get them signed,” he said. “It’s a question, is it one year, is it five years, is it four years? … Each year as our young guys’ contracts expire, a year from now Filip Hronek’s up and we’ll extend his contract. But we’re hoping we can move our younger players in, one or two every year for the next two, three, four years.”

A trio of Red Wings Tweets of note, and a prospect profile of a different kind

The Red Wings posted several Tweets of note this afternoon:

  1. The Wings have wished our neighbors to the North, East, West, Northwest and Southeast (if you live in Michigan) a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving:

2. I said this when the Wings signed him…

3. FYI:

4. And on both Twitter and YouTube, the Red Wings introduce us to Anthony, a young man living in Southwest Detroit. Anthony’s fallen in love with hockey thanks to the Detroit Red Wings’ street hockey program:

Update: Here’s a little Vladislav Namesnikov highlight reel: