Month: August 2022

Expressen is already writing up its preseason previews of the SHL’s teams, and Sanny Lindstrom lists two Red Wings prospects among his “14 breakthrough players.” Here’s a rough translation of his comments:

Liam Dower-Nilsson, Frolunda: Frolunda has chosen to leave some space on its forward spots to give some of the team’s junior players a chance. One such player is Liam Dower-Nilsson, who I know Frolunda believes and sees as a player who can actually fight for some playing time on the power play. I’m unsure whether Dower-Nilsson is ready to take on that role, or if the Hockey Allsvenskan [the Swedish AHL] would be a better first step to be able to establish himself at the senior level.

Nevertheless, Dower-Nilsson has good game sense and finds creative solutions. The question mark is whether he’s got the speed to be able to use his first talent at the SHL level this season already. Otherwise, there’s another super-exciting forward in Otto Stenberg, born in 2005. The question is whether Frolunda can have their famous patience with him, or whether he can earn ice time this upcoming season. Stenberg is really, really sharp and an extraordinary talent. Commit his name to memory.

Marco Kasper, Rogle: Rogle hasn’t replaced Leon Bristedt, and I think that it’s obvious that Marco Kasper can take that role. It’s a bit like how Rogle has worked in recent years with great success. There’s still uncertainty as to whether Kasper will remain with Rogle or whether Detroit wants to bring him over. But given the trust that Detroit has in Rogle’s model, I take it for granted that Kasper will stay for at least one more season. I don’t see it an impossibility at all that Kasper can register between 30 and 40 points.

Continued; I think it’s pretty obvious that Kasper will remain with Rogle, given that he’s said he’s staying there a) to the media at the summer development camp, b) to fans on Instagram, c) to the Austrian media and d) to the Swedish media.

TSN’s Travis Yost posted a survey of the depth of every NHL team’s center corps, and he ranks the Red Wings as “under-performers,” but I’m a little confused as to his criteria regarding centers:

Detroit: Upside in this group, but it’ll hinge on a couple of things: Robby Fabbri coming back from injury, and what the Red Wings decide to do further down the lineup. Derek Lalonde will have his choice between Pius Suter and Michael Rasmussen.

According to Yost, the Wings’ centers are, in order, Dylan Larkin, Robby Fabbri, Andrew Copp and Pius Suter.

According to the Red Wings’ website, in no particular order, the Wings’ centers are Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp, Pius Suter, Michael Rasmussen, Robby Fabbri and Oskar Sundqvist. Not the deepest group in the league, but not terrible, either.

The Athletic’s Max Bultman filed a mailbag article this morning. In addition to discussing the Red Wings’ ultimate fate, he offers this take on the fact that Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi have yet to sign contract extensions:

At what point might we become concerned that Larkin and Bertuzzi haven’t signed extensions? — Nezzy

There were many variations of this question asked last week, which makes sense: Other than Jake Walman’s arbitration hearing and Filip Zadina’s pending RFA status, extensions to Larkin and Bertuzzi are really the only pieces of business remaining for the Red Wings this summer.

Of course, if you asked Steve Yzerman, he’d probably tell you the Red Wings don’t need to get either done this summer. This is the same GM who got Steven Stamkos’ contract in Tampa Bay done at the 11th hour back in 2016, after all, and he’s not going to want to move up the hard deadlines any sooner than he has to.

But realistically, there has to be at least some concern if there’s no agreement by opening night. The threat of one (or both) players leaving as free agents next summer would then begin to loom, and if Detroit is outside the playoff picture come mid-January, Yzerman would be faced with some tough decisions on how to proceed.

The fact Larkin has a no-trade clause gives him protection there — and more leverage right now. That’s one of a few reasons I believe that deal will ultimately get done this summer. And my guess is, it comes in somewhere in the ballpark of the (cap-adjusted) Mika Zibanejad and Evgeny Kuznetsov contracts — both eight years at about 10.4 percent of the salary cap at the time they were signed. At the current cap, that would be around $8.6 million. Maybe it’s a little higher accounting for expected growth in the cap in coming years, or maybe it’s a little lower if Larkin just wants to get a deal done, but that’s the approximate range I’d expect.

But Bertuzzi does not have a no-trade clause, and if he and the Red Wings aren’t at least close on a longer-term extension by the start of the season, that’s when I’d start getting nervous.

In-season extensions do happen — Robby Fabbri just signed one in December — so even then, it’s not a five-alarm fire. But by February, it could become one if the Red Wings are out of playoff position. And if it were me, I’d want to avoid that altogether and get the situation resolved — whether by extension or by trade — before the puck drops on next season.

Continued (paywall)

NHL.com’s Dave Stubbs posted an article on Sunday which commemorated Dominik Hasek’s 1991 trade from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Buffalo Sabres, which of course helped Hasek blossom into the dominant NHL goaltender that we all remember.

I held off on posting the article because it was about Buffalo and not really about Dom’s tenures with the Red Wings, but I did find this detail about the eccentric-but-brilliant goaltender to be particularly interesting:

[His history] is all quilted into the tapestry of a brilliant athlete who had no idea that the 30th anniversary of his life-changing trade to Buffalo was at hand until he took a call in his car last week.

“I very much appreciate the reminder but honestly, I live in the present, not in the past,” said Hasek, who has virtually all of his important hockey memorabilia not displayed in his home but in the Czech Hockey Hall of Fame in Prague, on loan to the shrine.

Hasek does speak with enormous respect of two frames that hang on his walls: an autographed painting of the Sabres’ famed “French Connection” line of Gilbert Perreault, Richard Martin and Rene Robert, and a photo of Red Wings legends Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman, sitting together on Detroit’s bench.

“I bought that one of Gordie and Stevie because they’re great guys,” Hasek said. “I had a chance to meet Gordie many times and Stevie was my captain in Detroit.

“I decided to buy this picture because I admire them, as I admire the French Connection, just as I remember all the people in Buffalo who helped me, who were part of my success for nine years — management, teammates, the fans.”

Continued, mostly as a love letter to Buffalo and the Sabres fans, but I don’t think that the Wings win the 2002 Stanley Cup unless Hasek plays so dominantly–or the 2008 Cup, unless an older, wiser Hasek allows the Wings to replace him with Chris Osgood after he struggles in the first round series vs. Nashville.

It’s neat to know that, despite spending the vast majority of his career in places other than Detroit, he values Mr. Howe and Mr. Yzerman so greatly.

The re-staged 2022 World Junior Championship will take place between Tuesday, August 9th and Saturday, August 20th in Edmonton, and IIHF.com and NHL.com will be two very good places to glean news from during that time.

Prior to the tournament, IIHF.com’s Chapin Landvogt posted a set of players who he expects to step up as World Junior Championship “rookies,” and one of the lesser-known Swedish Red Wings prospects earned a nod:

William Wallinder – D – The goaltending is the big story for Team Sweden, seeing as how all three nominees would be the likely starter for a handful of teams in this tournament, but the gigantic 193 cm Wallinder is a shot-blocking machine who’ll help his last line of defence see fewer pucks. He’ll also have little problem being one of the tourney’s better breakout defenders. Already the beneficiary of a ton of professional experience, the 20-year-old Detroit Red Wings prospect shot up the prospect chart during the 21/22 season, not only seeing action in 60 games for contender Rogle Angelholm, but also contributing 20 points along the way.

Continued; Wallinder is going to be fun to watch because the Rogle BK defenseman, who is a lanky 6’4″ and 190 pounds, has really stepped up over the past season (his first full SHL campaign), and player development surprises are definitely in store throughout the tournament.

In case you forgot the 9 Wings prospects taking part in the tournament, let’s go through the list. I’m going to put an asterisk next to the names of players who will be able to take part in the Red Wings’ prospect tournament and main camp this fall:

Continue reading Praise for William Wallinder’s development into a ‘shot-blocking machine,’ and a ‘pre-scout’ of the Wings’ 9 WJC participants

With the 2022 World Junior Championship’s “second take” upon us on Tuesday, MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings prospect and Team USA forward Carter Mazur, whose competitiveness and work ethic should shine for the Americans in Edmonton:

Mazur, the Red Wings’ fourth pick in 2021 (70th overall), had a strong freshman season [at the University of Denver], scoring 14 goals and tying for fifth on the team with 38 points. It was capped with an NCAA championship, when the Jackson native picked up a pair of assists in a 5-1 victory over Minnesota State in the title game.

“You don’t expect to come in and make such a big difference on a team,” Mazur said. “And then I went in and was expecting a lot of myself. I felt I grew a lot physically, I felt I grew mentally, especially doing school with hockey.”

Mazur, 20, is eying another big title this month as a key part of the U.S. World Junior Championship team. The event, which was postponed shortly after it began in December due to COVID-19, starts Tuesday in Edmonton. Red Savage, the Red Wings’ fourth round pick in 2021 (114th overall), who is coming off his freshman season at Miami University, also made the team.

Mazur, in addition to his offense, also displayed a gritty element at Denver.

“I was always playing two years up, so I felt like having an edge to my game … you kind of have to,” Mazur said. “You’re going against bigger people. You might as well try to get under their skin. Doing that is more fun for me. Having them come after me gets them off their game. I’m drawing penalties and having fun in hockey.”

The edgier he plays, the more scoring opportunities he gets.

“I usually find myself scoring net-front and that’s where everyone is to start scrums and all that,” Mazur said. “And then I would say playing edgier really does bring a different element to my game. It makes me become more open in some spots where other people might not want to come.”

Continued; Mazur’s one of those players you love to have on your team, and absolutely despise playing against. Every NHL team needs one of those kinds of players on their roster at some point.

The Detroit Red Wings will have five former members of the St. Louis Blues on their roster this season in Robby Fabbri, Ville Husso, David Perron, Oskar Sundqvist and Jake Walman.

The Red Wings have added four of those players over this calendar year, and, as a result, the Wings’ home-and-home series with the St. Louis Blues is going to be something of a reunion for Detroit’s St. Louis alums.

In an article for NHL.com, David Satriano happens to take note of his most significant offseason roster moves in the NHL (both trades and free agent signings), and Satriano names both additions and the times where the significant players will hold informal reunions with their former employers. In the Wings’ case, Satriano picked David Perron and the Wings-Blues series as the most significant set thereof:

David Perron, Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues, March 21, 2023: Perron signed a two-year contract with Detroit on July 13 after four seasons with St. Louis, his third stint with the Blues. The 34-year-old forward had 465 points (196 goals, 269 assists) in 673 games over 11 seasons with the Blues and helped them win their first Stanley Cup championship in 2019. He’ll return to Enterprise Center in St. Louis late in the season as part of a home-and-home set, with the Red Wings playing host two nights earlier.

Continued; the Wings-Blues games will hopefully matter for playoff standings for both teams, despite taking place on March 21st and 23rd. Let’s cross our fingers there.

Talking about Vladimir Konstantinov is sacred ground for me. The fact that Vladdie’s care has not been permanently paid for by the Red Wings aggravates me to no end, and I believe that the former stalwart defenseman’s legacy for both the player he was and the person that he’s become need to be protected.

Konstantinov did a public appearance to further benefit his long-term care and the mess that’s been made of the State of Michigan’s no-fault insurance law’s legacy to long-term survivors of car accidents by the State Legislature.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted the news, and I was hesitant to post it earlier today because seeing one of my “favorite players” and people growing up is very difficult for me:

Several groups, including the Detroit Red Wings, are stepping up to help pay some of his living expenses. A GoFundMe page is set-up.  As of this morning, more than $42,000 has been raised. The goal is $250,000. Konstantinov’s daughter Anastasia manages the fund. Nine hundred and twenty-eight people have donated money.

Konstantinov is also signing memorabilia items to raise money

Konstantinov, 55, has also been making a few more appearances, like the one he made Sunday. Former Detroit Free Press hockey writer Keith Game posted some photos on Twitter. Konstantinov’s caregivers believe the signings and appearances are good therapy for him.

Alan Moore, through his company SportsGraphing.com, has raised thousands of dollars for the cause through the sale of autographed Konstantinov memorabilia. All funds raised from these sales go directly to Konstantinov’s Special Needs Fund.

Classy former Red Wings coach Dave Lewis stopped by to see Vladdie Sunday. Konstantinov always remembers his former teammates and coaches.

Continued; here’s one of the pictures that my friend Chris posted on Twitter:

It was great to meet Vladdy today. All the proceeds are going to the fund set up for his care. He shook my hand and said hi. After the pic I told him to have a good day and he said yes and gave me a head nod. Truly one if the biggest “what if” tragedies in all of sports #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Lr2Xo58ePb

— 4th_Line_All_Star (@Chris_Boudrie) August 6, 2022

I know that it’s not easy to talk about the accident and its aftermath, but the person that Vladimir Konstantinov is today is a frickin’ miracle, as is Sergei Mnatsakanov. I believe that the Red Wings need to do much more to ensure that Vladdie’s team of representatives doesn’t have to lift a finger to ensure that he is cared for for the rest of his life. The same should be true for Mnatsakanov.

I’m a little late to the party, but here’s an interesting press release from the University of Michigan’s men’s hockey team:

Warde Manuel, the University of Michigan’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics, announced Sunday (Aug. 7) that Brandon Naurato will serve as Michigan’s interim ice hockey head coach for the 2022-23 season.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Brandon Naurato’s caliber to lead our ice hockey team for the upcoming year,” said Manuel. “I had conversations with many individuals who care greatly about this program and appreciate the insight they shared. Brandon will do a great job leading the program, and I look forward to our student-athletes and staff benefiting from his leadership.”

“I am honored to lead my alma mater and will give everything I have to what is the most storied program in college hockey,” said Naurato. “I want to thank Warde Manuel and our student-athletes for their trust and look forward to working positively with our talented coaching and support staff.”

A native of Livonia, Mich., Naurato recently completed his first season on the U-M bench following three years with the Detroit Red Wings organization, where he served as a player development consultant. In that role, he worked with the Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins coaching staffs to incorporate individual player skills into the organizational structure.

Continued; Michigan recently fired Mel Pearson due to reported irregularities reported by The Athletic in a whistleblower report from former Michigan assistant coach Steve Shields.

I’m very cautious regarding posting preseason or pre-tournament prospect results. Red Wings prospect Red Savage scored 3 goals in 2 exhibition games for Team USA prior to the Tuesday start of the 2022 World Junior Championship, Carter Mazur scored a goal, and I just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

I’m even more hesitant to post the following because it’s the Sochi Open, where HK Sochi and a couple other KHL teams are basically set up to showcase the Russian national “Under-25 team,” which is a not-so-subtle reminder that the Russians consider every KHL player under 25 property of their rights-holders, regardless of whether they’re signed to contracts for their upcoming seasons.

Anyway, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff duly noted that Red Wings 2022 draft pick Dmitri Buchelnikov is starring at the tournament, and I’m hesitant to post the 5’10,” 163-pound forward’s exploits because it’s taking place at a tournament designed to showcase the Russian National Team, but hey, it’s out there:

More than a few eyebrows were raising suspiciously when the Detroit Red Wings were claiming Russian forward Dmitri Buchelnikov with the 52nd overall selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Many of those same eyebrows were probably arching upward again on Sunday. Watching highlights from Sunday’s action at the Sochi Open KHL preseason tournamment, Buchelnikov was on fire.

Playing for the Russian Under-25 national team, Buchelnikov delivered a pair of goals and was dishing out an equal number of assists in a 6-1 rout of the host team from Sochi.

At midseason, Buchelnikov was sitting with a rating of No. 47 among European draft-eligible players according to NHL Central Scouting. However, by the end of the season, there was uncertainty regarding Russian players due to the country’s war with Ukraine. Subsequently, the outcome saw Buchelnikov dropping right out of the rankings.

That didn’t stop the Red Wings from calling Buchelnikov’s name early on draft day.

“These are 17, 18, 19 year old kids that love to play hockey,” Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper explained. “That’s something we have to keep in mind. In the end, they just want to play hockey like any kid in North America or Sweden or Finland or wherever it might be. That’s how we evaluated the Russian players this year.”

I’ll let you head over to Detroit Hockey Now for the rest, but I will say that the fact that Buchelnikov’s posted 5 points in 4 games is impressive, even if it’s a pre-preseason set of exhibition games.

Also in the FYI Department, the aforementioned Carter Mazur and Red Savage made Team USA’s final World Junior roster.