Month: October 2023

Another day in hell…I mean the Atlantic Division

The Canadian Press’s Joshua Clipperton posted an article about the ever-competitive Atlantic Division today, and he leads off with a now-well-known quip from Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, said during the NHL’s Player Media Tour:

Dylan Larkin paused for a moment to ponder the question. What, the Detroit Red Wings captain was asked, is it like to play in the Atlantic Division night in, night out?

“It’s like hell,” Larkin finally began.

That description of running what might be the NHL’s most challenging gauntlet is hard to argue. The Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and, more recently, the Florida Panthers, have shared the spoils as the circuit’s big boys the last number of years.

But it could soon get crowded at the top. The Buffalo Sabres missed the playoffs by a point last spring — the closest that franchise has come since its last post-season appearance in 2011 — while the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings were in the conversation for long stretches.

And then there’s the Montreal Canadiens, a club that owns the division’s weakest roster on paper, but can still present massive problems to any opponent on a given night.

“There’s superstars and young teams coming up,” continued Larkin, who spoke at the recent NHL/NHLPA player media tour. “Can’t really count anyone out. It’s exciting.”

Continued

Post-practice Tweets: Wings test out a ‘different look’ ahead of exhibition finale

The Red Wings practiced with very different lines ahead of tomorrow’s exhibition finale against the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 PM EDT start on Bally Sports Detroit/TSN4/97.1 FM), and after practice, defenseman Ben Chiarot and coach Derek Lalonde spoke with the media:

A bit of praise for Simon Edvinsson’s preseason play

Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis posted an article discussing the play of 10 “rookie” players who have stood out during the NHL’s 2023-2024 preseason play, and he includes Simon Edvinsson on his list:

Simon Edvinsson, D (Detroit Red Wings)

There are a few defenders that could have been on this list, but Edvinsson already looks better than most of the veteran blueliners on the Red Wings’ D-core. Paired alongside Jeff Petry, Edvinsson has shown standout gap control and two-way play, and he can clearly keep up with the pace. As a 6-foot-6 defender, Edvinsson does an excellent job of taking space away. He’s ready for the NHL, but we’ll see if they’d rather sit someone making a bit more cash in favor of letting a young defender take ice time away.

Continued; as I said earlier this morning, I don’t think that Edvinsson is quite NHL-ready yet, but I do think that he’ll be on the Wings’ NHL roster by the end of the season, on a permanent basis.

Ellis also gives Nate Danielson an “honorable mention.”

Tweets from Friday’s Red Wings practice: methodical split sessions continue ahead of Wings-Leafs rematch

After their 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night, the Red Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center on Media Day to prepare for Saturday’s 8th and final exhibition game.

Detroit will conclude its 8-game exhibition season by hosting Toronto on Saturday night at LCA (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/TSN4/97.1 FM), and the 4-2-and-1 Red Wings will theoretically play a “dress rehearsal” lineup against a plucky set of Maple Leafs roster hopefuls.

Speaking of hopefuls, the Hockey News’s Sam Stockton reports that the Wings’ AHL-bound players are skating first…

Continue reading Tweets from Friday’s Red Wings practice: methodical split sessions continue ahead of Wings-Leafs rematch

Still talking about hypothetical destinations for Patrick Kane

I don’t believe that there is any real chance of Patrick Kane signing with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent, but we’re still talking about the possibility this morning. Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler discusses 6 potential landing spots for Kane once he completes his rehabilitation from hip resurfacing surgery, and she includes Detroit on her list:

The linemate reunion: Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings might be the most popular rumour-mill destination to land Kane right now. Similar to Buffalo, this union does make sense from both a financial and on-ice standpoint. The team is young and stocked with talent expected to take another step towards the playoffs, and the salary cap space is certainly there. Only five teams are projected to have more space than Steve Yzerman’s squad.

But the biggest and best reason this is a pairing that could work? It’s all about Alex DeBrincat. DeBrincat was dealt to Detroit after a down year in Ottawa that ended with all parties needing a fresh start (and DeBrincat needing a new contract, too). What better way to help the hometown kid thrive on his new team than by bringing in his old linemate from Chicago? DeBrincat enjoyed breakout success in Chicago alongside Kane, and the veteran looked revitalized by his linemate, too. The duo could bring instant firepower to the Red Wings’ playoff hopes if reunited. 

Continued; I just don’t see it happening when Kane will have his pick of playoff-contending teams where he can slide into the middle of the lineup. He’s 34 and he’s coming off a surgery that few athletes overcome, so I don’t see him ending up in Detroit or Buffalo, but that’s just me.

Tweets of note: It’s ‘Media Day’ for Bally Sports Detroit at LCA

Updated 5x at 1:42 PM: It appears that Bally Sports Detroit is shooting promotional footage for this year’s Red Wings broadcasts at Little Caesars Arena today:

Update: Here are more Tweets:

Continue reading Tweets of note: It’s ‘Media Day’ for Bally Sports Detroit at LCA

Two things: We’re talking about the power play, and a generically positive point

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

  1. The Athletic’s Murat Ates examines the power play units utilized by every one of the NHL’s 32 teams, via The Athletic’s beat writers, and here’s what Max Bultman has to say about the Red Wings’ preseason power play:

Detroit Red Wings

PP1: Moritz Seider, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, David Perron

PP2: Shayne Gostisbehere, Daniel Sprong, J.T. Compher, Jake Walman, Andrew Copp

Potential high-impact sleeper: Walman

Analysis: Through a couple of preseason games, the Red Wings’ top unit has been quite effective. It hasn’t been off the stick of marquee trade acquisition DeBrincat, though; rather, the attention teams have had to give DeBrincat has created room elsewhere on the ice, and DeBrincat has twice found Larkin alone on the back door for goals as a result. Seider has fired a few shots in from the point, as well. It certainly seems like Detroit has found a legit top group to lean on after years of searching. — Max Bultman

Continued; given that the Wings are utilizing a now-conventional cross-shaped power play with a net-front “bumper,” the PP units have looked like this:

Continue reading Two things: We’re talking about the power play, and a generically positive point

HSJ in the morning: Nate Danielson, on the verge

The Free Press’s Helene St. James joins the chorus of praise for Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson in her early-morning-posted column. St. James discusses

Danielson, 19, had a goal and two assists in his first four exhibition games, added a second goal Thursday night in Toronto, and has held his own thanks to playing a smart game.

“It’s kind of how I’ve always been, poised with the puck,” Danielson said. “It’s different here with how quickly things happen, but I still wanted to keep that in my game. It’s something that makes me successful. So I just try to play confident.”

The 6-foot-2, 186-pound forward captained the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings during the 2022-23 season and was the team leader in numerous categories: 33 goals, 45 assists, 78 points, 13 power play goals, 38 power play points and three shorthanded goals. Danielson was named to the WHL East Division’s Second All-Star Team and competed at the 2023 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Having gotten a taste of what it is like to play against NHLers — facing off against Corey Perry in Chicago was an special thrill, Danielson said, “because he’s been around a long time” — has impressed upon Danielson how much he still has to grow his game. “Everyone is a lot faster, and things happen faster out there,” he said. “That’s probably the biggest difference.”

Danielson played Thursday on a line with Klim Kostin and Jonatan Berggren, a line with skill and toughness.

“He’ll be in our top six, complementing him with some NHLers,” [Red Wings coach Derek] Lalonde said of Danielson. “And that’s at center. He’s mostly been at center throughout camp, but we’ve given him some wing looks, just to play in some of those games with some NHLers.”

Continued; Danielson will return to captain the improving Wheat Kings this season, and he’ll play well enough to make some folks wonder whether the Wings should have kept him.

Regrettably, the NHL-CHL agreement stipulates that it’s the NHL or Major Junior for Danielson this season, so the Wings cannot assign him to Grand Rapids until after the Wheat Kings’ regular season and/or playoff run is/are over.

Next year, Danielson will definitely start in Grand Rapids, presuming that he doesn’t steal a job with the Red Wings.

Bultman discusses Simon Edvinsson’s push for a place on the Wings’ blueline

I thought that Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson’s performance during Thursday night’s overtime loss to Toronto was emblematic of his preseason play.

Edvinsson played 20:27, finishing at +1 with 1 shot on goal, 5 shot attempts, a hit, a takeaway…And a very bad penalty for high-sticking Tyler Bertuzzi, at 14:25 of the 3rd period, to his name.

Edvinsson’s been fantastic at some points, and a bit sloppy and careless at others. He’s finally playing sound defense to complement his excellent offensive gifts, and he seems to be putting his game together on a much more consistent basis, but those bad penalties and occasional mistakes made because he’s borderline arrogant with the puck (which is a good thing, if you can get away with it!) have haunted him.

This morning, The Athletic’s Max Bultman ponders whether the 6’6″ defenseman has pushed far enough to make the Red Wings’ roster:

Continue reading Bultman discusses Simon Edvinsson’s push for a place on the Wings’ blueline