Month: August 2021

Per the University of Michigan and the Red Wings on Twitter…

Dylan Larkin guest coaching Victory Honda practice in Plymouth last night#ProBlue pic.twitter.com/XeKbjwliPt— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) August 26, 2021

.@zadina_filip putting in some work. ?

?: https://t.co/PGI70M8iiv pic.twitter.com/kALiFIBpuu— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 25, 2021

Larkin is a notorious summer “rink rat” up in Waterford, in Plymouth, and in Steven Oleksy’s Eastside Elite Hockey League.

Also, in wholesome Twitter content:

Best day of the year! ? pic.twitter.com/ps2CjfUegi— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 26, 2021

Happy Birthday to #31, Jan Bednar!

Bonne fête au #31, Jan Bednar! pic.twitter.com/LWSnXUZWKC— Titan d’Acadie-Bathurst (@ABTitan) August 26, 2021

Per the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye:

(Toledo, OH) – Forward Brett McKenzie has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2021-2022 season.

McKenzie, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, spent the 2020-21 campaign in Poland appearing in 12 contests for Unia with six points (2G, 4A). That year came on the heels of a pair offensive dominating performances in the ECHL with Atlanta and Fort Wayne. The 24-year-old has 39 goals and 66 assists in 118 games at the ECHL level, which includes the 60 points (23G, 37A) over 56 contests in the 2019-2020 season for the Komets.

“We are looking forward to helping Brett continue his development in Toledo. He was Fort Wayne’s best center two seasons ago and we look for him to continue that trend. He is a big body, strong on faceoffs, can play in all situations, and will be counted on to provide offense. He will be among the leaders in our locker room this upcoming season. We are excited to have Brett in a Walleye uniform.” Head Coach Dan Watson

Before joining the pro ranks, McKenzie played five seasons in the OHL between North Bay and Owen Sound. He appeared in 328 games over those five seasons, with 101 goals scored to go along with 123 assists. In 2017-18, he started the year with North Bay but finished the season with 26 points (13G, 13A) for Owen Sound. The 6’2”, 190-pound forward helped the Attack that year with 16 points (8G, 8A) in 11 postseason contests.

Former Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen may or may not still be looking for an NHL job. The native of Herning, Denmark could very well play for his hometown Herning Blue Fox of the Dansk Metal League, he could play for the Malmo Redhawks of the SHL for a second time, and he could pursue NHL employment if he wishes to do so…

But much is riding upon his participation in the Olympic qualifying round taking place presently in Oslo, as the Hockey News’s Steven Ellis notes:

Frans Nielsen, F, UFA (DEN)
Just last week, Nielsen was bought out by the Detroit Red Wings, a move many saw coming for a while. So while Nielsen technically isn’t an NHLer, he’s still looking for a deal for 2021-22. could use the Olympic qualifiers as his route back. His offensive has completely dried up in the past two years, recording just 15 points in 89 games, but his veteran experience and value as a depth play-maker might earn him one more shot.

Continued; I expect Nielsen to latch on in Europe this upcoming season.

Yahoo Sports’ Stephen Psihogios ponders when and whether the Detroit Red Wings might become a competitive hockey team in the stacked Atlantic Division this morning, discussing the Red Wings’ last three draft classes as they apply to building a foundation for a more nimble organization:

If you’re a fan of the Detroit Red Wings, you’re probably getting a little impatient.

After qualifying for the playoffs in 25 consecutive seasons, Detroit has failed to clinch a postseason berth in five straight NHL campaigns. A franchise accustomed to winning has endured a lengthy, yet steadfast, rebuild. 

The man who’s overseen three crucial drafts for the organization is franchise legend Steve Yzerman. Yzerman joined the squad in 2019, signing on to serve as Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and general manager. After captaining the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships, the 2014-15 NHL GM of the Year was tasked with overhauling an aging, prospect-depleted roster that had already endured three disappointing seasons.

Now entering the third year of Yzerman’s tenure and the sixth of Detroit’s rebuild, how has the team fared during this period and when can residents of Hockey Town expect the squad to be competitive once again?

Continued

The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau posted a list of 5 coaches who Proteau believes are “on the hot seat,” and five coaches who are “ready for work,” and I’m not sure whether I agree with him regarding the Red Wings’ bench boss:

Jeff Blashill, Detroit Red Wings: Detroit GM Steve Yzerman has earned his stripes as one of the NHL’s most savvy team architects, and guess how many years he just signed Blashill to on a contract extension? That’s right – two years, just like Colliton and Green. Blashill has been the Wings’ head coach for more than six years, and that’s a near-eternity in NHL coaching circles. Many believe Detroit will not be notably better in 2021-22 and likely miss the playoffs again – and if there’s a hockey man out there Yzerman feels will be a better fit for this rebuilding team, everyone should expect he hands Blashill his walking papers and moves on without him.

Continued; I believe that much depends upon whether we see improvement from the Red Wings this upcoming season, but I would not be all that surprised if Blashill survives. He’s made it this far.

Also: it’s nice to see Proteau back on the Hockey News beat.

The Red Wings posted a video in which Daniella Bruce speaks with four members of the Metro Detroit community who are being spotlighted as “Game Changers” this Disability Awareness Month: Jan Little, Mike Palmer, Bassie Shemtov and Stephen Peck:

Per DetroitRedWings.com’s Josh Berenter:

This fall, the Detroit Red Wings are excited to welcome thousands of fans back to Little Caesars Arena for the first time in 18 months.

And while Red Wings fans can finally enjoy the electric atmosphere of a raucous crowd once again, the Hockeytown faithful will also have the opportunity to absorb a plethora of new entertaining and informative multimedia content, which will allow fans to remain as close to the team as possible.

In addition to favorite returning segments like The Winged Wheel, Coffee with Carley, Wings Things and The Forecheck, Red Wings TV is unveiling new series like Summer Wings, Waiting in the Wings, This is Hockeytown and much, much more.

“We are excited beyond words to welcome the people of Hockeytown back to Little Caesars Arena for the 2021-22 season,” said Red Wings vice president of entertainment services and broadcasting Pete Skorich. “We know our passionate fanbase has an insatiable appetite for Red Wings content, and these year-long series will provide behind-the-scenes coverage for our dedicated fans to better get to know our current roster, our players of tomorrow and our legendary alumni.”

Continued

I’ve gotten around to the point in my internet life where I realize that being a talking head on Twitter can lead to hurt feelings and dumb things said, so:

I noticed that Adam Erne of the Red Wings had blocked me on Twitter today, and I am fairly certain I know why. I had joked with a couple of folks around the time of his contract-signing a couple of weeks ago that Erne had an abnormally large head, and while I’m not someone who possesses a figuratively “big head” myself as a small-market blogger, I’m fairly certain that Erne saw it, and that it hurt him.

Adam, if I pissed you off by making stupid jokes on the internet, I’m really sorry. It wasn’t appropriate for a 43-year-old to make kid jokes about a fellow wearer of a size 7-and-a-half hat (me, too!), and if it makes you feel any better, I feel really stupid for having said what I did. I’m not asking you to unblock me on Twitter, but I’m asking you to accept my heartfelt forgiveness.

I’m a fat, bald blogger. I’ve been overweight since I was 12 and ballooned to a 6,’ 250-pound kid, and I’ve been unable to shake that weight completely, no matter how hard I try. I started losing my hair when my dad died when I was all of 14, and you can imagine how fun it was to be losing your hair during high school and college, and being totally bald up top by 21.

I’m also “out of the closet” when it comes to my mental illnesses, which are either anxiety and depression or bipolar II, depending on who’s diagnosing me, and I don’t like it when people make fun of me for being the depressed blogger.

But both instances happen. And it’s no fun when they do.

Sorry, Adam. You’re a good egg, and I don’t want to be on your bad side.

DetroitHockey.net’s Clark Rasmussen revealed the Red Wings’ remaining new players’ numbers today, as later confirmed by the team on Twitter…

The Red Wings have updated their roster to have Mitchell Stephens wearing No 22. As expected, Nick Leddy is No 2 and Alex Nedeljkovic is No 39.

— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) August 25, 2021

pic.twitter.com/c9PnRGUijy

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 25, 2021

And DetroitHockeyNow’s Bob Duff examined the new Wings‘ numbers as they apply to the team’s overall “numbers game,” in both recent and historical contexts:

Pius Suter (No. 24)

Suter wore No. 24 with the Swiss world junior squad, as well as last season for the Chicago Blackhawks. He wore 44 with ZSC Lions Zurich of the Swiss League and 22 during his days with the OHL’s Guelph Storm.

Who Wore It Last: Defenseman Jon Merrill and forward Richad Panik both wore No. 24 for the Wings in 2021.

Who Wore It Best: Two Hall of Fame defenseman – Chris Chelios (1999-2009) and Leo Boivin (1965-66) – wore No. 24 as Red Wings. However, any Detroit fan will immediately identify No. 24 with one player and one player only – Bob Probert (1985-94). He’s still Detroit’s single-season penalty minute record holder with 398 minutes in 1987-88. Probert was also an NHL All-Star that season, along with being the league’s most feared and respected enforcer.

Continued; I’m biased, but I think that #24 is a great example of a number that should be placed in a “ring of honor” for Probert and Chelios’s contributions to the team, just as numbers 18, 25 and 33 should be remembered for their places in the “Grind Line”…

To me, there are so many Wings who were key contributors to the organization–think Igor Larionov and his 3 Cups–but weren’t here long enough for their number to be retired, and the Red Wings could and should honor those players with special recognition nights and the induction to a de-facto team Hall of Fame.

The Athletic engaged in a fan survey of opinions as to each and every one of the NHL’s 32 fan bases regarding their teams’ respective front offices.

Today, Dom Luszczyszyn reveals that the Red Wings’ fan base thinks highly of their team’s braintrust. The Wings finish 3rd overall in the survey, despite Luszczyszyn’s jab at the Wings’ current status:

People know this team is still terrible, right?

Kidding aside, there is a lot of deserved belief in the Yzerplan which has been careful, slow and methodical with no immediate rush or hurry to take the next step. That’s fine, this team is far from ready and that patient approach has been extremely beloved by Red Wings fans. There is hope here that the man in charge can take the team back to where it needs to go with incredible faith in Steve Yzerman’s ability to make trades, signings, draft, develop and navigate the cap. The vision is crystal clear and the future looks bright.

Where this is warranted disagreement is in the first category, which is roster building. Yzerman and friends have done the easy part so far — actually building a roster is where things get difficult. I can see why there’s a difference as it comes to the philosophy of what this survey even tries to answer. The public may not be confident in the team’s roster building because the roster itself is still currently in its flaming wreckage state. But with how good everything else is going, it’s also completely fair for fans to have complete unwavering faith in management that the roster building part of the process will go just as smoothly as everything else. It’s the team doing things from the ground up and fans appreciating that even if there are no tangible results yet.

Red Wings fans have been patient and a rebuild deserves that trust. Detroit’s management team belongs in this spot, but I do wonder if the lustre begins to dim the longer the rebuild goes on. At some point, the results have to be tangible and not theoretical.

Continued (paywall), and the rebuild has to start delivering tangible results this year…