Month: July 2022

The Associated Press’s Larry Lage posted an article regarding the Red Wings’ particularly busy first day of free agency:

[GM Steve Yzerman] signed center Andrew Copp to a $28.1 million, five-year contract soon after the market opened. Yzerman, who built the Tampa Bay Lightning into a Stanley Cup winner, followed up by adding more veteran to a team with a few proven players and some promising prospects. Yzerman also signed defenseman Ben Chiarot to a $19 million, four-year contract and a pair of wings to two-year deals: David Perron for $9.5 million and Dominik Kubalik for $5 million.

“With a bunch of the additions, it’s an exciting time and I’m ready to help take the team to the next level,” said Copp, who boosted his value with 14 points in 20 playoff games this year with the New York Rangers. “It just kind of shows the belief (Yzerman) has in the group and he feels like the next step is ready to be taken.”

The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016. During a dismal stretch of missing six straight playoffs, Detroit has been among the worst teams in the league. Two weeks ago, the Red Wings hired Lightning assistant coach Derek Lalonde to lead an NHL team for the first time. Suddenly, he has a roster that appears capable of contending for a spot in the playoffs.

“This team is definitely ready to start competing on a regular basis,” said the 34-year-old Perron, who has 665 career points in 973 games with St. Louis and four NHL other teams. “I want to be part of a solution.”

…

The newcomers join veteran forwards Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi and Jakub Vrana along with Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider on the blue line and second-year forward Lucas Raymond.

“It’s well known around the league that it’s a young, up-and-coming team,” said Chiarot, who has played for Winnipeg, Montreal and Florida over nine seasons. “With all the additions the team made, it makes them an even more exciting team.”

Continued

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski and Kristen Shilton posted an ESPN+ article regarding the day’s earlier free agent signings, and Wyshysnki assesses the Red Wings’ signing of Andrew Copp thusly:

Andrew Copp, C, Detroit Red Wings

Terms: Five years, $5.625 million average annual value ($28.1 million total)

Where does he fit: Wherever the Red Wings need him to fit, to be honest. The true value of Andrew Copp is that he’s a Swiss Army knife of a forward. The Winnipeg Jets cast him as a defensive forward and played him up the lineup with their stars. The Rangers played him up with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome.

Does it make sense? Absolutely. When the Rangers acquired Copp from the Jets at the trade deadline, the assumption was that he would move into Strome’s spot next to Panarin on a new contract. But the Rangers had someone else in mind — Vincent Trocheck — and let Copp walk to free agency.

Their loss is the Red Wings’ gain. Copp’s versatility makes him an asset for a team that is still trying to see where the young pieces fit in their lineup. He’s not the strongest finisher, but he’s got a decent shot. He’s a good passer if not a great playmaker. Even if his offensive numbers fade by Year 5 of this deal, he does so much more for a team that it’s a worthy investment.

Grade: A-. Once upon a time, the Red Wings signed a free agent named Frans Nielsen to a six-year contract worth $5.25 million annually. That contract … did not work out. There are echoes of that signing in bringing on Copp, who is another underrated forward who will be asked to build on the offensive promise of his 53 points in 72 games this past season. I don’t believe history will repeat itself here, as Copp is hitting his stride as an offensive player. Plus Nielsen arrived as Detroit’s kingdom was crumbling, while Copp arrives as the Wings are trending back up. — Wyshynski

Continued (paywall)

Yahoo Sports’ Justin Cuthbert posted the following take on the Red Wings’ particularly active first day of free agency, deeming the Wings a “winner” of the first day…

Steve Yzerman had to show something resembling short-term ambition at some point. While he’s earned the luxury of executing a slow and methodical rebuild, we’ve reached the point where the Red Wings need to demonstrate some on-ice progress.

Yzerman took steps toward that in the early stages of free agency, adding three legitimate top-nine forwards between Andrew Copp, David Perron and Dominik Kubalik, who together form some much-needed insulation for a young core. Copp arrives at a bit of a rich price tag at five years with an average annual value of $5.625 million, but Perron and Kubalik will cost a combined $7.25 million and could conceivably provide in the neighbourhood of 50 combined goals.

Detroit also brought in an experienced defender to insulate Moritz Seider on the back end in Ben Chiarot. His value may exclusively be tied to taking the load off the Calder Trophy winner by eating up some of the more taxing and difficult minutes.

While Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin suggests that the Red Wings lie in the “murky middle“:

Continue reading Red Wings: Free agency winners, losers, or ‘murky middlers?’

DetroitRedWings.com’s Daniella Bruce confirms that the Red Wings will stream tomorrow morning’s 3-on-3 games at the 2022 summer development camp:

?REMINDER: We will have live coverage of the @DetroitRedWings Development Camp 3v3 Tournament tomorrow starting at 8:00am!! Wake up with me, @KenKalDRW, & @ArthurJRegner on Red Wings, Facebook, & Website ? #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) July 13, 2022

Here is the schedule:

8:00-9:45 AM: 3 on 3 tournament game 1

9:00-9:45 AM 3 on 3 tournament game 2

10-10:45 AM 3 on 3 tournament consolation game

11-11:45 AM 3 on 3 tournament championship game

From new Red Wings forward David Perron:

To the Blues fans and players. I’ll never forget you! thanks for the memories it breaks my heart to think it’s over but looking forward to see you at Stanley Cup Reunions @StLouisBlues— David Perron (@DP_57) July 13, 2022

Hello @DetroitRedWings , Cant wait to get going and being able to prove myself all over again! It will be an honor to play for an Original Six team. Thanks for the welcome and see you very soon— David Perron (@DP_57) July 13, 2022

WXYZ’s Jeanna Trotman discussed the Red Wings’ more notable free agent signings (Andrew Copp, Olli Maatta, Ben Chiarot and Dominik Kubalik) this evening…

The opening hours of free agency were exciting for the Detroit Red Wings. Steve Yzerman made SEVERAL moves to bolster the team’s goal-scoring & strengthen the blue line. Agree w/ the “Yzer-plan” or not, this team will be significantly better than they were last season. pic.twitter.com/TzOGqBdHRR— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) July 13, 2022

As did Bally Sports Detroit’s John Keating:

It doesn’t take long for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman to get busy as free agency begins. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/3WFSC9pOVi— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) July 13, 2022

From the Red Wings’ Twitter account:

UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed right wing Matt Luff to a one-year, two-way contract. pic.twitter.com/B80qJy9NQl— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 13, 2022

UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed center Austin Czarnik to a two-year, two-way contract. pic.twitter.com/Hz2t8j7euz— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 13, 2022

Red Wings additions Andrew Copp, David Perron and Ben Chiarot spoke with the Wings’ media corps today:

Per the NHL Network, here’s Andrew Copp speaking with said network…

And the NHL Tonight weighed in on Copp’s deal:

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday signed center Joel L’Esperance (lehs-pehr-AWNCE) to a two-year contract.

L’Esperance, 26, has been within the Dallas Stars organization since the 2018-19 season and most recently posted a career-high 49 points (24-25—49) and 30 penalty minutes in 62 outings with the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars. Throughout four seasons in the AHL with the Stars, the fifth-year pro accumulated 80 goals, 56 assists and 92 penalty minutes in 183 appearances. The Brighton, Mich., native also represented Texas at the 2019-20 AHL All-Star Game.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound center has bagged five goals in 33 games in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars. L’Esperance last saw time in the NHL during the 2020-21 campaign when he totaled two goals and two penalty minutes in 12 contests.

Before making the move to the pro ranks, L’Esperance spent four seasons at Michigan Tech University and garnered 98 points (46-52—98) and 132 penalty minutes in 152 outings. He helped lead MTU to two consecutive Western Collegiate Hockey Association titles from 2016-18. The forward also spent parts of three seasons in the United States Hockey League, showing 37 goals and 30 helpers in 111 games.