Month: July 2023

HSJ in the morning: Daniel Sprong aims to succeed in Detroit

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an article profiling Red Wings free agent acquisition Daniel Sprong this morning. The speedy left winger from Amsterdam stands at 6′ and 194 pounds, and the 26-year-old inked a 1-year, $2 million contract with Detroit on July 1st.

As such, Sprong believes that he will thrive on a deeper, stronger Red Wings team:

“If you look at our team last year in Seattle, we had four lines that can play,” Sprong said in early July. “The way I played last year on the power play and scoring five-on-five, I think that’s something I excelled at, and the defensive side as well, and I am excited to bring that to Detroit.”

Sprong, 26, posted 46 points in 66 games in 2022-23; over hist previous seasons, with Seattle and the Washington Capitals, his goal output was in the mid-teens. Of the 22 players who scored either 20 or 21 goals last season, Sprong was the only one to average less than 12 minutes per game. Even so, the Kraken did not give Sprong a qualifying offer, and now he is eyeing an opportunity with the Wings.

“I think it will be a good fit for both sides,” Sprong said. “I thought it would be a good fit to be there and help with the scoring and grow with the guys there and be part of the organization. Detroit was only 12 points out of the playoffs, so you’re talking about maybe a six-or-seven game swing. You’re not far out.”

Continued; Sprong may very well find himself on a line with Jonatan Berggren, Michael Rasmussen, or J.T. Compher, so he’s going to have some talent feeding the young sniper passes.

THN’s Stockton discusses Jonatan Berggren’s role on the renovated Red Wings

The Hockey News’s Sam Stockton took a “deep dive” into an examination of what Jonatan Berggren’s role on the rebuilt and renovated Red Wings’ roster will look like this upcoming season:

After a busy off-season, it will be more difficult just to crack the Red Wings line-up for Berggren than it was a year ago, much less move up it.  To be absolutely clear, this doesn’t mean I expect Berggren to start the season in the press box as a healthy scratch or with the Griffins in the AHL—just that his competition has only increased relative to his rookie year.

The off-season’s marquee acquisition—Alex DeBrincat—will almost certainly slot into a top line role.  As I discussed last weekend, that leaves the Red Wings with a decision to make regarding who will play beside DeBrincat and Larkin: a third scoring threat like Lucas Raymond or a forechecker/battle winner like Michael Rasmussen.

If the Wings don’t opt for an all-offense approach there, that would drop Raymond (or, if Derek Lalonde and company decide for a change of pace, DeBrincat) to the second line.  At that point, the same question—should the line be filled out with another scoring winger or a more rugged and workmanlike one—pushes down to the second line as well.

I point this out to note that Berggren probably isn’t looking at a top six role in the immediate future, and he will have to continue to ply his craft in a depth role to start his second season in the NHL.

Still, Detroit’s improved depth should only make life easier for an offensively minded player in the Red Wings’ bottom six this season as compared to last.  With no disrespect intended to Czarnik, the Red Wings’ new bottom six options (namely Daniel Sprong, Klim Kostin, and Christian Fischer) should provide a significant upgrade.  As such, Berggren could reasonably be in line for a nice boost to his point total, even without much of an uptick in role and ice time.  

Continued; as Sam says, Berggren will obviously be hard-pressed to crack the “top six” initially, but he should be able to maximize his ice time thanks to an improved supporting cast, and there’s no doubt that he’s still a big part of the Red Wings’ future.

Red Wings reveal new players’ jersey numbers on Twitter

Okay, here we go:

So that’s Justin Holl, #3;

Jared McIsaac, #15;

Klim Kostin, #24;

Carter Mazur, #32;

Alex Lyon, #34;

Christian Fischer, #36;

J.T. Compher, #37;

Tim Gettinger, #39;

Shayne Gostisbehere, #41;

Nolan Stevens, #42;

James Reimer, #47;

Jonatan Berggren, #48;

Brogan Rafferty, #52;

Wyatt Newpower, #62

Simon Edvinsson, #77;

Daniel Sprong, #88;

Alex DeBrincat, #93.

Duff on the family Buchelnikov

Red Wings prospect Dmitry Buchelnikov spoke to KHL.ru about a month ago for a feature that has both text and a YouTube interview, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Buchelnikov’s remarks regarding his father, Vladimir, who’s the goaltending coach for SKA-1946, the VHL team where Buchelnikov played for 9 games this past season:

Vladimir Buchelnikov was a professional netminder in the Russian second and third divisions for over a decade. He saw most of his playing days stopping pucks for Sputnik Nizhny Tagil.

While his father suited up in goalie gear, Dmitri is focusing his hockey ability on undressing goaltenders. It was his combination of puck skills and finishing touch that was leading the Red Wings to make Buchelnikov the 52nd overall selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Still, that doesn’t mean his dad isn’t serving as an inspiration as the younger Buchelnikov is chasing the elusive dream of playing in the NHL.

“I saw how dad trains hard, plays,” Buchelnikov told KHL.ru. “I watched and rejoiced. Probably, it was a foregone conclusion before my birth.”

He credits his extended family for the tremendous support they’ve been offering him throughout his hockey journey.

“My dad helped me from a coach’s point of view, and my mom found the right words and supported me emotionally,” Buchelnikov said. “My grandparents would come to other cities to cheer me on. I also have a sister who is 10 years older, and we communicate very well. The support of my whole family is valuable.”

Continued; I’d sure appreciate it if any of you Russian-speakers could help us Red Wings fans by watching the video!

Khan profiles Axel Sandin Pellikka

The Red Wings picked defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka 17th overall in this past July’s 2023 NHL Draft, and today, MLive’s Ansar Khan has filed a profile of the promising young offensive defenseman:

“It was important to find the right-shot D and the right kind of right-shot D,” Kris Draper, Red Wings assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting, said. “We really like his hockey sense. We really like his poise with the puck. He was 17 years old, he played in the World Juniors. By the end of the tournament, he was running the power play. That was the thing you kept coming back to. He’s really smart, knows how to manage a game. He knows how to manage the puck; he has deception with it. He really moves well on the offensive blueline as well.”

Sandin Pellikka sounds similar to Filip Hronek, the player the Red Wings traded to Vancouver to acquire the pick used to select Sandin Pellikka.

Defense was Hronek’s shortcoming. Sandin Pellikka must improve in that area, too. He’ll return for his second season with Skelleftea AIK in Sweden’s top men’s league.

“That’s something I’m working on with my defensive coach in the SHL, Pierre Jonsson,” Sandin Pellikka said. “He always helps me with that and wants me to get stronger. He takes me aside after pretty much every practice and makes me do one-on-one drills. Just basically makes me beat down a forward so I can get stronger.”

Continued; Sandin Pellikka needs to get bigger, stronger, and sounder defensively, but he’s a smart and driven young man who will be playing with an excellent team this upcoming season.

Sportsnet issues mid-summer power rankings

Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon filed a mid-summer set of power rankings, discussing every team’s offseason additions (or the lack thereof), and here’s where he ranks the Red Wings:

22. Detroit Red Wings Getting Alex DeBrincat at a discount is a clear coup for Detroit, which will be banking on 35 to 40 goals for the local guy. J.T. Compher was a nice add, too. There’s no question the Wings are moving in the right direction, it’s just a question of at what speed they’re doing it.

Continued; I do agree that the Wings’ collective and individual performance levels for the upcoming season are in question, but that’s where we’re at.

Tweet of note: Jeremie Biakabutuka signs with the St. Louis Blues

This Tweet comes to you via Paul Kukla of Kukla’s Korner: Red Wings invited big defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka to their prospect tournament and training camp last fall, but chose not to sign the 21-year-old defender.

Biakabutuka also played in 3 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins after wrapping up a 42-point season for the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, but he signed with the St. Louis Blues today:

Toledo Walleye re-sign D Jake Willets

The Toledo Walleye have re-signed defenseman Jake Willets today:

(Toledo, OH) – Monroe, Michigan native and defenseman Jake Willets has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2023-2024 season.

Willets joined the Walleye after completing his final college year at Lake Superior State to make his pro-debut this past March. He made a splash with scoring goals in each of his first two professional games, notching his first on March 24 vs. Reading. Willets ended the year appearing in ten total contests for the Walleye with four points (2G, 2A) and 15 penalty minutes.

He posted 12 points (4G, 8A) for the Lakers during the 2022-2023 season, which was his second year at Lake Superior after starting his college career at Ferris State. In total, the 23-year-old appeared in 120 college games between the two with 54 points (15G, 39A) and 89 penalty minutes. Willets was named to the WCHA All-Rookie team for his efforts with Ferris State in the 2019-2020 season.