The fine line between intensity and control

MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a notebook full of quips and quotes regarding today’s scrimmage at Little Caesars Arena. Among Khan’s notes:

Blashill wants to see more from the team in its final two scrimmages, Friday and Sunday.

“I thought the first four practices were really intense and we played at a high level. I wasn’t as pleased today with that part of it,” Blashill said.

“There’s a fine line between the level of intensity in practice. I don’t want to start G1 with half a lineup because we lost guys in practices and scrimmages. But I also know that come Game 1, things are going to happen fast and they’re going to hit us hard and we’re going to have to be ready for that. So, you have to try to have that balance.”

Tyler Bertuzzi scored a pair of goals.

“Whether it’s a game or scrimmage, just to get back in game shape and game format was fun,” Bertuzzi said. “Conditioning will come quicker. We’re athletes, we’ve been working out all summer. Timing will be the thing we have to figure out as quick as we can.”

Continued

The Word on Woodward to air at 4 PM EST: Darren McCarty, Helene St. James, Ken Daniels to appear

The Word on Woodward starts a little late today, at 4 PM EST, and it will include the following guests:

Today’s episode features a discussion on Red Wings Training Camp, the Tigers signing free-agent pitcher Jose Urena and the World Junior Championship game.

Plus, Red Wings legend Darren McCarty, The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James and FOX Sports Detroit’s Ken Daniels join us for interviews!

Also, Dan Dickerson answers your mailbag questions!

Prospect round-up: Seider plays 23 minutes in Rogle win

Of prospect-related note this afternoon, ahead of Finland’s battle with Team Russia for bronze at the World Junior Championship (5:30 PM EST start for Eemil Viro and company):

In the SHL, Moritz Seider finished at -1 with 3 shots and 2 hits in 23:10 played as Rogle BK won 2-1 over Lulea Hockey in a shootout:

Rögle straffar Luleå! #twittpuck #shl ? pic.twitter.com/zBU01zRZbT— C More Sport (@cmoresport) January 5, 2021

And in the ICE Hockey League, Jesper Eliasson was the back-up as the Red Bulls Salzburg won 3-2 over the Dornbirn Bulldogs.

Free Press posts post-scrimmage videos of Blashill, Bertuzzi, Bernier

The Detroit Free Press posted a trio of post-game videos which complement today’s scrimmage coverage, including comments made by coach Jeff Blashill..

Forward Tyler Bertuzzi…

And goaltender Jonathan Bernier:

If you missed the highlights…

All the highlights from today ⤵️?

Catch the next Red & White scrimmage Friday night! #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/HkdIOSCbwR— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 5, 2021

Update: Here are the Red Wings’ YouTube versions of the clips above:

Continue reading Free Press posts post-scrimmage videos of Blashill, Bertuzzi, Bernier

Toledo Walleye make opt-out of 2020-2021 ECHL season official

BREAKING: The Walleye have opted out of the 2020-21 season, electing to take the ECHL’s COVID-19 Voluntary Suspension.

Read more: https://t.co/6qhT4Vv2IS pic.twitter.com/ViScz0woGs— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) January 5, 2021

https://t.co/nzmI4gRrrH pic.twitter.com/P2F6oXdX67— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) January 5, 2021

Here’s their press release:

Continue reading Toledo Walleye make opt-out of 2020-2021 ECHL season official

Buccigross: Wings prospect Jack Adams’ transfer to Providence College approved

FYI:

Providence College’s Jack Adam’s waiver (Union transfer) just got approved. He Eligible For Friday’s game at Boston University. Jack hasn’t played a game since March 2019. (Knee injury). Jack’s late brother, Mark’s last game was vs BU in Boston in 2015, a National Championship. pic.twitter.com/EsYEFPHK70— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) January 5, 2021

Tweets of note: post-first-scrimmage Blashill

From the Zoom media call after the Red Wings’ first scrimmage:

Jeff Blashill says he’s still waiting on update on Evgeny Svechnikov. Left game appearing to favor right arm.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 5, 2021

Jeff Blashill said the Red Wings wanted more depth and “that’s what it looks like after a few days.”— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 5, 2021

Jeff Blashill reiterates on Darren Helm: “Unfit to play.”— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 5, 2021

Update: The Detroit News posted a photo gallery from the scrimmage as well.

Red vs. White Game 1 quick take: encouraging signs and some discouraging injuries mark Wings’ ‘return to play’

The Red Wings held their first of three scrimmages today (hopefully, the Red Wings said they’ll try to upload it later this evening). The good news? The pace of play, level of execution and even, to some extent, anyway, a level of spit and vinegar slowly rose upward over ten months’ worth of rust.

The bad news? Turner Elson (knee) and Evgeny Svechnikov (arm) got hurt, and Luke Glendening took a puck to the face that required one of those lovely sinus tampons to stem the bleeding.

The score doesn’t really matter, but Team White defeated Team Red 6-4, a full 5-minute 3-on-3 OT and several rounds of shootout shooters for both teams included.

Overall, the white team was more solid, but the Mantha-Larkin-Bertuzzi line took control of the game over in the latter stages of the 3rd period. Players like Cholowski and a lot of the Griffins’ guys working their way toward jobs on the taxi squad played superbly well, and Danny DeKeyser looked no worse for wear after back surgery. Thomas Greiss and Jonathan Bernier also played the entire game, and played well.

FSD already has a highlight clip up:

As do the Red Wings:

Continue reading Red vs. White Game 1 quick take: encouraging signs and some discouraging injuries mark Wings’ ‘return to play’

Toledo Blade’s Monroe confirms that the Toledo Walleye will not play this season

Per the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

The Toledo Walleye will not play this season.

The ECHL organization had twice delayed the start of its 2020-21 season due to the on-going ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic in the hopes of playing a partial season.

But according to a post on Twitter by national hockey television and radio broadcaster Jeff Marek, the team will opt out this season.

The Walleye players also were informed of the organization’s decision on Tuesday morning.

Continued

Five Red Wings make The Hockey News’s Larkin’s Top 250 Fantasy Hockey Players list

The Hockey News’s Matt Larkin posted a list of his top 250 fantasy hockey players, and five Red Wings made his cut:

89. Dylan Larkin, C, Red Wings: Too low for a No. 1 center? Maybe, but he’s only had one A-grade season of fantasy production. That might remain the case until Detroit’s prospects stick with the big club for good.

111. Anthony Mantha, RW, Red Wings: There’s a 30-goal season coming if he can play anything close to a full year. He’s scored 30.5 per 82 games over past two seasons, but he’s missed 43 games over that stretch.

149. Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, Red Wings: Eventually might get passed on depth chart by higher-pedigree prospects, but he’s Detroit’s best option alongside Larkin and Mantha for now. Back-to-back 20-goal efforts.

174. Filip Hronek, D, Red Wings: Less valuable in plus-minus leagues but is an underrated point-producer as the primary power-play conductor in Motown.

226. Filip Zadina, RW, Red Wings: Showed flashes in an injury-shortened year. Hoping he gets a full season in and breaks out this time. Still oozes potential to become a Marian Hossa type of player someday.