Month: October 2021

Of Twitter-related note from Bally Sports Detroit’s Red Wings Live pregame show:

It might take fans a minute to get to know this season’s @DetroitRedWings as there are nine new players. Executive VP and GM Steve Yzerman talks about the young group. John Keating, Larry Murphy, Chris Osgood and Manon Rhéaume weigh in. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/6SlSL1wLK1— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 14, 2021

Lucas Raymond is the latest Swede to make his NHL debut for the @DetroitRedWings. John Keating caught up with Raymond to see how he is feeling about making the team. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/0fXwGEQixU— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 14, 2021

John Keating, Larry Murphy and Chris Osgood are joined by trailblazer Manon Rhéaume as they get you ready for the puck to drop on the 2021-22 season. It’s Opening Night and the Red Wings welcome the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Oj7fqoiVPO— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 14, 2021

Update: The Twitter videos continue:

Continue reading Tweets of note from Bally Sports Detroit’s pregame show

WXYZ posted a pair of pregame videos tonight, with Brad Galli discussing the Red Wings’ happiness regarding welcoming fans back into the building after a pandemic-shortened season…

And Galli and Jeanna Trotman discussed Danny DeKeyser and Marc Staal becoming the Red Wings’ alternate captains:

DetroitRedWings.com’s Art Regner appeared on The Woodward Sports Nettwork’s “Big D Energy” show to discuss his expectations of the Red Wings this upcoming season:

The Grand Rapids Griffins have posted their weekly press release ahead of games against the Rockford IceHogs, Friday at home (7 PM EDT on WXSP/AHL TV [Free!]) and Saturday on the road against the Milwaukee Admirals (7 PM EDT on AHL TV [Free!]):

This Week’s Games

GRIFFINS vs. Rockford IceHogs // Fri., Oct. 15 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

TV: WXSP-TV

Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 7 p.m.

Watch: AHLTV (Free view for opening weekend)

Season Series: First of eight meetings overall, first of four at Van Andel Arena

All-Time Series: 52-36-9-11 Overall, 33-11-5-5 Home

NHL Affiliation: Chicago Blackhawks

Noteworthy: The Griffins came away with points in seven of the eight games last season against the IceHogs with a 4-1-2-1 record. Grand Rapids is also 16-10-6-6 in the last five seasons against Rockford. Prior to their 9-4 win at Rockford on March 3, 2021, the Griffins’ last nine-goal outing was a 9-1 win at Rockford on Feb. 5, 2016. They came within two goals of matching their team record, set in an 11-6 victory at Rockford on Jan. 19, 2013.

GRIFFINS at Milwaukee Admirals // Sat., Oct. 16 // 7 p.m. EDT // Panther Arena

Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:35 p.m.

Watch: AHLTV (Free view for opening weekend)

Season Series: First of 12 meetings overall, first of six at Panther Arena

All-Time Series: 102-68-7-7-8 Overall, 48-35-5-5-5 Road

NHL Affiliation: Nashville Predators

Noteworthy: Grand Rapids’ 102 victories over Milwaukee are the most against any opponent in franchise history. Furthermore, the Griffins have faced the Admirals more than any club in the AHL, competing in 192 games dating back to the 2001-02 campaign when both teams joined the AHL from the International Hockey League. Last season was the first year that the Griffins and Admirals did not play each other due to Milwaukee opting out of the shortened season.

26th Season of Hockey: The Grand Rapids Griffins begin the franchise’s 26th overall season of play, 21st as a member of the American Hockey League and 20th as the primary affiliate of the 11-time Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on Friday evening when they host the Rockford IceHogs. This marks the first time the Griffins will begin their season at Van Andel Arena since 2017. Grand Rapids has competed in 1,913 games between the IHL and AHL and has amassed a 1,010-695-27-64-117 regular season record (0.582), to go along with 17 playoff appearances, seven division titles and two Calder Cups (2017, 2013).

Simon Says: Ben Simon, 43, begins his fourth season as Grand Rapids’ head coach. A year ago, he guided the Griffins to a 16-12-3-1 record (36 points, 0.563) and a third-place finish in the Central Division. Simon has only coached in one full AHL season as head boss, as his second and third campaigns were cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his inaugural year at the helm in 2018-19, he became the eighth head coach in franchise history to lead the Griffins to the postseason during his first full season behind the bench. Simon served as an assistant coach in Grand Rapids from 2015-18 under Todd Nelson and helped the franchise win its second Calder Cup in 2017. He is the fourth former Griffins assistant to then become the head coach. Appearing in 21 games and scoring nine points (4-5—9) with the Griffins in 2006-07 as part of an 11-year professional playing career, Simon is the third former Griffins player to serve as Grand Rapids’ head coach, joining Nelson and Danton Cole (2002-05).

Continued

Of Twitter-related note this afternoon:

1. The Grand Rapids Griffins have named their opening-night roster:

Your 2021-22 Griffins are set! #GoGRG

Learn more about each player >> https://t.co/bZQgDex6sX pic.twitter.com/Wmso0IGWSB— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) October 14, 2021

2. Bally Sports Detroit posted a clip of Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill discussing the state of the team’s defense:

Jeff Blashill knows what it will take for the @DetroitRedWings to be successful this season.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/2f8acWtXW6— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 14, 2021

And who knew?

Stupid Stat of the Day: Detroit is 11-10-4 all-time when starting the season at home against a team that primarily wears blue. pic.twitter.com/7dZDswIFJp— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) October 14, 2021

Of prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the SHL, Albert Johansson finished at -2 with 2 shots in 19:44 played as Farjestads BK lost 4-1 to Oskarshamn;

And William Wallinder finished at -1 in 17:09 played as Rogle BK won 3-2 over Frolunda HC.

For Frolunda: Simon Edvinsson had an assist, finishing at +1 with 3 shots in 19:15 played;

Elmer Soderblom scored a goal, finishing at -1 with 2 shots in 15:37 played;

And Theodor Niederbach finished even with 1 shot in 9:40 played.

From IceHockeyGifs on Twitter:

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Johansson nears 20 minutes of play; Edvinsson 1A, Soderblom 1G in Frolunda loss to Wallinder and Rogle

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a lengthy report on Danny DeKeyser and Marc Staal being named alternate captains:

For Danny DeKeyser, specifically, you could tell it meant a lot.Being named an alternate captain, along with fellow defenseman Marc Staal, to captain Dylan Larkin, was special news for the Macomb native who grew up a Red Wings fan, and got the chance to play for his hometown team.

“Huge honor,” DeKeyser said after Thursday’s morning skate, as the Wings prepared to open the regular season at Little Caesars Arena. “It’s a team I’ve grown up watching my whole life and I had a dream growing up as a kid to play here. It’s pretty awesome and special for me, especially more so being named assistant captain.”

DeKeyser and Staal view the designations as high praise, but believe there are many other leaders on this team who will step up and lead this roster. It’s just that DeKeyser and Staal will happen to wear “A’s” on their sweaters, along with Larkin wearing the “C.”

“We have a lot of guys with a lot of experience in the room, guys like Nick Leddy and Sam Gagner, and obviously Staalsie,” DeKeyser said. “Whether you have a letter on your chest or not, it doesn’t always matter. Guys will lead and guys who’ve been around the league a long time, you have respect from the team and coaching staff, as well. Not much is going to change.”

Continued; WXYZ’s Jeanna Trotman also filed a report on DeKeyser and Staal’s remarks:

Continue reading Kulfan, Trotman on Danny DeKeyser and Marc Staal’s A’s

Today’s pregame episode of The Forecheck is scheduled to air at 5:15 PM EDT:

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an article explaining why the Red Wings’ coaches and management chose to name Danny DeKeyser and Marc Staal the team’s alternate captains:

“I have discussions with Steve Yzerman about a lot of things,” Blashill said Thursday hours before the season opener against Tampa Bay. “He’s got a wealth of experience and I love to get his insight and opinion. It’s critically important in leadership that you get that insight and opinion. That’s always been my management style. Then I make the decision I think is best.”

DeKeyser, 31, and Staal, 34, join a leadership letter alliance that has changed considerably over the past year. Dylan Larkin was named captain in January, and former alternates Frans Nielsen and Luke Glendening departed the organization over the summer; Justin Abdelkader was bought out in the prior offseason.

“We have a bunch of guys in the locker room that are going to be part of our leadership group,” Blashill said. “Danny and Marc are very worthy of it. Both guys that have been around the league a long time. Marc wore a letter in New York. One of the things we wanted when we brought him back was his leadership. Does an excellent job of I would say being serious but keeping it loose at the same time.

“Danny has been a really good Red Wing a long time. His work ethic was exemplified by the work he put in to come back from a major back surgery. He’s led by example and has really good leadership quality.”

Continued

This is pretty cool, per the Winged Wheel Podcast:

We’re excited to announce (in partnership with @iyer_prashanth) a new campaign in benefit of the @JDanielsFund for the new season:

? WINGS MONEY ON THE BOARD ?

Keep reading to find out how it works, or check out this post on our site! ⤵️ #WingsMotB https://t.co/qZaRdzzQO6 pic.twitter.com/BaWt9YsWad— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) October 14, 2021

As the new Detroit Red Wings season begins, make a pledge (or many) based on certain players, the whole team, or whatever you want!

ex. $1 for every Larkin goal, $0.50 for every point in the standings, $5 for every Nedeljkovic win; etc. Get as creative as you’d like! #WingsMotB— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) October 14, 2021

After you make your pledge, reply or QT us to tell everyone what you’re pledging (if you want), and use #WingsMotB!

At the end of the season, we’ll add up the pledges & remind you to donate. Once you do, you’ll be eligible to receive awesome giveaways and some big prizes…— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) October 14, 2021

Those who enter #WingsMotB will be eligible to receive giveaways like WWP stickers, swag packs, shirts, merch, & other fun stuff! You’ll also be entered into big giveaways for jerseys, memorabilia, meet & greets, & more.

We’ll also be doing one-off events, so stay tuned on that.— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) October 14, 2021

So, to get started, visit https://t.co/qZaRdzzQO6, click the link to go to the pledge form, & make your first pledge today!#WingsMotB— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) October 14, 2021