Month: August 2021

From the Detroit Red Wings comes the following press release:

KULTURECITY NAMES LITTLE CAESARS ARENA 2021 SENSORY INCLUSIVE VENUE OF THE YEAR

All events at multi-purpose arena are sensory inclusive, and promote an accommodating experience for guests and fans with sensory needs

Comerica Park, Fox Theatre, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre also KultureCity certified.

DETROIT – KultureCity, an organization recognized nationwide for using resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs, has named Little Caesars Arena the 2021 Sensory Inclusive Venue of the Year. The award was presented at the KultureBALL in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, August 21.

All events hosted at Little Caesars Arena are sensory inclusive, and promote an accommodating and positive experience for guests and fans with sensory needs. Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions.

In addition to Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, Fox Theatre, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre are all KultureCity certified.

Continue reading Press release: Little Caesars Arena named ‘sensory inclusive venue of the year’ by KultureCity

For what it’s worth, HockeySverige.se’s Robin Olausson has noted that former Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen spoke with Danish website DR.dk’s Sebastian Taarsted Bager this morning.

Nielsen is currently playing with the Danish Olympic ice hockey team as they attempt to qualify for the 2022 Olympics, and Nielsen states that “I’m going to find a new team, but it’s not that urgent right now. There are teams that are interested, but I do not have the full picture of who they are.”

Nielsen explains that there are teams in both North America and Europe who want him to play for them, and he does state that he’s intrigued by playing “closer to home” in Europe [i.e. for a European-based team], though he still wants to play in the NHL.

At present, Nielsen says that he’s focused on helping the Danes qualify for the Olympics, but after the Danish team plays in the IIHF’s qualifying round a little later this month, he’ll commence looking for another team to play on in earnest.

He does not say anything about being bought out by the Red Wings, which hasn’t been made official by the team as of yet, but the fact that Nielsen’s looking for work is evidence enough.

Take this for what you will, from Ben Lloyd and Winging It in Motown on Twitter:

Explain plz @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/g4uIXbJIjr— Ben Lloyd (@lloydben7) August 20, 2021

Folks it’s out there – https://t.co/tmcCaPGNXm— Winging It In Motown (@wingingitmotown) August 20, 2021

Uh, this was the puck used in 2015 for a Sergei Hall of Fame night. Same puck used for Lidstrom that season too, not during Nick’s jersey retirement night.— Gordon (@gord93) August 20, 2021

So it’s either a badly named holdover from 2015 (when Fedorov was inducted into the HHoF, but no actual jersey retirement happened) or it’s a placeholder image for something that shouldn’t have gone live just yet.

Folks we don’t know— Winging It In Motown (@wingingitmotown) August 20, 2021

Former Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Kevin Boyle Tweeted out a Tweet from HCB Foxes of the ICE Hockey League, stating that Boyle has been signed to the Bolzano, Italy-based team:

#ilbottodelle8 ?⚪️? a new goalie is flying in from the US! ✈️

Contract signed ? Welcome to Hockeytown, KEVIN BOYLE! ??

Press release ?? https://t.co/w7VZSMpl2d #gofoxes #cuorebiancorosso pic.twitter.com/uD1G9dPKFZ— HCB Foxes (@HCB_Foxes) August 20, 2021

As it stands, right now the Wings have Calvin Pickard and Kaden Fulcher signed as Grand Rapids’ goaltenders.

Red Wings assistant GM Pat Verbeek has succeeded the departed Ryan Martin as the general manager of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, and, today, Verbeek spoke with MLive’s Ansar Khan regarding his position as the man in charge of Detroit’s developmental franchise:

“I’m excited about the opportunity in a sense that it’s a very important job for our organization right now,” Verbeek said. “I know it’s going to be a huge challenge. When you want to get your organization going in the right way you have to develop players, so I’m taking this as a very important role in helping the Detroit Red Wings get back to where we need to be – in the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup.”

Verbeek will remain the Red Wings assistant GM under Steve Yzerman, scaling back some of his scouting duties to focus on the day-to-day operations in Grand Rapids. He replaces Ryan Martin, who joined the New York Rangers last week in the same capacity.

The Griffins reached the playoffs seven years in a row from 2012-13 to 2018-19, winning the Calder Cup championship in 2013 and 2017.

The AHL playoffs were canceled the past two seasons due to the pandemic. The Griffins open a full 76-game 2021-22 season on Oct. 15.

“Ryan did a really good job of getting our veterans signed. I’m pretty excited about the team that’s down there,” Verbeek said. “We should be a very good team.”

Continued; if you missed the availability, here it is:

Update: Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen also spoke with Verbeek regarding several topics:

Continue reading MLive’s Khan speaks with Pat Verbeek regarding his new role as Grand Rapids’ GM

Red Wings assistant GM and new Grand Rapids Griffins GM Pat Verbeek spoke with the media for nearly 20 minutes today, and the Griffins posted a clip of Verbeek’s remarks:

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff has written a column discussing which members of the Detroit Red Wings could possibly play at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, assuming that the NHL participates in the games. Among the names are the following trio of players…

Moritz Seider: Seider is, as former Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson liked to say, a mortal lock to be on he German team. He played in his second consecutive IIHF World Championship for Germany and was named the tournament’s top defenseman.

Seider collected five assists in 10 games at the worlds. He also finished up earning rookie of the year in the Swedish League skating for Rogle. An Olympic experience would put an exclamation point on his rookie NHL campaign.

Filip Hronek: The year before Seider was the top defenseman at the worlds, Hronek was the one picking up the honor. He came back to Detroit and enjoyed a career year. Hronek led the Wings in scoring.

He’s been a loyal soldier for the Czech Republic, playing in the past three world championships.

Filip Zadina: Zadina could be ready for a breakout season with the Red Wings. He was a solid performer for the Czechs at last spring’s worlds.

Along with Hronek, they are part of the next wave of Czech stars.

Continued…

The Red Wings are now free to buy out Frans Nielsen, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman:

Frans Nielsen (DET) clears unconditional waivers…will be bought out— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 20, 2021

Frans Nielsen, being bought out: is real bad. pic.twitter.com/5oTMCKQKTL— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) August 20, 2021

FYI:

Hearing that mutual interest between #NHLJets and UFA F Evgeny Svechnikov has led initially to a Pro Tryout Offer. Svechnikov had a shoulder issue cleaned up in May and the expectation is he should be cleared to play around training camp. Once healthy, look for a two-way deal.— Ken Wiebe (@WiebesWorld) August 20, 2021

Update: Here’s more from MLive’s Ansar Khan:

Evgeny Svechnikov, the Detroit Red Wings’ top pick in the 2015 draft, has signed a one-year AHL contract with the Manitoba Moose.

Svechnikov, 24, will attend Winnipeg Jets training camp on a tryout in an effort to earn a two-way NHL contact.

The Red Wings last month declined to tender a qualifying offer to Svechnikov, making him an unrestricted free agent. They had expressed interest in possibly signing him to a two-way contract.

Also:

#MBMoose announce it’s a one year, #AHL deal with F Evgeny Svechnikov – at least for the time being. The 19th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft has accepted a PTO to attend #NHLJets training camp and he will be given an opportunity to earn a two-way NHL deal when healthy.— Ken Wiebe (@WiebesWorld) August 20, 2021

The #AHL salary for F Evgeny Svechnikov is $215,000. If he can earn an NHL deal with #NHLJets one would expect the AAV will be close to the league minimum, given the salary cap gymnastics that will be required this season.— Ken Wiebe (@WiebesWorld) August 20, 2021

Thank you Geno for the many smiles and memories! Good luck in Manitoba. pic.twitter.com/9pjjR3aklB— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) August 23, 2021

Here’s a press release of note from the Red Wings, regarding single-game ticket sales:

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS FOR 2021-22 DETROIT RED WINGS SEASON ON-SALE NOW!

Theme Nights for first three months of season unveiled, including Pride Night, Halloween, Military Appreciation, Hockey Fights Cancer Night, Police & Fire Night and more

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings announced Friday morning that single-game tickets for all 2021-22 regular season home games at Little Caesars Arena are on sale now. The club also unveiled its Theme Night lineup for the months of October, November and December. Red Wings fans should expect a door-to-door, family-friendly experience at a specialized Theme Night, including several giveaway items, concourse activities and in-game programming.

Fans can purchase individual game tickets TODAY at DetroitRedWings.com/onsale21. The Red Wings schedule, featuring numerous marquee opponents and recently announced game times, is also available at DetroitRedWings.com.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings single-game tickets on sale today