Month: December 2020

Talking about the ‘taxi squad’

WDIV’s Dave Bartkowiak Jr. wrote a fine primer on the 2020-2021 NHL season for Red Wings fans this morning, offering critical dates, important divisional notes and this question as to what the Red Wings might do with their four-to-six-man “taxi squad”:

The Red Wings — and all teams — will be allowed 36 players at training camp. Again, they’ll have to trim that to a 23-player roster before the season (remember there are no preseason games) with the addition of up to four to six players.

In the case of the Red Wings, training camp could be wild. We’re looking at a team with a long list of players who are trying to pry their way into a NHL lineup. Can you imagine the ferocity at training camp with so many young players working to make this team?

There will be at least one goalie required on the tax squad. Should we see 22-year-old goalie Filip Larsson in net at some point? What about 2017 first-round draft pick Michael Rasmussen? He just put up 18 points in 18 games in the Austrian league. Will defenseman Gustav Lindstrom be part of this?

I can’t wait to see what this taxi squad looks like. Mathias Bromé, the Swedish league goal scorer who Steve Yzerman signed to a one-year deal in April, is apparently making the trip to North America now. The 26-year-old left wing has 20 points in 23 games with Orebo this season.

Continued; this week’s podcast will have a little more about the concept.

LeBrun: Among coaches on the last year of their deals, Jeff Blashill’s fate is To Be Determined (TBD)

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun answers questions regarding important storylines which require resolutions prior to the upcoming 2020-2021 season, and he offers this tidbit regarding Wings coach Jeff Blashill’s future:

As I wrote in October, there are six NHL head coaches approaching the season on expiring deals. Travis Green (Vancouver), John Tortorella (Columbus), Jeremy Colliton (Chicago), Jeff Blashill (Detroit), Rick Tocchet (Arizona) and Rod Brind’Amour (Carolina) are up after this season.

If I had to guess, Colliton gets an extension early in the season, Green gets one during the season and Tortorella and Brind’Amour before the regular season ends May 8. We’ll see how things play out with Blashill and Tocchet.

Continued (paywall); you and I both know that the Red Wings’ attempts to ice a more competitive team this upcoming season will determine whether Blashill receives an extension by the end of the 20-21 season.

Steve Yzerman seems to be a believer in Blashill’s abilities, but there’s this lingering feeling that he’s going to bring in his own “guy” at some point.

Press release: Red Wings say, ‘Hello again’ to fans

The Detroit Red Wings posted something of a, “Welcome back, everybody!” press release this afternoon:

As you may have seen, the NHL provided an exciting update on the 2021 start date today, and we are thrilled that Red Wings hockey is back!

The regular season is scheduled to start on January 13, with Training Camp permitted to open as early as December 31. We expect our complete schedule to be announced soon, so stay tuned!

Please note that we continue to work with local and state government officials, and public health experts, regarding the possibility and timing of hosting fans at Little Caesars Arena this season. We will provide more clarity and details as specific information becomes available. 

We can’t wait to see you back at Little Caesars Arena as soon as possible. In the meantime, please follow and engage with us on social media @DetroitRedWings and online at DetroitRedWings.com, and watch us all season long on Fox Sports Detroit!

Thank you for your ongoing support, Hockeytown.
#LGRW
With Appreciation,
Detroit Red Wings

A bit about rekindling the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry

The Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope notes that the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks will play against each other 8 or 9 times this upcoming season, rekindling a long-simmering rivalry:

The Blackhawks will play 56 games in the 2021 NHL season, which was officially announced Sunday by the league.

Eight of those games will be against the Red Wings.

Indeed, seven seasons after the historical rivals were separated by the Wings’ move to the Eastern Conference in 2013, the Hawks and Wings’ rivalry will return in full force — albeit for one year only.

That’s because, with the ongoing pandemic-related Canadian border closure, the league — as had been rumored for months — realigned the 24 U.S. teams into three divisions of eight teams each and the seven Canadian teams into one “North Division.” Teams will exclusively play intra-divisional opponents.

For the Hawks, that means their 2021 Central Division opponents will be the Wings, Stars, Blue Jackets, Predators, Hurricanes, Panthers and Lightning — a list that includes both 2020 Stanley Cup finalists and the home of beloved former coach Joel Quenneville.

The Wings and Hawks’ eight planned 2021 meetings will match their total from the past four seasons combined. In 2019-20, the Hawks won 4-2 at home Jan. 5 and lost 2-1 in Detroit on March 6, their final road game before the shutdown.

Continued

HSJ: The ice is in at the BELFOR and the coaches are working downtown in anticipation of the 20-21 season

As the NHL and NHLPA prepare to “return to play” for the 2020-2021 season, the Free Press’s Helene St. James offers several Red Wings-related news items as they pertain to the team and front office’s activities of late…

The NHL and the NHL Players Association formally agreed Sunday to a 56-game season that will start Jan. 13 and conclude on May 8. The Wings, one of seven teams that were not part of the 2020 playoff bubble, can start training camp as early as New Year’s Eve — a day they traditionally play at home.

Most Wings players have been skating at the practice facility inside Little Caesars Arena since ice was put in the last weekend in November. Jeff Blashill and select members of his coaching staff have also returned to their offices at LCA after working from home.

…

Starting training camp Dec. 31 would give the Wings two weeks to prepare for what will be their first game since March 10, when a loss the Hurricanes ensured a 17-49-5 finish to the 2019-20 season. There won’t be any exhibition games.

The Wings will be integrating several new players after general manager Steve Yzerman used the offseason to forwards Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov, defensemen Marc Staal, Jon Merrill and Troy Stecher, and goaltender Thomas Greiss.

Continued

Tweet of note: Here’s your official Wings ‘hype reel’

The Red Wings posted a “Hype Reel” upon the NHL and NHLPA’s announcement that the 20-21 season is a go:

NHL & Players’ Association announce plans for 2020-21 season and playoffs. #LGRW

Details: https://t.co/k5rs77JcNM pic.twitter.com/k9UOBwf9vs— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 20, 2020

The Athletic’s Bultman offers a wise ‘question’ facing the Wings this season

Updatted at 4:47 PM: The Athletic asked its NHL correspondents to address the most important questions facing each and every one of the NHL’s 31 teams this upcoming season, and this suggestion for the Red Wings, per Max Bultman (who’s holding a Q and A on Monday at 12 PM EST) is apt:

Detroit Red Wings: Will they be able to find secondary scoring?

There’s no shortage of questions for the league’s reigning last-place team, but the biggest may be how the Red Wings can find some scoring beyond their top line of Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi. Detroit gave itself a chance this offseason by adding Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov, but this answer will also hinge significantly on the progress of Filip Zadina in his first full NHL season. Those three and Robby Fabbri make up Detroit’s likely pool for a second line, and should give the Red Wings much more firepower to work with if everyone stays healthy. It’s still likely not going to be enough to score with the league’s best, but those additions, combined with Zadina’s development, should make Detroit much more competitive. -Max Bultman

Continued (paywall); if the Wings can’t score more regularly, they won’t win many games.

Update: Among Bultman’s other Red Wings-related questions:

Continue reading The Athletic’s Bultman offers a wise ‘question’ facing the Wings this season

Khan lists significant dates for the 20-21 season

Of important note from MLive’s Ansar Khan:

The NHL and NHLPA will release the health and safety protocols, transition rules and critical dates calendar as well as the 2020-21 schedule in the coming days.

Here is a list of some of those significant dates, according to Sportsnet.ca and tsa.ca:

Start of training camp for non-playoff teams: Dec. 31

Start of training camp for playoff teams: Jan. 3

Trade deadline: April 12

End of regular season: May 8

Date for teams to submit protected lists for expansion draft: July 17

Seattle expansion draft: July 21

Entry draft: July 23-24

Start of free agency: July 28

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, players on the Red Wings and six other non-playoff teams have until Thursday to decide whether to opt-out of the season or attend training camp while others have until Dec. 27 to decide.

Teams have the option to “toll” the contracts of players who opt out, meaning they will own their rights for another season.