Month: December 2020

Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno wrote an entry in his “Taking Flight–From the ‘Q’ to the ‘D'” blog on DetroitRedWings.com, and in today’s entry, he discusses playing for the SHL’s Malmo Redhawks:

The way I’m looking at it, this is an exciting time in my career. This could be, for all I know, the last time I come over to Europe. Honestly, it’s a great experience talking to some former players who’ve had this experience coming to Europe, especially Sweden, such an amazing country where the hockey’s really good and the culture and all that stuff is quite interesting to get to know. So I looked at it as a positive step forward. I’m enjoying it each day that I’m here, I’m embracing all the experiences I can get with the players, trying out some different restaurants or different food. Although there’s not a significant difference in food in Sweden, it’s more or less quite the same. But the whole experience, just everything, the lifestyle and all that stuff is pretty cool.

Honestly, nothing’s really that different over here. Everything’s quite similar to how it is in North America. But I guess just a lifestyle that the people have over here, it’s more European culture so sometimes you see just the way people dress, going out for coffee a lot, there’s a lot of cafes here on the street and a lot of people like to sit outside and enjoy their coffee. It’s not that much different than North America from what I have seen so far. On top of that, I haven’t gone out too much because of COVID-19.

Continued

Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne posted a list of 15 possible “breakout” player candidates, and he included Red Wings forward Filip Zadina on his list:

Filip Zadina, age 21, Detroit: He’s proven he can score basically everywhere, and though he’s played less than 40 NHL games, he’s already averaging about a goal for every four outings so far – a pretty nice pace. Detroit is dying for some offence, so he should be given chances to produce, which put together is a recipe for meaningful totals.

Continued

Of prospect-related note on a lighter sort of Tuesday:

In Belarus, Kirill Tyutyayev scored a goal, finishing at +2 with 1 shot in Yunost Minsk’s 3-1 win over Gomel;

In the ICE Hockey League, Jesper Eliasson served as the back-up in the Red Bulls Salzburg’s 4-2 loss to Fehervahr 19 AVS;

And Calvin Pickard stopped 24 of 28 shots in the Vienna Capitals’ 5-3 loss to KAC.

In NCAA Hockey, tonight at 5 PM EST, Keith Petruzzelli and Quinnipiac are battling Holy Cross.

Update: Keith Petruzzelli stopped 11 of 12 shots as the Quinnipiac Bobcats won 6-1 over Holy Cross.

The Detroit Free Press posted the full video of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s 27:50-long press conference a few minutes ago:

Update: Here’s the Red Wings’ YouTube version:

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference is still ongoing, but here are a few Tweets of note from said presser:

Yzerman said the Red Wings plan to name a captain but haven’t determined how they will announce it.— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) December 22, 2020

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman says plan is to name captain this season. Team hasn’t had one since Henrik Zetterberg retired in September 2018. Dylan Larkin expected next captain.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 22, 2020

Asked about a potential sponsor logo on the Red Wings uniform or helmet, Steve Yzerman said he doesn’t have an issue with it.

Undertands creating revenue is important in any business. pic.twitter.com/1TNPdEkHko— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 22, 2020

“It’s about as close as I could ever get to getting accepted at University of Michigan.” – Steve Yzerman, wearing a ‘Block M’ Red Wings hat for his presser pic.twitter.com/toj30NfAcj— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 22, 2020

Just got off Yzerman Twitter call: says no fans at LCA to begin the season— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) December 22, 2020

Zadina, Hronek, Rasmussen, Lindstrom, Brome being brought back; Veleno and Seider staying in Europe— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) December 22, 2020

Yzerman said he didn’t know if the Red Wings would have ads on their helmets this season, as at least some other NHL teams will. Remember when they had an ad for Eastside on their jerseys, on the back on the lower left? pic.twitter.com/GsYzK3Be3j— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) December 22, 2020

Notes from Yzerman’s media call:
–will name a captain before season, as planned
–Zadina, Hronek, Rasmussen, Lindstrom, Brome only players recalled from Europe
–w/ cap space might make another move before season.
–3rd goalie will be Pickard or Boyle, on taxi squad#RedWings— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 22, 2020

Says #RedWings plan to name a captain this season— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) December 22, 2020

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said 2021 schedule will feature road games of 2, 4 or 6 games – Wings will travel to opponent, play 2 games, then either go on to another city or go home. 56-game schedule.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 22, 2020

Here’s the full presser from the Free Press’s Helene St. James:

Of note from Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston:

More NHL schedule intel: With better symmetry in the U.S.-based divisions — eight teams, eight games apiece — some there received a draft featuring a whole season played in two-game blocks.

That includes the odd home-and-home … so four straight games against the same team.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 22, 2020

From the Red Wings:

Things we know: 1: Hockey is coming back! 2: The Word on Woodward is all new at noon! 3: Steve Yzerman joins us live at 2:30 PM!

Also:

It’s a BIG Day! We’ll be joined by @KenKalDRW, Mickey Redmond, @jonmorosi, Larry Murphy & @tigers GM Al Avila!!! Plus we’ll be going live to @DetroitRedWings GM Steve Yzerman as he addresses the media at 2:30. Don’t miss the #WordOnWoodward starting at 12pm! Happy Holidays???— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 22, 2020

The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta wrote an extensive article which chronicles the attendance policies of each and every one of the NHL’s 31 teams, and one should not be surprised to hear that, should Little Caesars Arena open up to fans at some point this season, season ticket-holders will get first dibs on the seats:

Detroit – So far, neither the Red Wings nor the Pistons can have fans at Little Caesars Arena for their start of their respective seasons. Once restrictions begin to ease, season ticket holders (Winged Wheel Nation members) will have first priority for attending home games.

Continued (great read)

This is cool to see:

We teamed up with the @Tigers and @Meijer to deliver some unforgettable moments for families from @salmich’s Pathway of Hope Program this holiday season. ?? #HockeytownCares pic.twitter.com/Ba1QCFyzBe

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 22, 2020

Also in YouTube form:

Red Wings prospect Lucas Raymond was profiled by GT.se’s Adam Johansson ahead of the World Junior Championship. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

“It could be embarrassing when friends came over”

Lucas Raymond had all the conditions to succeed, but it was he himself who chose to become a hockey player.

With joy, before the “must.”

That’s how Swedish ice hockey’s biggest forward crown jewel was formed.

“There have never been any ‘musts’ in our family,” says his mother, “Cia.”

In a long report before the World Junior Championshp, SportExpressen now tells the story of the Junior Crowns’ big star, Lucas Raymond, 18.

“His pacifier blanket was a stick”

It is Cecilia “Cia” Wosse Raymond who describes her son–and she does so with excessive love.

“He’s just such a damn good person. Stubborn, too. That’s what makes him who he is. I’m very proud of him. Especially when I know what work he’s put in, from a young age to today. There’s never been any whining. He just chews onward. It’s mighty impressive. And we’ve never had to bother him. He has known what he wants to do from the first moment.”

Continue reading Roughly Translated: GT.se profiles Lucas Raymond (and his mom)