Month: September 2023

Dylan Larkin tells NHL.com’s Cotsonika that his team has ‘taken steps’ forward

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin spoke with NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika during the NHL’s Media Tour today. Here’s a snippet of their conversation, addressing the roster changes made this summer, and his expectations for the upcoming season:

“As guys have started to come into town and get on the ice, I see size — minus Alex [DeBrincat],” Larkin said.

Larkin laughed. DeBrincat is 5-foot-8, a little shorter than, say, [Justin] Holl and [Jeff] Petry, who are 6-3.

“But he makes up for it,” Larkin continued. “But on our back end, there’s some big bodies and big, long sticks. For me, that’s the hardest to play against, when there’s big guys that can move well. I’m really excited. We really shored up our back end, and that’s going to be huge. It’s going to help everyone.”

Larkin said he is cautiously optimistic — cautiously, because he has been excited about offseason moves the past couple of seasons, and the Red Wings still have missed the playoffs. They continue to face a stiff challenge in the stacked Atlantic Division.

But they have improved their point total each season under Yzerman, from 39 to 48 to 74 to 80. After adjusting to first-year coach Derek Lalonde last season, the returning players, at least, are more familiar with how they want to play entering training camp.

“I do believe the past couple years we’ve taken steps,” Larkin said. “I really am excited. But we’ve got to come together. … You’ve got to stay healthy. You’ve got to click at the right time. Can’t go on big slides. So, those are big focuses for us.”

Continued

Detroit News’s Paul speaks with Rick Comley, Doc Emrick about joining the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame

The Detroit News’s Tony Paul spoke with several men who will be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night, including long-time Michigan State Spartans coach Rick Comley and long-time NHL broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick:

Comley, who coached college hockey for nearly 40 years, winning national championships at Michigan State and Northern Michigan, is part of a hockey-packed Class of 2023 for the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, which will induct its newest members Thursday night during a gala at MotorCity Casino Hotel.

He joins the likes of Red Wings legend Henrik Zetterberg, Michigan State Hobey Baker Award-winner (and longtime NHL goalie) Ryan Miller, legendary broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick and Colleen Howe, the late wife of Gordie Howe, affectionately known as Mrs. Hockey.

Other members of the class include Pistons great Richard “Rip” Hamilton, Michigan softball’s Sierra Romero, Michigan State football’s Lorenzo White and Michigan football’s LaMarr Woodley. Howe is receiving the contributor award from the Hall of Fame, while Dawn Riley, a longtime sailboat racer, is getting the Hall of Fame’s legend award.

Tickets are sold out for the star-studded induction ceremony.

“Did you see ‘Field of Dreams’?” said Emrick, the St. Clair resident who got his start calling hockey games in Port Huron, before going on to a 40-year career in the NHL. “So, little Archie (‘Moonlight Graham’) hitches a ride and winds up at the ‘Field of Dreams,’ and all these greats are out there warming up and he is aghast and he identifies Mel Ott and Gil Hodges. … To be asked to be in the same group as Ernie Harwell and Van Patrick, and Bud Lynch, and Bruce Martyn, and all those legends in broadcasting, that’s pretty special.”

Continued

Kulfan discusses the Wings’ prospect tournament roster

This afternoon, the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan examines the Red Wings’ 2023 Prospect Tournament roster, discussing players of interest to watch as the Wings get underway in Traverse City against Dallas tomorrow at 6:30 PM (to be streamed on DetroitRedWings.com):

▶ Sebastian Cossa, goaltender: The 2021 first-round pick (15th overall) will likely begin the season in Grand Rapids after an impressive finish last season in Toledo, helping lead the Walleye to the conference finals. Cossa isn’t yet on the NHL radar, but a good season with the Griffins could possibly open the door in 2024. The organization liked how Cossa progressed last season.

▶ Nate Danielson, center: The Wings’ first-round pick in June (ninth overall) has an opportunity to make the Wings change their minds. The expected route for Danielson is sending him back to junior hockey in Brandon (WHL) for another season. But if Danielson shows enough in this camp, then in the exhibition season, there’s a chance the Wings send him to Grand Rapids instead. Danielson was a diligent, trusted two-way player in juniors. Will it translate to this tournament against some of the best NHL prospects?

…

▶ Carter Mazur, wing: The way the Wings’ roster is currently constructed, it seems impossible for Mazur to crack the opening-night lineup. But again, injuries do happen, and Mazur can help his cause with an impressive prospects tournament. The abrasive Jackson native didn’t look out of place playing for Team USA at the world championships last spring (four points in 10 games), and opened eyes during a brief stay with the Griffins (six points in six games).

Continued; Detroit also plays Columbus on Saturday at 3:30 PM, and Toronto on Sunday at 2 PM.

Tweet of note: Bally Sports Detroit posts the Wings’ broadcast schedule as its ‘Wallpaper Wednesday’

You might want to download the picture from this Tweet/X Post from Bally Sports Detroit and keep it somewhere useful:

Sportsnet’s Bukala scouts the Red Wings’ 2023 Prospect Tournament field

Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala discusses the Red Wings’ 2023 Prospect Tournament today, scouting the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Red Wings’ rosters. Here’s what he has to say about the Red Wings’ most interesting prospects:

DETROIT RED WINGS

Nate Danielson, 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, right shot forward
Ninth overall in 2023

Danielson will be skating in his first pro camp after being selected ninth overall in Nashville and scoring 33 goals and 45 assists for the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) last season. I appreciate his effort in all three zones. Like Fantilli, Danielson can be deployed in a variety of roles and trusted to give maximum effort. The Red Wings are bringing a big and strong forward group to Traverse City, so I’m interested to see how much Danielson benefits from the extra space that’s created by his linemates.

Marco Kasper, 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, left shot forward
Eighth overall in 2022

Kasper came to North America at the end of his SHL season in 2022-23, where he played for Rogle. His offensive output increased marginally last year. Kasper is a responsible forward who can play the middle and the wing. He’s involved in the heavy lifting and isn’t shy about driving to the crease. I’m looking for him to define his game in Traverse City and give me an idea of his offensive upside.

Other notable Red Wings prospects:

Rookie games, and exhibition games in general, tend to range in defensive detail. Goalies are sometimes hung out to dry as new teammates learn systems. Sebastian Cossa is a massive goaltending prospect for Detroit, standing 6-foot-6 and 209 pounds. He spent most of his first-year pro season playing for the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL in 2022-23 and we’re looking for growth.

One of the biggest forward prospects in all of hockey will be suiting up for the Wings at this event. Elmer Soderblom was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 draft by Detroit and stands a staggering 6-foot-8, 248 pounds. Soderblom is still developing, but he got off to a nice start last season, scoring five goals and three assists in 21 NHL games and the same totals in 20 AHL games.

Continued; good stuff from Bukala, who will be attending the tournament. I’ll have to say “hi” to him.

DHN’s Robinson discusses Maple Leafs’ prospect tournament roster

Per Detroit Hockey Now’s Tim Robinson, the Toronto Maple Leafs released their roster for the Red Wings 2023 Prospect Tournament last night, and former Red Wings prospect Robert Mastosimone, who signed a contract with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in August, will participate in the tournament:

The Toronto Maple Leafs finalized their roster for this week’s NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City on Tuesday.

Fourteen of the 26 players, including 2023 top pick Easton Cowan, were drafted by the Leafs. They are coached by Toronto Marlies boss John Gruden.

They will join prospects from the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Red Wings in games starting Thursday and running through Sunday.

The Maple Leafs roster has a Michigan flavor. Max Ellis (Plymouth) and defenseman Tommy Miller (West Bloomfield) are Michigan natives. Forward Robert Mastrosimone,  second-round pick by the Red Wings in 2019, also is on Toronto’s roster. Toronto’s top prospect, Matthew Knies, will play in Traverse City.

The Maple Leafs play their first game Thursday against Columbus at 3:30 p.m. They play the Red Wings Sunday at 2 p.m.

Continued; like any team, the Leafs’ prospects are very top-heavy, with six important forwards, four good defensemen, and a single prospect goaltender.

Shapiro continues to break down the Wings’ power play

On Sean Shapiro’s Substack, “Shap Shots,” Shapiro continues to break down the Red Wings’ power play after discussing zone entries last week. Today, Shapiro breaks down the Wings’ in-zone play:

For Lalonde, who presented about this at the coaching camp I attended back in June, there are four guiding principles, similar to the two guiding principles on entries.

  1. Shot-first mentality
  2. Loose puck retrievals
  3. Bumper support
  4. Getting the penalty kill box moving

By this mindset there are no bad shots on the power play. A shot on net can lead to something more, at worst case scenario it’s frozen by the goalie, and that just creates another opportunity to win the face-off and sustain pressure — and perhaps possession — 200 feet from Detroit’s net.

Continued (paywall)

Hello from Traverse City

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that Aunt Annie and I made it up to Traverse City safely, and established a Malik Report North outpost here in our hotel room.

Aunt Annie likes to sleep with the TV on and loud during the night, so I’m up at 6:18 AM, but I think we’re going to have to negotiate some quiet time so that I can get some real rest on the days that I’m working.

Otherwise, things are going well. The trip was smooth and we’re settling in.