Month: November 2021

Yahoo Sports’ Justin Cuthbert penned a column in which he discusses several hot topics from around the NHL, and the Red Wings’ 7-5-and-2 start is one of those topics:

The Detroit Red Wings have seven wins from their first 14 games this season, but few if any have been more impressive than their victory Tuesday night over the Edmonton Oilers. No team can have their fastball every night, however McDavid, Draisaitl, and the incredible forward group in Edmonton looked merely average in its stop at Little Caesars Arena.

Which is, to put it mildly, an accomplishment.

What we needed to see from the Wings this season was some progress after five years as the single least-successful team in the league. (Yes, behind Buffalo). And between the performance of the top line, the emergence of Moritz Seider, and other key contributions around the lineup, the Red Wings have shown that so far. 

Tyler Bertuzzi has driven some of the best results league-wide, and with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin the Red Wings finally have a No. 1 that can threaten the opposition with regularity. With more goals and points than any other rookie, Raymond could be considered the Calder Trophy front-runner, but his biggest competition could be Seider, his teammate on the back end. 

Seider, who saw nine-plus minutes versus Draisaitl in the Edmonton win, continues to log major minutes against quality competition and sits just three points off the lead held by defenceman and Norris Trophy pace car, Adam Fox. 

We’re starting to see, now, what Steve Yzerman has envisioned.

Continued

Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson is currently working with the Swedish Junior Team at the Four Nations Cup in Angelholm, Sweden, which is the final warm-up before the World Junior Championship takes place in December.

Daily Faceoff’s Chris Peters praises Edvinsson as one of the NHL’s strongest-starting prospects:

Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frölunda (16 GP, 1-8—9)

The maturity Edvinsson has shown throughout this season has been remarkable. He’s been among the best young players in Europe this season. In his draft year, Edvinsson was averaging under six minutes per game in the SHL. In his first full season in the top flight, the 6-foot-5 blueliner is averaging nearly 20 minutes a game, defending well and producing at a pace not seen from a U19 blueliner in the SHL in decades. He’s missed some time with injury, but has been cleared to return to play.

Continued

DW.com, a.k.a. Deutsche Welle (German World), offers a translation of a German-language profile of one Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, discussing Seider’s pandemic-induced season spent with Rogle BK in the SHL:

[Last September’s] when the Red Wings got a call from Sweden. They wound up sending Seider to Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League, which did start play as usual in September. The club, based in Angelholm in the south of the country, turned out to be a perfect fit.

“The year in Sweden was incredibly good for me,” Seider told DW. 

He gained “a lot of self-confidence” in a league regarded as one of the best in Europe. The games are “very close,” and play tends to be very much “end-to-end” making for highly exciting contests both on the ice and in the stands.

It was there that Seider, who first hit the ice as a 4-year-old in the eastern German city of Erfurt, learned that, after a bad game, the most important thing is to make sure that you “perform at your best” in the following contest. 

Not only did Seider succeed at that last season, but his club did, as well. Rogle BK had their most successful season ever, making it all the way to the finals of the playoffs, where they fell four games to one to the Vaxjo Lakers. In something of a consolation prize, Seider was named the league’s top defenseman. 

His next stop was the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Latvia, where Seider helped Germany finish in a respectable fourth place on his way to being named the top defenseman at the tournament. Seider’s performances in Sweden and at the Worlds didn’t go unnoticed by Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill.

“The fact that he got those accolades in Sweden and the World Championship gives you confidence that he can do a good job,” Blashill told DW at a recent press conference. “How good and how quickly he would become an impact player, we didn’t know.”

This past summer, Seider traveled to Detroit, determined to make the Wings as a top-four defenseman — the AHL and Europe simply weren’t options anymore. 

Continued

Sportsnet’s Mark Spector managed to pull of something almost impossible–he managed to score an interview with both Ken Holland, who gives media members his phone number and answers every call, and he managed to score an interview with Steve Yzerman, who communicates with the media on his terms. Both interviews combine for a fine profile of Ken Holland, who is going to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this upcoming weekend:

“I learned a lot from Kenny, even before I retired,” Yzerman corrected over the phone from Detroit. “Talking about the league, players, signings… I always talked about things with him, and the four years after I retired, we talked about contracts, how he managed situations, how he handled things. The logic behind the decisions that he had to make. It was a tremendous education. Kenny was very, very selfless. To this day I talk to him about things. He hasn’t changed a bit. He is very, very humble.”

We’ve met a lot of GMs over the years. Personable ones who will call a scribe back or sit in the seats of a practice rink and kibitz over coffee. And more private ones who keep you at a distance, seeing no value in a relationship with someone that ranks below them on hockey’s off-ice ladder.

Then there is Holland, who will take 82 pre-game suppers at the press meal, an in-arena dinner put on for scouts, media and support staff. In Edmonton, Holland keeps a table for him and his staff. But it is right there among the rest of that night’s game staff and the media. Same food, same folks, watching the same Eastern Conference games on the same TVs as everyone else.

Where you can go a season or two without ever seeing Oilers owner Daryl Katz, Holland is around every night, as approachable at home as he is on the road.

“You’d have to ask him why he always calls you back or whatever,” Yzerman said. “But I think he goes into the press room to talk hockey with other managers, scouts, media people… At the end of the day he just enjoys talking about what’s going on around the league with other teams and players. It’s why he enjoys managing — he enjoys talking to people about hockey.”

Continued; this isn’t to say that Steve Yzerman is any less personable than Holland, either. He’s just a quiet human being.

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan noted the the Red Wings’ last three wins have involved a significant number of contributions from up and down the lineup, and Kulfan feels that the Red Wings’ second line in particular has shone of late:

A large key for the Wings will be the continued development of the Suter line. Suter, Zadina and Fabbri got off to sluggish starts before beginning to get on track, Suter scoring in Buffalo, then all three making an impact against Vegas.

Having a second consistently dangerous line along with the Larkin line would be a tremendous advantage.

“They’re a line that has offensive ability and created a lot of chances here (lately),” Blashill said. “They had some real chances (Tuesday). Suter has played excellent the last couple of games and so has Z and Fabs. They’re a line that can create a lot, and they’re starting to develop chemistry.

“We went through a stretch where the lines got mixed up a little bit (without Larkin, Bertuzzi in the lineup last week), and now we’re in a stretch where we’re hoping we can keep these lines together.  Four impactful lines in their own way.”

Continued (paywall)

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen offers first-month-of-the-season grades for the Red Wings’ forwards in a subscriber-only missive:

Robby Fabbri  B-

He’s second on the team with 36 shots on goal and always seems engaged. The Red Wings need more production out of this line, but they aren’t playing poorly. They are getting chances to score. It feels like they could start cashing in on their chances.

Pius Suter      C+

The Swiss forward gets a lower grade because my expectation for him is higher. In fairness, he has played at a higher level in the last three games. He has a pair of two-point games in that span. That gives him six points on the season. He is a very smart player who can create chances when the play doesn’t look dangerous. But he needs better results on the score sheet. His 46% faceoff percentage is hurting Detroit. He needs to improve.

Filip Zadina   B-

He has the highest Corsi on his line at 48.1%. Zadina is making more plays, but the production still isn’t there. He’s good with the puck in traffic. This is a crossroad season for Zadina. The Red Wings are hoping he starts to show that he can be a consistent scorer. Thus far, all we’ve seen is the potential.

Continued (paywall)

Red Wings forward Vladislav Namestnikov had an underwhelming 2020-2021 season for the Wings, but this season, the 28-year-old has been excellent, scoring 6 goals over the course of 14 games played. MLive’s Ansar Khan profiled Namestnikov in his afternoon notebook:

Namestnikov is off to a much better start this season, providing the kind of secondary scoring the team hoped for when signing him to a two-year, $4 million contract 13 months ago.

“Last year was a weird year for me, the pandemic, a lot of posts, sometimes that happens,” Namestnikov said. “This year I had a good summer, I worked hard, it’s paying off right now. I hope I can keep producing like this and help the team win.”

Namestnikov scored twice in Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Edmonton, giving him seven goals in 14 games. That is just one short of his total in 53 games last season. He already has scored twice as many non-empty netters (six).

“I don’t know that he’s played a whole lot different,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “Sometimes the puck goes in. His shooting percentages have been below the norm I’d make the argument for the last 2-3 years; statistically he should have more goals. He’s worked hard this summer trying to get that to at least where it’s at the NHL norm. I know he’s done a good job of that.”

Continued

Okay, the Red Wings practiced without Filip Hronek, Lucas Raymond or Marc Staal on Wednesday afternoon, and coach Jeff Blashill was uncertain of the players’ respective statuses when he spoke with the media after practice.

The Red Wings’ website posted clips of goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic and coach Blashill speaking with the media:

The Detroit Red Wings practiced on Wednesday in anticipation of Thursday’s game against the Washington Capitals, and Filip Hronek, Lucas Raymond and Marc Staal all missed Detroit’s practice.

After said skate at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, we waited for confirmation of maintenance days taken and/or injuries.

Alex Nedeljkovic spoke with the media first…

Alex Nedeljkovic on his comfort level: “Every game you just get more and more comfortable. There’s always a little adjustment period… The less I think, the better I play.” #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 10, 2021

When I asked Ned how he keeps his calm during a game if pucks start to get behind him, “Gotta be like a goldfish, have a short memory.” Sounds like Ned is a @TedLasso fan! #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 10, 2021

Ned says on winning a game that almost got away from them— it’s what good teams do. They find a way to win. He said it may not be pretty, but it’s two points. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 10, 2021

Finally…

Jeff Blashill said there were a few guys out for maintenance days today and is unsure right now regarding their availability for tomorrow’s game vs. Washington. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) November 10, 2021

Jeff Blashill said Troy Stecher is going to get a second opinion on an undisclosed injury. Getting looked at again today. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) November 10, 2021

Per Coach Blashill: Stecher is getting a second opinion on his upper body injury #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 10, 2021

Blashill said maintenance day for a few players (Raymond, Hronek, Staal). Not sure of their availability for tomorrow vs. Capitals. Stecher getting second opinion today for options on dealing with his injury. #RedWings— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 10, 2021

The Detroit Red Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Tuesday night.

The Wings remain in the middle of a nasty stretch of 11 games to be played over the course of 17 nights, and the 6-2-and-4 Capitals will serve as a stiff test for the 7-5-and-2 Red Wings.

Detroit will be looking to win its 4th straight game on Thursday; Washington will be well-rested, having not played since Saturday’s 5-3 win over Buffalo, but Washington has dropped 3 of their past 4 games.

Detroit defeated Washington 3-2 in overtime back on October 27th, and the Wings will also host Washington on New Year’s Eve.

Anyway, the Wings hit the ice around 12 PM EST, and MLive’s Ansar Khan reported several absences:

#RedWings on ice for practice. Raymond, Hronek and Staal not skating. pic.twitter.com/cR0nRnl8w9— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 10, 2021

Stecher also not skating. Was scheduled to see a specialist yesterday for an injury.— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 10, 2021

So:

#RedWings practice lines/D pairs:
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Rowney (for Raymond)
Fabbri-Suter-Zadina
Namestnikov-Rasmussen-Erne
Smith-Stephens-Gagner
DeKeyser-Seider
Leddy-Lindstrom/Oesterle pic.twitter.com/YnMYL0bMrE— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 10, 2021