Year: 2021

The Red Wings held their media availabilities after Monday’s practice, and coach Jeff Blashill addressed the Wings’ roster decisions:

Blashill says Wings are closing in on their opening roster but says “It’s totally flexible.”— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) January 11, 2021

Just as it is in life, Jeff Blashill says the key to making it in the NHL or any professional sport is being able to get back up when you get knocked down.— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) January 11, 2021

If there’s more to come, I’ll post the clips here.

Good news for Red Wings prospect and Colgate Raiders goaltender Cater Gylander:

GOALIE OF THE WEEK ?

Carter Gylander was lights out in his two starts for @ColgateMIH this weekend, going 1-0-1 with a .952 save percentage and 1.45 GAA.

Powered by @MACGoaltending ?‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/c9enVZq8vp— ECAC Hockey (@ecachockey) January 11, 2021

The Detroit Red Wings have made their waiver wire decisions, and they’ve waived the following players ahead of tomorrow’s 5 PM deadline to submit the team’s 23-man roster and “taxi squad” team:

Among Detroit players on waivers: Boyle, Pickard, Tugeron, McIlrath, Lashoff, Hicketts, Elson, Criscuolo, Barber… and Svechnikov— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 11, 2021

No surprise on Svechnikov. He’s been injured far too regularly to be picked up, especially given today’s wave of waiver wire picks.

Update:

Full waiver list:https://t.co/gjOvqcSdnQ pic.twitter.com/SirhMN9VZs— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) January 11, 2021

A reminder that while some/most of the players getting waived today are likely to be assigned to taxi/AHL tomorrow if they clear, they don’t have to be. Some will likely stay on the active NHL roster. Would need to clear again after 10 games & 30 days on NHL roster.— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) January 11, 2021

#RedWings have placed several, including Evgeny Svechnikov on waivers today. If he clears at noon tomorrow he can be assigned to the taxi squad or @griffinshockey The list also includes Turgeon, Barber, Hicketts, Lashoff, McIlrath, Elson, Criscuolo, Pickard and Boyle.— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 11, 2021

Svechnikov (on ice today) most notable #RedWings on waivers today…does someone claim him before noon tomorrow? Don’t think so, personal opinion— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) January 11, 2021

Update: Here’s Khan in article form:

Continue reading Red Wings waive Svechnikov (per Bultman), 9 other players

The Red Wings’ AHL’ers hit the ice early at training camp this morning, with Evgeny Svechnikov skating alongside a group of mostly Grand Rapids Griffins players, and the “second group”–consisting of players most likely play in the NHL–hit the ice around 12 PM EST:

Monday’s Red Wings practice.
Season opener is Thursday against Carolina Hurricanes. pic.twitter.com/riwa9RdTE8— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 11, 2021

#RedWings main group starts. Still no Ryan or Helm. Also don’t see Erne. pic.twitter.com/EKhCpCpdvt— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 11, 2021

In this Red Wings’ practice group are 20 skaters and 3 goalies. No Darren Helm or Bobby Ryan.

All the usuals plus Rasmussen, Lindstrom, Biega.— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 11, 2021

Continue reading Training Camp, Day 9, ‘Second Group’: Khan reports Ryan, Helm, Erne absent

The Red Wings took part in their final preseason practice on Monday morning, with the Wings taking to the ice very early at the BELFOR Training Center the morning after the team’s 3rd and final Red vs. White Game.

Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Kal spotted an unnamed player taking to the ice alone at 8:30, an hour-and-a-half before practice was set t obegin:

Quick turn around. Back at Belfor Training Center for today’s practice. Join ⁦@daniellabruce_⁩ and yours truly for our final training camp show. View stream on https://t.co/IQvFVfZYrv pic.twitter.com/rAbCCXjrnw— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) January 11, 2021

And as Kal alluded to, the Wings are trying something new today…

Last day of @DetroitRedWings training camp with the one and only @KenKalDRW !! Tune in to our live coverage starting at 10:30 on https://t.co/uvZSRo6ZWQ P.S. we are smiling under the masks ? pic.twitter.com/XlPjcOZSIU— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) January 11, 2021

The Wings hit the ice just after 10 AM…

Continue reading Training Camp, Day 9: Wings streaming last practice online; Svechnikov returns

Take this for what you will, from NBC Sports:

NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCES NHL GAME AND STUDIO COMMENTATORS FOR 2020-21 SEASON

NBC Sports’ Commentary Team Features Over 20 Game and Studio Commentators

Kenny Albert, Brendan Burke and John Forslund Headline Play-By-Play Commentators

Liam McHugh, Kathryn Tappen, Anson Carter, Keith Jones and Patrick Sharp Anchor Studio Coverage

Stanley Cup Champion Head Coach Mike Babcock and 13-Year NHL Veterans Ryan Callahan and Dominic Moore to Contribute to Studio Coverage

2020-21 Season Preview Conference Call Today at 1 p.m. ET

STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 11, 2021 – NBC Sports has announced its team of more than 20 game and studio commentators for its coverage of the 2020-21 NHL regular season, which begins Wednesday on NBCSN with a tripleheader headlined by the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning against the Chicago Blackhawks. As a result of approximately 100 regular-season games in four months combined with COVID protocols, NBC Sports will use a deep roster of game and studio commentators in a variety of different combinations, with some occasionally calling games from remote locations.

GAME COMMENTATORS

NBC Sports will utilize nearly 15 play-by-play commentators and analysts throughout the 2020-21 season. Kenny Albert, Brendan Burke and John Forslund will headline the group of play-by-play commentators. Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Pierre McGuire and AJ Mleczko will lead NBC Sports’ game analyst team, all appearing on the season’s opening night Wednesday Night Hockey tripleheader. U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield, who has appeared numerous times on NBC Sports’ NHL coverage, will take on a recurring role as a game analyst this season.

In addition, many analysts, such as Olczyk, Anson Carter and Keith Jones, will contribute to both game and studio coverage during the year. In some instances, game commentary will originate from remote locations, including NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.

NEW: Mike Milbury won’t be back as an NHL analyst for NBC Sports, @FOS has learned.

Statement from NBC Sports:

“We are grateful to Mike for all of his contributions to our coverage for 14 years, but he will not be returning to our NHL announce team. We wish him well.”— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) January 11, 2021

The Detroit Red Wings are going to stream the final day of training camp’s practices, with Ken Kal and Daniella Bruce taking the reins starting at 10:30 AM EST:

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. WDIV’s Dave Bartkowiak Jr. posted his weekly Red Wings report, and he offered an interesting “best guess” at the Red Wings’ probable opening night roster. It assumes that a couple of players who are currently “unavailable to play” get healthy, quick:

Continue reading Three Things: On the Wings’ lineup, holes therein, top 100 players…and the taxi squad

The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted an article which ponders whether Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin can become a Selke Trophy-level center at some point in the future:

As the Red Wings look to turn the corner in their rebuild over the coming years, the No. 1 thing they may need from their No. 1 center is to begin trending toward the league’s two-way elite.

Last season, the Islanders’ J-G Pageau (a well-regarded defensive center himself) said of Larkin, “It’s hard to play against him. He’s always on the good side of the puck, he doesn’t (make) a lot of mistakes, and I think that’s what makes him such a good player, both sides of the puck.”

In March, Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour, who won multiple Selkes as a player, added: “(We) wanted to draft him back in the day — it just didn’t work out. Everyone did. Why wouldn’t you? Because he’s competitive. To me, the talent is pretty easy to see. … But then when you add that competitive edge, that’s what separates guys from being OK players to great players, and that’s what he (has).”

That competitive edge has become Larkin’s calling card, as [Bobby] Ryan alluded to. And as he continues to grow in the NHL, it’s also the quality that can drive him to the two-way excellence the Red Wings will ultimately need from him.

“In the big picture, when you buy into the team game and when you become a complete player, it helps your team win,” Larkin said. “And that’s what we’re all here to do. That’s what I want at the end of my career, is to be known for team success. And, yeah, I’m still working on it, I still have a long way to go, but it is something that I want to take pride in and continue to work to be a 200-foot player.”

Continued (paywall)

ESPN posted 31 NHL team previews this morning as a set of ESPN+ Insider articles, and Emily Kaplan was tasked with discussing the Red Wings’ 2020-2021 season expectations. Here’s a fair amount of what she has to say:

Big question: Is this the last season of misery? Yzerman took control of the Red Wings in April 2019. The GM refuses to put a timetable on his rebuilding plan, and for the past 20 months it has felt like Detroit has just been biding its time until bloated contracts expire and enough prospects develop. The Red Wings were tough to watch in 2019-20, finishing with a league-low 39 points — 23 fewer than the Ottawa Senators — with an absurd minus-122 goal differential.

Yzerman made several depth signings to make the Red Wings more competitive. The question is: Just how competitive (and watchable) are they now?

Did realignment hurt or help? Let’s be honest: Wherever the Red Wings played this season, they would be projected at or near the bottom. Realignment doesn’t change much for Detroit’s prognosis.

Offseason comings and goings, plus the cap situation The Red Wings have $9,538,611 in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly.

Lots of movement in Detroit this offseason. Joining the team: goaltender Thomas Greiss, defensemen Marc Staal, Jon Merrill and Troy Stecher, forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Bobby Ryan. Gone: goaltender Jimmy Howard, forward Justin Abdelkader, defensemen Madison Bowey, Trevor Daley, and Jonathan Ericsson.

Bold prediction

The defense will significantly improve. The Red Wings finished last in the NHL last season in goals allowed per game (3.73) but should see that number drop. Greiss is an upgrade over Jimmy Howard to platoon with Jonathan Bernier, and the additions of Staal, Stecher and Merrill — who have all been on winning teams — make the defense much sturdier.

Continued (paywall)