Month: July 2023

Regarding J.T. Compher and Shayne Gostisbehere’s respective fantasy hockey values

Of fantasy hockey-related note:

Sportsnet’s Michael Amadio weighs in on the Red Wings’ signing of J.T. Compher from a fantasy hockey perspective…

The Detroit Red Wings spent a bunch of money in free agency, including a pretty rich multi-year deal for J.T. Compher. I’m not sure Compher will be able to duplicate a strong 2022-23 season in Detroit, though, as he recorded 29 of his 52 points playing with Mikko Rantanen after a bunch of injuries pushed him up the Colorado Avalanche lineup. Compher won’t be playing with anyone close to Rantanen’s talent level in Detroit and is probably destined for more of a defensive role.

And Daily Faceoff’s Nick Alberga has this to say about Shayne Gostisbehere:

Shayne Gostisbehere – Detroit Red Wings – DAfter rising back to fantasy prominence in Arizona last season, Gostisbehere’s stock took a substantial hit when he was traded at the deadline to Carolina. Now with Detroit, the 30-year-old should get ample opportunity —at least at even strength. That said, Moritz Seider figures to retain his role quarterbacking the first play unit, which obviously bodes terribly for Gostisbehere’s fantasy stock. Then again, things can change quickly.

Another ‘Yzerpan’

EP Rinkside’s Ryan Lambert isn’t the only journalist to lambast the “Yzerplan” this week. Today, Yahoo Sports’ James O’Brien also lambast’s Yzerman’s plans for improving his organization:

For one, every dollar that goes to inessential players [like this summer’s free agent signings] could make it tougher to retain the essential ones. Entering the last year of their rookie deals, it’s difficult to say how much Seider and Raymond will cost. It wouldn’t be ideal if all of that poorly-spent money might translate to bridge deals where long-term contracts may be more team-friendly for Detroit.

Also: when you spend money on veterans, you open the door for tricky situations that could hinder development.

Did Seider suffer a partial “sophomore slump” last season, or did he mainly languish when he was attached to Chiarot? Many believe it wasn’t a coincidence that Seider’s numbers looked a lot better with Jake Walman.

Stacking up veteran defensemen who may just be incremental upgrades could mean blocking someone like Edvinsson. Maybe Yzerman was merely providing lip service on Tuesday when he said that Edvinsson needs to earn a spot in the team’s top six. However, NHL coaches are notorious for giving veteran players far too much benefit of the doubt while failing to give up-and-comers room to grow (and occasionally make mistakes).

Frankly, those growing pains might even set you up with a better shot at that extra dynamic prospect who can truly raise the ceiling of a franchise. It seems like a wiser path than Detroit’s most likely destination: the murky middle.

Continued

Prospects and baseball

The Detroit Red Wings’ 2023 Summer Development Campers enjoyed last night’s Detroit Tigers game from the owner’s suite, and DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills discussed the players’ experiences at Comerica Park with several top prospects:

On the Fourth of July, after completing Day 4 of on-ice instruction at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, 46 Red Wings prospects settled in at Comerica Park to cheer on the Detroit Tigers against the visiting Oakland Athletics.

“It’s pretty cool,” Nate Danielson, Detroit’s ninth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, told DetroitRedWings.com. “Coming to see a Tigers game is fun. It’s nice to be able to do it with all the guys and get to know them more.”

After arriving at Comerica Park, the players headed to their designated suite and enjoyed a pre-game buffet featuring plenty of ballpark-themed food.

“It’s different showing up in a team environment like this,” said Carter Mazur, the Red Wings’ 70th overall pick in 2021. “I’m coming with my family most of the time, but it’s been a fun time so far at this camp. All these guys are just unbelievable human beings and were all drafted for a reason.”

Mazur, a Jackson, Mich., native, said that his favorite Tigers player growing up was center fielder Austin Jackson. But for Trey Augustine, a South Lyon, Mich., native, his childhood Tigers fandom revolved around two all-time Tigers greats.

“I grew up watching Tigers games,” said Augustine, Detroit’s 41st overall selection on June 29. “I’ve been here a good number of times. I grew up watching (Miguel) Cabrera play when he was a little bit younger, even (Justin) Verlander.”

Continued

Kris Draper is now the assistant GM and director of amateur scouting for the Detroit Red Wings

It’s official:

Update: Here’s the press release:

KRIS DRAPER NAMED RED WINGS ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF AMATEUR SCOUTING

  … Four-Time Stanley Cup Champion Spent Last Four Seasons as Red Wings Director of Amateur Scouting …

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman today announced that Kris Draper has been named assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting.

Draper, 52, will work alongside Yzerman and Red Wings assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff on all hockey operations matters for the organization, in addition to continuing in his role as director of amateur scouting.

Draper spent the last four seasons as Red Wings director of amateur scouting, overseeing the franchise’s amateur scouting department, running the NHL Entry Draft and assisting the Red Wings’ management team in various hockey operations decisions. As director of amateur scouting, Draper presided over the selection of six first-round picks in the NHL Entry Draft, choosing Lucas Raymond (fourth overall in 2020), Simon Edvinsson (sixth overall in 2021), Sebastian Cossa (15th overall in 2021), Marco Kasper (eighth overall in 2022), Nate Danielson (ninth overall in 2023) and Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th overall in 2023). Draper was named Detroit’s director of amateur scouting prior to the 2019-20 campaign after working the previous eight seasons as assistant to the general manager, providing player evaluations at both the professional and amateur levels and input regarding potential trades and free agent signings.

Draper’s on-ice accomplishments are highlighted by four Stanley Cup titles in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, joining Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty as the only players to hoist the Stanley Cup in each of Detroit’s last four championship seasons. Originally selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round (62nd overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft,  Draper played 20 games over three seasons in Winnipeg before the Jets dealt him to Detroit in exchange for future considerations on June 30, 1993. Draper spent the next 17 seasons in the Motor City, becoming a fixture in Detroit’s lineup during the 1993-94 season and playing center on what became known as the ‘Grind Line’ with Maltby, and at different times, McCarty and Joe Kocur. They formed one of the most revered lines in Red Wings history and played an integral role in helping Detroit end a 42-year drought by capturing the 1997 Stanley Cup.

The Toronto, Ontario, native was recognized throughout his career as one of the top penalty killers and face-off men in the NHL and was rewarded with the 2004 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward. He became the fifth player in team history to play 1,000 games in a Red Wings uniform, joining Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Yzerman and Lidstrom. Draper never missed the playoffs during his 17 seasons in Detroit and appeared in 220 postseason games with the Red Wings, ranking second in club history behind Lidstrom (263). In total, Draper recorded 361 points (158-203-361), a plus-78 rating and 781 penalty minutes in 1,137 games with the Red Wings from 1993-11, in addition to 46 points (24-22-46) and 160 penalty minutes in 220 postseason contests.

Tweet of note: Mile High Sports reports that Darren Helm is retiring

On Twitter, from Mile High Sports’ Aarif Deen: