The Detroit Red Wings began preparing for their exhibition season with a pair of hour-long practices at Centre ICE Arena on Monday, concluding their time in Traverse City. The team packs up its gear and returns to Detroit today, just in time for the exhibition season.
Detroit made its first cuts on Sunday, but the Wings still have 57 players on their roster (including Carter Mazur, Matt Luff and Ben Chiarot), and they’ll need the warm bodies, because the team’s about to embark upon an 8-games-in-12-nights exhibition game slate starting Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 PM on Bally Sports Detroit Extra).
On Monday, the Red Wings’ skaters took part in a pair of one-hour practices–one for Team Red, and one for Team White. The two-team situation is going to be the norm for the Red Wings from now until the end of the exhibition season, with one “team” playing one night, and the other “team” playing the next. There will be movement of players from team to team as necessary to try out line combinations and special teams formations, but the general structure of the two teams remains the same.
I asked coach Lalonde if training camp was about establishing structure, and the exhibition season, details, and he stated that that’s exactly how things work in terms of the teaching process. The Red Wings worked on a significant amount of center-tracking today, 5-on-5, 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 full-ice attack-and-regroup drills, with the emphasis on competition for pucks and bench changes to ensure that shift length was starting to come into play.
The final drills of training camp were a little odd–a small-area game in which skaters worked 4-on-3 drills with the nets between the bluelines, and a “mystery skater” at the far goal line serving as the 4th skater for the team that started down a man. As soon as this “mystery skater” touched the puck, and moved it up ice, the skating team with 4 men had to change and bring 3 defenders out to try and stop the opposing team’s rush.
It was a bit of hockey calculus, but the games were hard-fought, and the losers had to take three laps from the goal line to the blue line and back, while the winners cheered and hugged.
Today, it was just the NHL coaches who worked drills–coach Lalonde, assistant coaches Alex Tanguay, Bob Boughner and Jay Varady–while Wings video coach Jeff Weintraub recorded both practices. Griffins coach Dan Watson and his assistants, Stephane Julien and Brian Lashoff, were still here at the rink, as were Walleye coach Pat Mikesch and assistant coach Alden Hirschfeld, but they were mere spectators for the final day of camp.
Goaltending coaches Alex Westlund and Roope Koistinen, and skills coach Dwayne Blais, engaged in some pre-practice work with Wings try-out goaltender Michael Hutchinson, but that was about all I witnessed in terms of the skill development coaches.
I also spotted a familiar face who hadn’t yet made an appearance, perhaps to help Matt Luff (who had a big ice bag on his shoulder), Carter Mazur and anyone else who started to feel bumps and bruises. Piet Van Zant, the Red Wings’ athletic trainer, made his training camp debut on the final day to help with anyone who needed assistance.
Now the Red Wings pack up in a hurry—by 3 or 4 PM, Centre ICE Arena will be fully emptied out of anything brought up from Detroit, and the parking lot will be a ghost town as well–and the Red Wings will return to Detroit to begin the exhibition season.
During exhibition games, the Wings will dress more and more NHL’ers as the slate goes on, with at least two of the final four exhibition games serving as “dress rehearsals” for close-to-opening-night rosters.
The exhibition schedule is going to be really rough. Detroit plays on Tuesday (vs. Pittsburgh at home, on Bally Sports Detroit Extra at 7 PM), Thursday (in Washington, on the NHL Network), they play a back-to-back set of home games against Washington (on Bally Sports Detroit and the NHL Network) and Chicago (on NBC Sports Chicago) on Saturday the 30th and Sunday, October 1st, and then it gets really crazy.
Somewhat bizarrely, the Wings will play 3 road games in 3 nights against Chicago (Tuesday, October 3rd on NBC Sports Chicago), Pittsburgh (Wednesday, October 4th) and Toronto (Thursday, October 5th), all before the exhibition season wraps up at home against Toronto on Saturday the 7th (on Bally Sports Detroit and the NHL Network).
They’ll definitely be using the “two team” set-up until on or after their slate of 3 games in 3 nights, with the teams eventually breaking up so the Griffins and Walleye can begin their training camps during the second week of October.
I happen to think that the 8-games-in-12-nights schedule is downright wacky, and that a team should be playing no more than once every other day, but what do I know.
Anyway, rant over.
For me, it’s been a good run in Traverse City: three days’ worth of practices on Thursday, Friday and Saturday gave way to Sunday’s Red vs. White Game, and as I said on Sunday, today ends my run as a credentialed Red Wings reporter–until you and I figure out how to convince the Red Wings to make an exception to their “no bloggers” policy.
In terms of player impressions, building upon the observations made on Day One, Day Two, and Day Three, as well as the Red vs. White Game, here’s what I observed on the ice today:
TEAM RED:
Forwards:
#18 Andrew Copp: Copp skated on a line with David Perron today, and I think that the pair are a distinct possibility if Lucas Raymond does end up on the Larkin-DeBrincat pairing. Coach Lalonde also suggested that the 29-year-old Copp, who posted a respectable 33 assists in 42 games last season, didn’t really feel like himself until January due to recovering from core muscle surgery last summer. The 6’1,” 203-pound native of Ann Arbor may or may not be the Wings’ #2 center, but I do think that between Copp and Compher, the Red Wings have probably addressed their needs in terms of building a strong set of centers behind Dylan Larkin for the foreseeable future. Copp has also played very well with Compher, so we may see Detroit stack them on the same line at times.
#21Austin Czarnik: Czarnik is 30 and Grand Rapids Griffins-bound, but the hard-working 5’9,” 167-pound center ended up playing 29 NHL games for Detroit this past season. He’s a point-per-game guy in the AHL, and a good checking forward in the NHL, so the Red Wings would probably prefer that the Detroit, MI native spend his season in Grand Rapids. But, if necessary, he’s speedy depth at the NHL level.
#22 Matt Luff: Luff had a big bag of ice on his shoulder (and his arm in a sling) while heading to a video meeting along with Carter Mazur and the rest of the “second group.” The 6’3,” 223-pound Luff is a late-blooming power forward of sorts, at least at the AHL level, but man, has the 26-year-old suffered some significant injuries over the past couple of seasons.
#23 Lucas Raymond: Raymond will play with Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin on Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh, and while I’m not certain whether he’s going to start the regular season on Larkin’s wing, it’s definitely an intriguing line for the Red Wings’ coaching staff to consider utilizing over the course of the exhibition season. Raymond gained 12 pounds of muscle over the summer, and is now 5’11” and 188 lbs, and he plain old looks not only stronger, but also faster (and it doesn’t usually work that way). Whether Raymond plays with Larkin and DeBrincat of Fabbri and Compher/Copp, he’s going to succeed this upcoming season, and he certainly has the drive to prove that, in his third year, that 17-goal, 45-point sophomore campaign was an aberration.
#25 Taro Hirose: Hirose is headed to Grand Rapids, where his 5’10,” 172-pound frame doesn’t deter his ability to distribute the puck to teammates at a 40-assist-per-season rate. At the NHL level, the 27-year-old center hasn’t quite managed to become an elusive player because his skating is good, but not great, but at the AHL level, he’s a catalyst for the Griffins’ offensive game. He appears to understand that playing for the Griffins will continue to earn him two-way contracts for the foreseeable future, so he’s been loyal to the cause.
#27 Michael Rasmussen: Big and strong at 6’6″ and 220 pounds, Rasmussen is being moved to the left wing this upcoming season to both maximize his playing time and maximize his offensive impact. The 24-year-old does a very good job of maximizing his talents regardless of whether he’s being hard and physical, attempting to screen opposing goaltenders on the power play, or shooting, passing or skating at not-quite-elite levels. Rasmussen is integral to the Red Wings’ physical game and swagger.
#29 Nate Danielson: Danielson will indeed start the exhibition season with the Red Wings. At all of 18 years of age, the 9th overall draft pick in 2023 is a 6’2,” 188-pound center with self-confidence and poise beyond his years. He’s got very good skating skills, he makes plays well, and his shot finds the top of the net over goaltenders with ease. He’ll eventually head back to Brandon of the WHL to captain the Wheat Kings on long bus rides throughout Western Canada; for now, he’s going to do his best to turn some heads and prove those who felt he was improperly picked so high that he did in fact justify his lofty status.
#44 Artem Anisimov*: The free agent try-out is not going to be skating on Alex DeBrincat’s wing any more, but the 35-year-old Russian stands at a heavy 6’4″ and 205 pounds, and I do believe that the Griffins might be able to utilize his size and skill set. Anisimov posted 36 points in 55 games for the Philadelphia Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Leigh Valley this past season, and at this point…Size and strength don’t hurt the cause, be that at the NHL level or AHL level.
#48 Jonatan Berggren: Berggren has just been tenacious over the course of training camp, and that’s been fun to witness. The 5’11,” 194-pound center has been up and down in terms of his overall level of play, but he’s always plucky, he’s always determined and he’s someone who’s slightly choppy skating style still works for him. As someone destined to play on the third line, he’s still looking to break out and become a 50-point player at 23 years of age.
#57 David Perron: Perron has been riding the cruise control over the course of the latter half of training camp, but he’s 35, so he earns the benefit of the doubt here. The 6,’ 195-pound winger doesn’t skate like the wind, but he battles his tail off, he’s a hard competitor and he’s a sniper who can score 25 goals and about 50 points every year. He leads the Wings as an agitant and sometimes an irritant, but coach Lalonde and Dylan Larkin both suggested that the Wings know how to reign Perron in.
#71 Dylan Larkin: As Dylan Larkin goes, so does the Detroit Red Wings team. Blazingly fast, Larkin helps drive play through puck possession, and the 6’1,” 199-pound center is still improving as a faceoff man, he’s a fantastic transporter of the puck, he makes good plays, he snipes goals, and his heart and determination are undeniably real and strong, on and off the ice. He’s earned the captaincy, and he tries to keep earning it every day.
#72 Trenton Bliss**: Bliss is one of several Grand Rapids Griffins-contracted players on the team. The 25-year-old center stands at 6′ and 191 pounds, he’s fast and he’s skilled, but given that Grand Rapids is so stacked, he may end up repeating his 2022-2023 campaign, where he posted 40 points in 38 games with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. I don’t think that he wants to head to Toledo, but he’s succeeded at the ECHL level.
#78 Amadeus Lombardi: Lombardi continues to display poise beyond his age. At 20, the 5’11,” 180-pound center is “turning pro” after a 102-point season with the Flint Firebirds, and he insists that he’s still growing into his body after gaining about an inch and 15 pounds’ worth of muscle. He’s very fast and is a great puck-lugging center who projects to be a middle-six forward with grit and a bit of bite. I’m assuming that he’ll play for Grand Rapids, but he may start with Toledo.
#85 Elmer Soderblom: Soderblom may also start with Grand Rapids, but it seems unlikely that he’ll finish the year in the AHL. The 22-year-old graduate of Frolunda HC of the SHL stands at a massive 6’8″ and 225 pounds, and after spending an injury-marred season split between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Soderblom looks like he’s going to combine his superb skating skills with excellent puck-handling abilities, a hard shot and strong passing and playmaking abilities. I don’t think that Soderblom will become a point-per-game player, but he’s going to be a power play specialist and he’s going to be an incredibly useful player.
#93 Alex DeBrincat: The only thing DeBrincat didn’t do over the course of training cap was score a bunch of goals. Only 5’8″ and 180 pounds, the 25-year-old winger has still managed to show fans that he skates much better than anyone imagined, he can lug the puck up ice and make plays with the best of ’em, and yes, he has the tremendous arsenal of shots which affords him “natural goal-scorer’s” status. The Farmington, MI native wants to make things work here in Detroit, and it’s hard to see him struggling.
Defensemen:
#15 Jared McIsaac: I just don’t want McIsaac to get lost in the shuffle. The 6’2,” 193-pound 23-year-old is a spare and steady defender who’s had to overcome surgeries on both shoulders, and he’s a fine steady defenseman…But Detroit is building a collective of more offensively-talented players in Grand Rapids, and McIsaac may get shoved out of the way in order to accommodate all those Swedish puck movers.
#41 Shayne Gostisbehere: Another player who looks like he’s primed for a comeback, the 5’11,” 183-pound Gostisbehere is solidly-built for a “small guy,” he’s got a very good stick and is a strong skater, and the 30-year-old can play both left and right defense, utilizing his booming shot and playmaking abilities to generate points on the power play. He’s been very good thus far.
#46 Jeff Petry: To me, getting the most success out of Jeff Petry at 35 is a matter of managing him properly. The 6’3,” 208-pound right-shooting defenseman still has a tremendous power play shot, he still makes plays and sees the ice well, he skates quite well, though not as quickly as he used to, and he isn’t physical, but he’s effective in deterring opponents. If he’s used on the second or third pair and the second PP unit, he’s going to provide a fair number of points, but if the Wings try to utilize him as their #1 defenseman, I’m not certain whether he succeeds. Accept him for being 35, and #46 should flourish here.
#53 Moritz Seider: Seider still has occasional lapses of judgment in which he tries to do too much all on his own, and that’s where he is still learning at 22 years of age. Big and still skinny at 6’3″ and 205 pounds, I wonder whether we’re a year or two away from seeing Seider as a Norris-caliber defenseman. He’s literally learning and growing with every shift, and the incredibly-gifted defenseman pushes his tremendous skating skills to the max, dekeing and danging his way through opponents before sending seeing-eye passes to his teammates, ripping heavy shots on the net, or, occasionally, laying an opponent out. I think that Seider can really become a better, more consistent defenseman, and when he truly establishes himself as one of the NHL’s elite defenders, watch out.
#54 William Wallinder: Wallinder is only a year younger than Seider at 21, but he’s just coming over to North America after playing parts of four seasons with Rogle BK of the SHL. At 6’4″ and 201 pounds, he has a good wingspan, but he still needs to grow into his adult body, and when he does…He’s downright elegant to watch. I’m uncertain as to whether Wallinder’s excellent skill set will provide Seider-like offensive numbers, but Wallinder is definitely another tremendous skater and plain old wise defenseman who should become a star on the Wings’ blueline.
#62 Wyatt Newpower: Again today, Newpower and McIsaac skated together, and it just seems like a logical pairing. McIsaac plays simple hockey, and Newpower is massive at 6’4″ and 205 pounds, he’s tough as nails, and he’s 25 years of age. Newpower is one of the Griffins’ resident enforcers, but he has a better skill set with his gloves on than his gloves off.
#96 Jake Walman: Walman is exceedingly intelligent because he understands that he’s best-utilized as a complement to a more-skilled offensive partner. As a safety outlet for Moritz Seider, Walman is able to utilize his strong skating, his passing and his excellent shot to generate offense, all while affording Seider the ability to deke and dangle because Walman provides a safe “out” for Seider. Just coming into his prime at 27, the 6’1,” 218-pound defenseman is ready to shine next to his buddy “Mo.”
Goaltenders:
#31 John Lethemon: Lethemon is not an AHL starter yet because he is, at times, an inconsistent goaltender. 27 years of age, the 6’1,” 189-pound Lethemon makes tremendous saves, but he can be beaten in the “four corners” of the net because he’s not huge in size, and the Northville, MI native is still learning how to keep pucks out of the net with the Red Wings and Griffins’ goaltending coaches. He may or may not make the jump to the AHL, depending on where Sebastian Cossa ends up, and it might be best that Lethemon attempts to reprise his role as Toledo’s starting netminder for now.
#34 Alex Lyon: Lyon is still being paired with Reimer, his competition in terms of attempting to wrest control of the Red Wings’ back-up goaltending spot. Lyon is a little older than most at 30 and not overly large at 6’1″ and 195 pounds, Lyon hopes to earn a foothold on an NHL spot after bouncing around the AHL and NHL over the course of his career. He’s got and intriguing style and active hands on top of those stiff, stiff pads, and he’s effective in the net.
#47 James Reimer: Reimer continues to look impressive. At 35 years of age, he’s also attempting to battle for the back-up goaltending spot in Detroit, and he had a fantastic showing during training camp, at least. 6’2″ and 200 pounds, Reimer is coming out of a rough situation in San Jose, and he looks bound and determined to reclaim a form that we haven’t seen out of him in years. Reimer is a combination of principled goaltender and battling butterfly netminder who sometimes wills the puck out of the net. It’s an odd way to play, but it seems to work for him.
TEAM WHITE:
Forwards:
#14 Robby Fabbri: Regardless of whether Fabbri ends up with Raymond or not, and regardless of whether he ends up with Copp or Compher, the 27-year-old center-playing-on-the-wing looks stronger on his skates at 6′ and 185 pounds, and if he can stay healthy after suffering multiple ACL tears, the 27-year-old Fabbri still has 20+ goal potential at the NHL level. He’s also an excellent passer who cold cast himself in an assist-man’s role if he so chooses.
#24 Klim Kostin: The 24-year-old trade acquisition and free agent signing is a massive man at 6’4″ and 232 pounds, and he can check the snot out of opponents, but Kostin’s skill set is surprisingly good for that of a checking forward. He skates strongly and can tap passes into the net with ease. He’s plain old fast, too, which is intimidating given how big he is.
#28 Riley Sawchuk**: Sawchuk has managed to survive the first round of cuts, which is a plus for the Grand Rapids Griffins-contracted forward. He’ll likely earn some exhibition games, and the 5’10,” 179-pound center who shone in the prospect tournament at a stately 24 years of age will now attempt to earn a spot with the Walleye or Griffins this upcoming season. He’s fairly talented and is an excellent leader.
#36 Christian Fischer: Fischer was brought in to stabilize the penalty-kill and be a right-shooting winger who can win faceoffs. Over the course of training camp, he did those things. At 26, the 6,’ 206-pound forward is versatile enough to play any forward position, he’s strong on his stick, and he busts his tail to provide a physical presence in a depth role. Even if that’s all he does, he will fulfill his role very easil and with aplomb.
#37 J.T. Compher: The 28-year-old center has looked very good out there. He’s physical, he skates particularly well, he’s got a good shot and a good pass, and he wins faceoffs with that right shot. Again, I’m not of the belief that he’s going to post 52-point seasons in Detroit, but if he’s good for 15 goals and 40 points, he’ll help stabilize the Wings’ second-line center and/or wing’s position. He’s a hard worker who grinds.
#39 Tim Gettinger: A very large man at 6’6 and 217 pounds, the 25-year-old Gettinger was signed to a two-way contract as a free agent because he’s quite good at using his size to check, he’s skilled enough to have posted 35 points in 55 games for the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate last season, and I think the exhibition season will tell the tale for him.
#42 Nolan Stevens: Also signed to a two-way deal, 27-year-old Stevens stands at 6’2″ and 194 pounds, and he posted 33 points in 46 games with the New Jersey Devils’ affiliate in Utica last year. He’s a scorer at the AHL level and at least a grinder in the NHL, thus the two-way contract.
#50 Dominik Shine**: Shine isn’t big at 5’11” and 175 pounds, but the plucky little forward is determined to out-work his opponents. Griffins-contracted at 30 years of age, he’s been a loyal Griffin over the course of 8 years with the organization. He’s a foot soldier and a good soldier at that.
#58 Dean Loukus*: I was a little shocked that Loukus made it through the first round of cuts, but he was sent back to Saginaw today. The 5’9,” 181-pound native of Calumet at least got in a couple of practices with his home-state team, and now the 20-year-old grinder will head back to Saginaw looking to replicate his nearly-point-per-game status in the OHL.
#67 Joel L’Esperance**: The Griffins-contracted L’Esperance is an AHL-level power forward who scores goals with Grand Rapids. 28 years of age, he’s not anything less than sturdy at 6’2″ and 212 pounds, and he’s also exceedingly popular amongst his teammates. He’s a native of Brighton, MI.
#74 Cross Hanas: Hanas had an up-and-down training camp. Monday he wasn’t as confident as he was during the Red vs. White game, so the 6’1″ 181-pound winger looked pedestrian. When he’s on, the young man with the surgically-repaired shoulder looks like the kind of prospect who might prove a lot of doubters wrong. At 21, Hanas is a fine play-maker and good shooter with strong skating and a whole lot of grit and determination.
#76 Tyler Spezia**: Like Shine, Spezia is not big at 5’10” and 170 pounds, but the little speedster will populate the Griffins’ third or fourth line as a 30-year-old checking forward who can crash and bang when necessary, but is mostly a smooth puck carrier.
#83 Nic Sima*: I was a little disappointed when Sima got cut today. The 18-year-old was passed over in the draft for a mediocre first-year-of-draft-eligibility year with the Saginaw Spirit, but the 6’4,” 197-pound right wing was all right during the prospect tournament, and he got better when the NHL’ers came to town. He was fast and smart and possessed a sniper’s shot, and I had hoped that the Wings were going to give him an exhibition game’s look-see, but it looks like he’s heading back to the OHL to play the best he can and earn an NHL draft spot with SOMEbody instead.
#88 Daniel Sprong: Daniel Sprong reminds me of a successful Martin Frk, because he’s scored 20 goals at the NHL level, but sometimes he gets so focused on his one-timer that the 6,’ 199-pound winger falls down trying to rip a shot with that crookedly-hooked stick. 26 years old, Sprong is likely going to slot into the Wings’ third line, where he’ll provide scoring pop and a bit of snarl.
#90 Joe Veleno: Veleno is really in a crucial moment in terms of securing full-time NHL employment. Only 23, the 6’1,” 201-sound center has almost “aged out” of the Red Wings’ lineup, and he’s going to need to take a page out of his Major Junior status as a scoring center with jam to find a real home here in Detroit, regardless of whether he’s playing on the 3rd or 4th line.
#92 Marco Kasper: Kasper still struggled with the time and space (or the lack thereof) of the North American rink on Monday. He’s got tremendous offensive skills, but his hard shot and slick passing skills are calibrated for 200’x100′ ice, not 200’x85′ ice, and he’ll have to get used to having less time and space with which to make plays happen. All of that being said, he’s 19 as he makes the jump to North American hockey, and the 6’1,” 193-pound center is speedy, occasionally snarl-y, and he’s going to be a bright prospect who pans out to be a productive NHL player at some point soon.
Defensemen:
#2 Olli Maatta: Maatta just works. 29 years of age, the 6’2,” 207-pound defenseman has the offensive chops to be a play-maker, but he knows that he is best-suited to cast himself in the role of rock-solid defensive defender, and it works for him. And it works for the Red Wings, to the tune of a three-year contract extension for Maatta. He’s the player you want to skate next to the offensive defenseman who takes a lot of scary chances, because Maatta will clean up his mistakes with ease.
#3 Justin Holl: Again, it’s hard to find something to be upset about in terms of Holl’s overall play. Yeah, he’s 31, and no, he’s not going to put up many points, but the right-shooting 6’4,” 194-pound defenseman plays quite a bit like Olli Maatta, frankly–steady, spare, smart and composed. He’s not going to wow you with much other than the occasionally bombastic hit, but Holl gets the job done in terms of complementing more offensively-inclined partners, and he does so on the right side of the ice, which the Red Wings needed.
#20 Albert Johansson: Johansson is a cerebral defenseman who is 22 yaears old, and the 6,’ 185-pound graduate of Farjestads BK of the SHL is truly a brilliant player who just needs to play more consistent defensively to succeed at the professional level. He skates superbly, he’s a good passer and shooter, he’s able to handle himself physically, and he just needs to clamp down when there are defensive issues to be dealt with. He and William Wallinder are really bright prospects.
#38 Antti Tuomisto: Tuomisto’s come back to North America after “a year abroad” to try the pro game here, and he definitely looks like he’s readjusting to 85-foot-wide ice. Just 22, the 6’5,” 209-pound defenseman is massive and heavy, he’s got a right shot, and a strong all-round skill set. He was up-and-down during the prospect tournament and up-and-down during training camp, but he really can develop into an all-round defenseman who is competent in every aspect of the game if he wants to become that kind of player.
#51 Eemil Viro: Viro and McIsaac may be too vanilla for the Red Wings’ defense. The 21-year-old Viro is only 6′ and 194 pounds–maybe–and the wiry little defenseman who spent a chunk of time with the Toledo Walleye last year probably needs to spend a little more time with Toledo to prove that he’s worth consideration for an NHL job somewhere down the line.
#52 Brogan Rafferty: Rafferty is at least important enough that I read someone hoping that he gets picked off on the waiver wire. The 28-year-old right-shot defenseman is 6′ and 197 pounds, and he posted 51 points in 71 games for the Kraken’s “Coachella Valley Firebirds” this past season, so he earned a two-way contract with Detroit. At the AHL level, he’s an elite offensive defenseman; in Detroit, he’s going to be a depth guy who plays in a pinch.
#84 Josiah Didier**: I’m going to be honest; Didier was kind of “there” during training camp. The 30-year-old is big at 6’3″ and 220 pounds, and he’s definitely physical, but other than skating well and being able to keep up, he didn’t put the pedal to the metal. He’s a two-year captain of the AHL’s Providence Bruins, and given Brian Lashoff’s retirement, Didier may captain the Griffins, but he’s got to earn his ice time, too. I don’t want Wallinder or somebody else in Toledo simply so this guy can wear a letter.
Goaltenders:
#33 Sebastian Cossa: Whether Cossa ends up in Grand Rapids or Toledo is less important than the refinement of his game. He honestly looks most comfortable stopping NHL shots, because they’re the most predictable and controlled. But he’s only 20, and the 6’6,” 215-pound goaltender with the holes over his catch glove and blocker has worked quite hard with the Red Wings’ goaltending coach, Alex Westlund, the organization’s developmental coach, Phil Osaer, and Griffins goaltending coach Roope Koisitinen over the past two weeks, and that will continue in Detroit. And Grand Rapids or Toledo. The work he puts in will determine whether he remains an elite prospect or not–and yes, at this point, Cossa’s future is up to him.
#35 Ville Husso: Husso didn’t have the greatest day at training camp, but that happens. The 6’3,” 205-pound goaltender is generally in control of his butterfly technique, but at 28, he’s still wrapping his head around being an NHL starter expected to play in 55+ games (in only his second year as a starter), and he’s still evolving technically, too. As I’ve said, I don’t like it when he flails from post to post, but otherwise, he’s hard to beat.
#60 Jan Bednar**: Bednar deserves credit for reinventing himself, but the Griffins-contracted 20-year-old will find out where the rubber meets the road in Toledo this upcoming season. Tall at 6’5″ and 200 pounds, like Cossa, he’s trying to re-establish himself as a professional hockey prospect, and that’s a long journey forward for a goaltender who used to stop some shots spectacularly, and then give up four or five soft goals.
#80 Michael Hutchinson*: Hutchinson didn’t even skate with the White Team today; he worked with coaches Westlund, Koistinen and skill development coach Dwayne Blais for almost an hour, otherwise alone on the ice. The 6’3,” 201-pound free agent try-out is attempting to resurrect his career at 33 years of age, and the exhibition season will tell us whether the former Winnipeg Jet who catches with his right hand can earn some sort of two-way contract.
*=Free Agent Try-out, **=Grand Rapids Griffins contract.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed the coverage in Traverse City, at both the prospect tournament and at training camp. It’s been a lot of hard work both posting content and taking care of my 81-year-old Aunt, but I don’t think that I’d do anything differently.
I’ll be on a podcast for DobberProspects this evening, and Tuesday and Wednesday (when I head home) will be quieter days out of necessity, but I am hoping that coverage won’t be too impacted by the fact that I’m exhausted physically and mentally after the 6 AM alarms and the closing of the laptop at 10 PM.
One way or another, I’ll try to keep content coming, and we’ll talk some more about both credentialing and the inevitability of a TMR Podcast in short order.
As for the rest of it…
In terms of fundraising, we got some really remarkable donations all weekend long. We’re still $200 short of paying our bills and a little longer away from being able to buy food for the end of the month. We’re on our way, which is wonderful, but we need to pay for the ride home as much as anything. I hope that I can earn your support through my work.
I should also note that PayPal $ is greatly appreciated as that’s what we use to pay the utility bills.
If you can lend a hand with our expenses, we have an old-fashioned GoFundMe here https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-george-annie-attend-prospect-tournament, you can use PayPal at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport, Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2, Giftly by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com. And you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check. I’m also on Cash App under “georgeums.”
