Month: December 2020

Chris Johnston, Ted Kulfan report that William Wallinder won’t play in the WJC due to coronavirus issue

This is a bummer for MODO Hockey’s William Wallinder:

The Swedish World Junior team reported the news first:

THN’s Larkin suggests that Bobby Ryan has ‘something to prove’…to himself

The Hockey News’s Matt Larkin posted a list of 10 NHL players who he feels have the most to prove to their new NHL teams during this upcoming season, and he included Red Wings free agent signing Bobby Ryan on his list:

Bobby Ryan, Detroit Red Wings

Ryan had an alcohol problem and decided in 2019-20 it was time to face it head on. He entered the league’s player assistance program in November and, upon returning to the Ottawa Senators lineup in February, went public with his struggles, hoping his story might help others battling similar demons. His courage helped him win the Masterton Trophy. It did not yet score him a long-term commitment from an NHL team, however. After Ottawa bought him out, the Red Wings signed him to a one-year contract. The pandemic-imposed NHL shutdown gave Ryan extra time to work on his sobriety and be with his family, so there’s a chance he’ll be his best self in a long time when he suits up with the Wings.

Ryan, 33, doesn’t land on his list because he faces “pressure.” I include him because he has the opportunity, in a contract year, to show what he can bring as a goal-scorer now that he has his life on track. Everyone will be rooting for him.

Continued

Detroit News’s Bianchi checks in with Moritz Seider in ‘Locked on Wings’ podcast

Red Wings prospect and Rogle BK defenseman Moritz Seider spoke with the Detroit News’s Nolan Bianchi regarding his decision to skip the World Junior Championship in order to continue playing in the SHL…

The prized blue-line prospect told hosts of the “Locked On Red Wings Podcast” that the decision basically came down to the amount of games he’ll have the chance to play with his pro team in Sweden, vs. the amount of game action he’d see by representing Germany at the World Juniors.

“I think I would miss up to 16 games during (that) time,” Seider said. “We’re just finding the best way, personally, for me, was probably staying here and playing a lot of games, especially in December. It’s always busy around Christmas and New Year’s.”

As well as the following:

On what’s different about playing in the SHL vs. the AHL: “Almost everything is based on your skating abilities. Everybody can skate in this league and it’s freaking fast. Really talented, shifty forwards, they’re super skilled, you have to be really careful about how you’re using your stick. You can’t just throw your body over the ice, because then you will get beat, because of the big sheet (of ice). … That was the most challenging thing for me, adjusting my defensive game, just (reading) the game, when you’re able to join the rush, creating space for your teammates. All in all, I’m kind of split about what I should like a little bit more: The big ice or the small sheet in North America, because I think I can take both sizes to what’s my advantage.”

Continued

Bultman profiles Albert Johansson

The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted a profile of Red Wings prospect and Farjestads BK defenseman Albert Johansson this morning:

His skating, which may be Johansson’s standout trait, certainly gives him the ability to do that. [Farjestad coach Johan] Pennerborn talked about how Johansson’s smooth feet allow him to pivot from full-speed ahead to backtracking, which especially matters when recovering defensively from a push up-ice.

As dangerous as Johansson can be jumping into the play off a breakout, it’s an area Pennerborn says he talks to him about “a lot” — not because of something Johansson is doing wrong, but simply because he wants him to do it more often. That, and he’d like to see Johansson shoot it more, using his quick release both on the power play and at 5-on-5.

That lines up with Detroit director of player development Shawn Horcoff’s assessment of Johansson from October, when he said, “Offensively, there’s much more in him than he may think or that he’s actually pushing for right now.”

Continued (paywall);

Update: Bultman also appeared on the latest episode of “The Red & White Authority” with Art Regner:

Prospect Round-up: Seider tussles, Hronek, Zadina and Holway score on a busy Sunday

Of prospect-related note from Sunday, December 6th:

In the SHL, Moritz Seider finished at +1 with 4 penalty minutes’ taken in 18:53 of ice time as Rogle BK won 4-2 over the Vaxjo Lakers. Seider got into a center-ice tussle:

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Gustav Lindstrom had 2 assists, finishing even with 4 shots in 23:45 played as Almtuna IS lost 4-3 in overtime to Bjorkloven. Filip Larsson served as the back-up goaltender;

In the Czech Extraliga, Filip Hronek scored HK Mountfield’s only goal, finishing at -2 with 4 shots and a 1-for-4 faceoff winning percentage (really!) in 25:15 played as HK Mountfield lost 5-1 to HK Skoda Plzen:

Continue reading Prospect Round-up: Seider tussles, Hronek, Zadina and Holway score on a busy Sunday

Wings prospect Robert Mastrosimone ‘not able to participate’ for U.S. World Junior Championship team

From USA Hockey:

USA Hockey today announced the addition of defensemen Tyler Kleven (Fargo, N.D./University of North Dakota) and Hunter Skinner (Pinckney, Mich./London Knights) and goaltender Logan Stein (Suwanee, Ga./Ferris State University) to the preliminary roster for the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team to replace forward Robert Mastrosimone (East Islip, N.Y./Boston University), defenseman Alex Vlasic (Wilmette, Ill./Boston University) and goaltender Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass./Boston University), who are not available to participate.

The U.S. begins a week-long camp today at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., in preparation for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, set for Dec. 25-Jan. 6 in Edmonton, Alberta. The 29 players participating in the camp include 10 who played on the 2020 U.S. National Junior Team.

The final 25-player U.S. roster will be announced on Dec. 13 prior to the U.S. departing for Edmonton.

“It’s certainly heartbreaking for Robert, Alex and Drew to not have the chance to make our team and we feel for them,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for the USA Hockey. “But it’s great to have the depth we do and we’re pleased to welcome Tyler, Hunter and Logan. We’re excited to get our camp underway and continue to work with our medical staff, the IIHF and the government of Alberta to help provide the safest possible environment for everyone associated with our team.”

Worrisome ECHL news from Jeff Marek

Per Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek on Twitter:

ECHL News – Expect the league to announce that the Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads and Kalamazoo Wings will not play this season.— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) December 6, 2020

Told the Toledo Walleye and Fort Wayne Komets are still undecided.— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) December 6, 2020

THN’s McCaig ranks Thomas Greiss the 19th-best goalie in the NHL

The Hockey News’s Sam McCaig ranked the NHL’s 31 probable starting goaltenders this morning, and McCaig believes that Thomas Greiss will out-duel Jonathan Bernier for the Wings’ starting spot:

19. Thomas Greiss, Detroit Red Wings
Plenty familiar with platoon duty after playing with Lehner and then Varlamov on Long Island, Greiss gets a chance for full-on No. 1 status in Detroit – provided he can hold off Jonathan Bernier, who was one of the Wings’ few good-news stories last season.

Continued

HSJ believes that the Red Wings should delay naming a captain

The Free Press’s Helene St. James suggests that the Red Wings delay naming a captain for another season this morning. St. James argues that the pandemic would take away from the magnitude of an event that deserves to be celebrated:

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman may want to change the plans he made last May, because his decision is worth more pomp and circumstance than the pandemic allows.

Yzerman, the longest serving captain in NHL history, has wanted to put a “C” on a Wings player before the start of the 2020-21 season, but that seems unlikely as COVID-19 continues to dominate every aspect of our lives.

It isn’t even so much that 2021 will be a shortened season, but that the announcement can’t be garner the attention it deserves.  If it’s done at a news conference, it will be via Zoom. If it’s before a game, there’ll be few — if any — fans to cheer the team’s first captain since 2018.

Continued (paywall)