Month: September 2021

Roughly Translated: William Wallinder speaks with SHL.se

Red Wings prospect and Rogle BK defenseman William Wallinder spoke with SHL.se’s Sixen Funqvist as Wallinder attempts to stick with his SHL employer after spending last season with MODO Hockey of the Allsvenskan, the second-highest-level league in Sweden. Here’s a rough translation of Funqvist’s article:

“I will probably play more on instinct”

In the series of articles, “Welcome to the SHL,” we get to know a player or coach from each team in the SHL who’s making their SHL Debut. In this edition, we meet Rogle BK defenseman William Wallinder.

In North America, he’s beginning to attract more and more attention. But those who want him can now contact the Detroit Red Wings, who drafted William Wallinder in the second round (52nd overall) during the 2020 draft. The NHL and a North American adventure seem to belon in his future. But the SHL and Rogle are his present. The native of Solleftea, Sweden has come here after some great seasons with MODO Ornskoldsvik in the Allsvenskan.

“I followed Rogle last season, and they looked very good. They played good and exciting hockey. And I only heard good things about the Abbott brothers down here,” says the 19-year-old when SHL.se calls. “They were very welcoming and welcomed me with open arms, so to speak. It was hard to say ‘no.'”

Continue reading Roughly Translated: William Wallinder speaks with SHL.se

The Athletic is conducting a Red Wings fan survey

FYI:

It’s that time of year — we want to hear your opinions on all things Red Wings. Readers can take our annual 30-question fan survey here.

(Subscribe through this link for 50% off if you’ve been on the fence. Should be a fun year of stories coming up!)https://t.co/I9clGE64uK— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) September 2, 2021

Tweets of note: Raymond and Berggren arrive in Metro Detroit; a Nedeljkovic nameplate’s up for grabs

Of Red Wings-related note from Twitter:

Former Wings scout Marty Stein moves on to the Buffalo Sabres

Long-time Red Wings scout Marty Stein spoke with the BC Local News’s Roger Stein regarding his and several other scouts‘ dismissals from the Red Wings, as discussed by DetroitHockey.net’s Clark Rasmussen and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff on Monday:

A Coldstream National Hockey League scout is shuffling off to Buffalo.

After a quarter-century scoping out hockey talent with the Detroit Red Wings, Marty Stein has inked a deal for his talents with the Buffalo Sabres.

“Basically, myself and a few other guys in Detroit from the Ken Holland regime, our contracts were not going to be renewed as Steve (new general manager Yzerman) told us he wants to go with his own guys and I get that,” said Stein, who turns 65 Sept. 12. “So I asked for permission to seek employment elsewhere.”

He put out feelers to all 32 NHL teams and the Sabres came back with an offer Stein couldn’t turn down. He and Lukas Sutter, son of former NHL star Rich Sutter, will be in charge of scouting Western Canada for the Sabres.

“I’m very excited to start a new adventure,” said Stein on his Facebook page. “I’m honoured to continue working in the NHL.”

Khan discusses Joe Veleno’s attempts to make the Wings’ roster

MLive’s Ansar Khan profiled Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno on Wednesday, discussing Veleno’s attempts to crack the Red Wings’ roster:

Veleno, a 6-2, 200-pound center, will have training camp (starting on Sept. 23) and the preseason (starting on Sept. 29) to earn a roster spot. The Red Wings see his future at center but might start him on the wing, like they did with Dylan Larkin and Michael Rasmussen, to reduce his defensive responsibilities until he is acclimated to the NHL. He still is waiver-exempt, so he will remain on the Red Wings roster only if he is playing regularly, not as an extra.

“The whole part of hockey and how you be successful is playing with confidence,” Veleno said at the end of last season. “That’s what I’m going to have to do going into camp and fighting for a spot. Got to play my game and play with confidence — be hard on pucks, winning battles, be physical. Pretty much what I was doing in Detroit my first couple games there. If I do those things on a consistent basis my chances will be good.”

Veleno, 21, had a goal in five games with the Red Wings, averaging 15:06 in ice time.

“I got to play some pretty good minutes, was trusted in all areas of the ice,” Veleno, selected 30th in 2018, said. “It definitely boosted my confidence. Now I got a little bit of a taste of it, how those NHL games are, what to bring to the table day in and day out. It was good to have that experience.”

Continued

Allen makes five ‘way too early’ predictions for this year’s Red Wings

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted an article today which discusses five possibilities for the Red Wings‘ 2021-2022 season. Among them:

3. Wyatt Newpower and/or Jared McIsaac will combine for 15  games on Detroit’s defense

Even in a 56-game season, the Red Wings used 10 defensemen last season. Injuries are always a problem on defense. They could use 12 this season. The Red Wings liked how competitive Newpower was in the American League last season and McIsaac may finally be healthy. They could get a look.

4. Jonatan Berggren will start the season on the Red Wings’ roster

Fans are hoping Lucas Raymond makes it, but Berggren is more experienced. He’s small, but he’s slick with the puck. He had 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points in 49 games in the Swedish Elite League. Scouts say he has the evasive maneuvers to avoid big hits.  Out of Berggren, Raymond and Joe Veleno, at least one, maybe two, should make the roster.

Continued (paywall)

Discussing Michael Rasmussen’s progress

DetroitRedWings.com’s Josh Berenter penned an article discussing Michael Rasmussen’s maturation over the past season. Rasmussen may not turn out to be the #1 center he was drafted to become, but he’s likely to mature into both a strong two-way forward and a net-front specialist:

Rasmussen suited up in eight games for the Red Wings to start the 2020-21 campaign before being sent to Detroit’s AHL-affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins on Feb. 1. However, after tallying six points in his first seven games for the Griffins, he was recalled to the Red Wings on March 2 and finished the season in Detroit.

The center continued earning his spot on the ice each game, impressing the coaching staff with his poise and control as he compiled three goals and nine assists in 40 games for the Wings.

But perhaps the biggest accomplishment for Rasmussen was the trust he garnered from the coaching staff, earning a much bigger role last season, averaging almost three minutes more ice time per game than in 2019-20 and ranking second on the club with 72 hits and fourth with 134 face-off wins.

He continued gaining trust throughout the season, jumping from 12:50 of average ice time in his first 20 games of the season to 16:46 per game in the final 20 contests.

“I was pleased for sure. I think it was a big year for me,” Rasmussen said about his performance last season. “I started in GR, I had good people around me to support me, and once I got to Detroit, I just tried my best to contribute and play my game and play with confidence, play hard. So I think it was definitely positive for me and I think it’s just a good stepping stone.”

Continued

Ilitch Holdings CEO Chris Granger to leave for Oak View Group

As first reported by Crain’s Detroit Business, Ilitch Holdings CEO Chris Granger will leave Ilitch Holdings to join the Oak View Group as CEO of facilities for the Los Angeles-based company. Ilitch Holdings is going to hold a search for a new CEO, per the Detroit News’s Tony Paul:

Chris Granger, a home-run hire when he was tapped by the Ilitches to oversee business operations for the Tigers, Red Wings and Little Caesars Arena, is poised to leave the organization, representatives from Ilitch Holdings announced Wednesday.

Granger will become CEO of facilities, media and conferences for the Pennsylvania-based Oak View Group, which specializes in venue management and event programming.

Granger will work his new job from the Metro Detroit area, telling The News, “We love it here.”

…

According to a spokesperson for the Ilitches, Granger will remain in his role until a successor is in place.

Continued

Press release: Griffins release promotional schedule

This comes from the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday announced the promotional schedule for the celebration of their 25th anniversary season, featuring a number of giveaways and the return of many popular season-long promotions. Single-game tickets for each of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Van Andel Arena during the 2021-22 season will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. at griffinshockey.com/buytickets.

The Griffins will launch the home portion of their 76-game slate on Friday, Oct. 15 against the Rockford IceHogs with Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank, marking the first time since 2017 that they’ll open the season at Van Andel Arena. Promotions for the home opener include a magnet schedule and glow stick giveaways and $2 beers/hot dogs.

Grand Rapids’ other giveaways include a Chris Terry bobblehead (Oct. 30), 2021-22 calendar (Nov. 12), Mitch Callahan champion series bobblehead (Nov. 13), kids 25th anniversary jersey (Dec. 18), Tyler Bertuzzi champion series bobblehead (Jan. 15), poster (Jan. 22), Van Andel Arena replica (Feb. 19), Tomas Tatar champion series bobblehead (Feb. 26), and a beach hat (April 2).

Continue reading Press release: Griffins release promotional schedule