Month: September 2023

Yahoo sports’ Jacob Stoller reports that yet another former Red Wings player is speaking out about his experiences under former Wings coach Mike Babcock:

Three days after Mike Babcock stepped down as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl detailed how difficult Babcock made life for him in an article titled “Seventh Defensemen,” which he published on a Czechia news site titled Bez Frazi.

While Kindl, who spent parts of nine seasons in the Detroit Red Wings organization, lauded some of Babcock’s coaching abilities — such as his game-day preparation — he didn’t shy away from explaining just how miserable Babcock made life for him.

“I wasn’t his favorite player from the beginning, and even though (Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland) liked me, Babcock seemed to constantly test what I could handle and he let me know that he didn’t like me as a player,” Kindl wrote. “I couldn’t stand him as a person.”

The 36-year-old retired defenseman recounted sequences where Babcock ostracized him.

“I saw him making jokes with the others, but with me, he barely exchanged a few words,” Kindl said. “If he did, it was to humiliate me. For example, he once put me on the right side of the defense, and I was looking at the lineup in disbelief. He was just passing by and heard me, so he looked at the lineup and said, ‘Yeah, you’re on the right side. You have trouble playing on the left, and I’m making it harder for you, right?'”

Continued; Kindl’s story in Bez Frazi is available in English.

MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses pertinent training camp storylines this evening, including the following:

2. Which players are battling for spots in the lineup? The most interesting battle will be on defense, where the late-offseason trade for Petry gives the team seven experienced defensemen. When everyone is healthy – always a big if – Moritz Seider, Jake Walman, Olli Maatta, Gostisbehere and Petry can be penciled into the everyday lineup. That would leave Ben Chiarot and Justin Holl battling for the sixth spot.

They also have 13 NHL forwards, so someone who’s expecting to play regularly will be watching. The top eight could consist of Larkin, DeBrincat, Perron, Raymond, Andrew Copp, Compher, Michael Rasmussen and Robby Fabbri. That would leave four spots for five players – Kostin, Daniel Sprong, Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren and Christian Fischer.

3. Do any prospects have a legitimate chance of making the roster? Not likely unless there is an injury or two to a veteran. Simon Edvinsson made a favorable impression during a nine-game late-season stint, but the Red Wings, with their additions on defense, clearly feel he needs more time in Grand Rapids. The same for 2022 eighth overall pick Marco Kasper, who’s only 19 and could use some seasoning in the AHL. Elmer Soderblom, who played 21 games with the Red Wings as a rookie, probably has the best chance of cracking the roster among prospects. But with any of these young players, including the waiver-exempt Berggren, they’ll only be in Detroit if they’re playing regularly, not as reserves.

Continued; injuries are the great leveler, and they always happen over the course of training camp and the baffling 8-games-in-12-nights exhibition season. Injuries will help tell the tale.

According to NHLPA.com’s Chris Lomon, new Red Wings forward J.T. Compher went to Toronto recently to support his sister, Jesse, as she was drafted by the PHWL:

It has been just over 10 years since J.T. Compher was selected 35th overall at the 2013 NHL Draft in New Jersey.

Compher once again found himself sitting in the stands at another draft on Monday this time in Toronto. The Detroit Red Wings forward was eagerly anticipating hearing the name of his sister, fellow forward Jesse Compher, being called at the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft.

It was an experience the Compher family, parents Bob and Valerie, their children, Jesse, J.T. and Morgan, will always remember. It was also a monumental day for women’s hockey that had been years in the making.

Played out in front of a packed house at CBC headquarters, 90 of the top players from across the world in the women’s game were drafted into the PWHL the newly formed six-team league, which will see its first on-ice action in January. Luminaries included board member and tennis legend, Billie Jean King, along with other high-profile sports figures.

It was Minnesota native Taylor Heise who was the first player off the board, the U.S. Women’s National Team member selected by her home state squad. Twenty-five picks later, former Boston University and University of Wisconsin standout, Jesse Compher, was selected 26th overall by Toronto.

“That day will be one for the history books, which was incredible to be part of,” said Jesse, who captained BU in her senior year. “I was lucky to be able to be there and it was awesome to have my family with me. They have supported me throughout my career, and it was amazing to have them there with me. I couldn’t ask for a better support system.”

Continued

Red Wings prospect and Grand Rapids Griffins prospect Cross Hanas spoke with the Griffins’ video team late last week. I posted this as a Tweet, and now, here’s the video version of the interview:

Bally Sports Detroit’s John Keating is up in Traverse City to take part in Red Wings training camp coverage:

Training Camp Eve. ⁦@DetroitRedWings⁩ ⁦@BallySportsDET⁩ pic.twitter.com/vVLpnvks48

— John Keating (@JohnKeatingBSD) September 20, 2023

The Detroit News’s Mark Falkner profiled Red Wings statistician Greg Innis, who’s been on the job for 50 years now…

“Greg has more passion for the Detroit Red Wings than anybody I’ve ever met in the game of hockey,” Holland said. “You’re talking to someone who is loaded with information and he’s incredibly respectful to the people in the game. There’s nothing in it for Greg Innis. He’s there to serve, whether you’re with our team or the other team. His unassuming nature has been a key to his longevity.”

Born in 1950 in Detroit, Innis went to his first Red Wings game during the Christmas holidays in 1956 against the Chicago Blackhawks at Olympia Stadium. From 1969 until 2003, he attended every Detroit home game, first as a season-ticket holder, then as a writer for the team’s game program and now in his current role as team statistician, which includes managing a game-night staff in the press box. 

He said he’s missed only eight games in five decades at Olympia, Joe Louis Arena and Little Caesars Arena while keeping track of the stats of Red Wings stars like Yzerman, Henrik Zetterberg and Dylan Larkin. 

“Greg’s knowledge of hockey is second to none,” said Bill Jamieson, who was named the NHL’s public relations director of the year seven times in 14 years with the Red Wings, from 1982-96. “He has one of the biggest hockey libraries with media guides, publications and books, anything you need to know. He takes care of the media all the time, doing stats for the visiting broadcasters and helping out the scouts.

“In fact, I dubbed him a long time ago, Mr. Hockey. Gordie Howe would come up to the press box and give us a sharp elbow in the back. I would joke with Greg. I would say, ‘You’re Mr. Hockey too.'”

Continued (paywall); it’s really sweet story.

Innis also appeared on the latest “OctoPulse” podcast with Ted Kulfan:

NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman profiles Red Wings goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa this afternoon. Cossa doesn’t regret “turning pro” last season, despite the fact that he ended up in the ECHL instead of the AHL with Grand Rapids:

“I wanted to play at the highest level I could last year,” Cossa said. “I was happy that I made the transition to pro. The ‘Coast’ [ECHL] isn’t an easy league for goalies. Some games I was facing seven, eight breakaways a game. I think that’s definitely a mental part of the game. The Coast, it’s a tricky situation. The top two lines will have skill and there are some guys that can finish opportunities up there. So it was good for me.”

The No. 15 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft went 26-16-4 with a 2.56 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and four shutouts in 46 games. He was tied for second in the ECHL in shutouts, tied for third in wins and GAA, and tied for 10th in save percentage.

Red Wings head of goaltending scouting and development Phil Osaer spent time working with Cossa in Toledo, as did Detroit assistant director of player development Dan Cleary.

What stood out beyond the on-ice results was the mindset Cossa took with him to Toledo.

“Everything is about attitude,” Cleary said. “You choose your attitude and he chose a good one. We tell all our young kids, you choose your attitude and work ethic. We can only tell you and guide you so often, but when you look in the mirror or you lay your head on the pillow at night, it’s your thoughts and you know what work you put in, what you’ve done, what you’ve left on the table.

“Going down there, having a good attitude and playing well, he played really well. Got to see him play a lot and I know, just from even talking to him this year, he’s starting to become much more mature. I don’t want to say he’s reserved, because he’s a pretty outgoing type of personality as a kid. Guys really like him. And it’s great to see his progression, to be honest.”

Continued

More than a few Red Wings fans will be cheering for the green and white of Michigan State this upcoming season as two Wings prospects, center Red Savage and goaltender Trey Augustine, will be playing for the Spartans in East Lansing. According to the College Hockey News’s Mike McMahon, Michigan State merits top-10 status in the nation thanks in no small part due to their offseason additions:

8) Michigan State: Look for the Spartans to be one of the most improved teams in the nation, which is an incredible feat for Adam Nightingale and his staff as they enter their second season. Michigan State had a six-win improvement last season and finished .500 (18-18-3). Two of MSU’s top scorers were freshmen (Daniel Russell and Karsen Dorwart), and freshman Matt Basgall was second on the team in points among defensemen.

In the transfer portal, the Spartans added Reed Lebster (UMass), who had 22 points last season, as well as stud Northern Michigan freshman Joey Larson (13 goals, 14 assists). Tampa first-rounder Isaac Howard will bolster the team on defense, and Red Wings draft pick Red Savage arrives from Miami. MSU’s recruiting class is one of the top classes in the nation and is headlined by goaltender Trey Augustine, who was drafted by Detroit in the second round this past summer.

Michigan State also added defensemen Artyom Levshunov, who many project as a top-five pick this summer, and Maxim Strbak, who was just taken in the second round by Buffalo.

Continued

EP Rinkside’s JFresh posted a list of his top 20 NHL centers for the 2023-2024 season, and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin cracked his list at #17:

17. Dylan Larkin – Detroit Red Wings

2022 Ranking: Tier 5

While the leap that turns him into a high-end No. 1 centre might never happen, Larkin has developed into a reliable and well-rounded pivot who can pass and shoot the puck well, play the game with speed, play in all situations, and handle difficult match-ups gracefully as a defender. He finished just short of a point-per-game in 2022-23 in a career year while signing a long-term deal that should keep him in Detroit through his prime. Is he good enough to be the star who leads them to a Cup? There’s an outside chance.

Continued; at this point, I know we’re all thinking “make the playoffs,” but we can dare to dream…

The Red Wings released their training camp roster and schedule this morning, and there were two names on the list that I was unfamiliar with in pro try-outs Cameron Hillis and Orrin Centazzo.

Put bluntly, they’re small guys who are competing for ECHL spots.

Cam Hillis is a 5’9,” 174-pound center who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2018, and the 23-year-old unrestricted free agent has mostly played in the ECHL, most recently posting 53 points in 46 games for the Indy Fuel;

Orrin Centazzo was signed by the Toledo Walleye in late August, and the 5’8,” 163-pound left wing has also mostly played in the ECHL, most recently posting 51 and 46-point seasons with the Newfoundland Growlers. He’s also 23.

The Red Wings are trying to get bigger and stronger, but there’s room for a “small guy” who can score at the ECHL level, and Hillis will be looking to impress new Walleye coach Pat Mikesch, who attended the prospect tournament, and will be attending training camp.