Month: July 2024

As of 5 PM on Canada Day, the Red Wings appear ‘stuck in the middle’ of the free agent frenzy

The Detroit Red Wings haven’t stepped backward over the course of the first five hours of unrestricted free agency, but their signings have not necessarily moved the team forward, either.

I posted this when the free agent frenzy was really underway…

And I preached for patience…

But, ultimately, we are where we are:

I think that the next couple of moves are really going to determine whether the Red Wings actually move forward over the course of the summer, or whether they remain “just as good” as they were last season.

Press release: Red Wings confirm Christian Fischer signing

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Red Wings re-sign Christian Fischer to one-year contract

Forward has skated in 477 NHL games with Arizona and Detroit since 2016-17

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today re-signed right wing Christian Fischer to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $1.125 million.

Fischer, 27, skated in 79 games with the Red Wings during the 2023-24 campaign, recording 19 points (5-14-19) and 36 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 208-pound forward spent the 2022-23 season with the Arizona Coyotes, logging 27 points (13-14-27) and 20 penalty minutes in 80 games. In 2022-23, Fischer tallied his most points in a single season since achieving career highs in goals (15), assists (18) and points (33) as a rookie in 2017-18. Originally selected by Arizona in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Fischer has accumulated 130 points (61-59-130) and 133 penalty minutes in 477 games with the Coyotes and Red Wings since 2016-17. Additionally, Fischer registered 50 points (22-28-50) and 28 penalty minutes in 63 American Hockey League games with the Springfield Falcons and Tucson Roadrunners from 2015-17, competing at the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings confirm Christian Fischer signing

Fundraising update: just missing the mark

Okay, here’s my mid-afternoon fundraising update: We’ve raised approximately $600 in funds over the past week, which is awesome…

But it’s not quite enough to get me to Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center for the start of media events at the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp tomorrow.

We need to raise about $900 to get the car paid for and the deposit taken care of, and it’s going to be up to you to determine whether I end up missing the first summer development camp since 2006…Being there for part of the time is a lot better than being there for none of the time.

If you’re willing to help, here are the details: you can use 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.” I’m on “Zelle” as rtxg@yahoo.com, too.

As always, thank you for your readership and your time.

Update: FYI: Long-time Wings fan TDL says he’s willing to match the next donation of up to $100 :O

Press release: Red Wings confirm signings of Jack Campbell and Sheldon Dries

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS SIGN GOALTENDER JACK CAMPBELL TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT AND FORWARD SHELDON DRIES TO TWO-YEAR, TWO-WAY CONTRACT

  … Pair of Michigan Natives Sign Free-Agent Deals with Detroit …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed goaltender Jack Campbell to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $775,000 and signed center Sheldon Dries to a two-year, two-way contract.

Campbell, 32, split the 2023-24 season between the Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound goaltender made five appearances with the Oilers during the 2023-24 campaign, while posting an 18-13-1 record with a 2.63 goals-against average, a 0.918 save percentage and three shutouts in 33 games with the Condors. Campbell spent the entire 2022-23 season with the Oilers, showing a 21-9-4 record with a 3.41 goals-against average, an 0.888 save percentage and one shutout in 36 regular-season games, in addition to a 1-0 record with a 1.01 goals-against average and a 0.961 save percentage in four relief appearances during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Originally selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round (11th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Campbell has logged a 93-52-18 record with a 2.76 goals-against average, a 0.909 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 176 games with the Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Oilers. He has also racked up a 117-82-26 record with a 2.72 goals-against average, a 0.911 save percentage and 17 shutouts in 235 AHL games with the Texas Stars, Ontario Reign and Condors, winning a Calder Cup championship with Texas in 2014.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings confirm signings of Jack Campbell and Sheldon Dries

Pagnotta: Gostisbehere going back to Carolina

This one is a bit of a head-scratcher. I’d imagine that the Red Wings offered Shayne Gostisbehere similar money and term, but I guess that he wanted to go back to Carolina and win:

Very strange:

Press release: Red Wings make Cam Talbot signing official

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Red Wings sign goaltender Cam Talbot to two-year contract

Two-time NHL All-Star has posted 245-176-42 record in 486 games

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed goaltender Cam Talbot to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.5 million.

Talbot, 36, spent the 2023-24 season with the Los Angeles Kings, posting a 27-20-6 record with a 2.50 goals-against average, a 0.913 save percentage and three shutouts in 54 games. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound netminder represented the Kings at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, marking his second All-Star berth in three years. Talbot also appeared in three Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Kings. He played the entire 2022-23 season with the Ottawa Senators, logging a 17-14-2 record with a 2.93 goals-against average, a 0.898 save percentage and one shutout in 36 contests. Talbot led all NHL goaltenders with 42 wins in 2016-17 as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. Originally signed by the New York Rangers an undrafted free agent on March 30, 2010, Talbot has compiled a 245-176-42 record with a 2.63 goals-against average, a 0.914 save percentage and 31 shutouts in 486 games with the Rangers, Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Senators and Kings since 2013-14. Talbot also holds a 54-52-5 record with a 2.68 goals-against average, a 0.914 save percentage and eight shutouts in 116 American Hockey League games with the Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings make Cam Talbot signing official

Red Wings sign Jack Campbell to 1-year deal

Here’s a Grand Rapids Griffins starter and “3rd goalie”…erm, 4th…

Somebody’s gotta go with Max Talbot, Ville Husso and Alex Lyon in Detroit, Jack Campbell and Sebastian Cossa in Grand Rapids, and Jan Bednar and Carter Gylander in Toledo.

Press release: Wings make William Lagesson signing official

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS SIGN DEFENSEMAN WILLIAM LAGESSON TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

  … Blueliner Split 2023-24 Season Between Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman William Lagesson to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $775,000.

Lagesson, 28, split the 2023-24 season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks, recording four assists, a plus-five rating and 19 penalty minutes in 30 games with the Maple Leafs before notching 13 penalty minutes in 10 games with the Ducks. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound defenseman also picked up one assist in five appearances with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies during the 2023-24 campaign. Lagesson played the entire 2022-23 season with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, logging 32 points (10-22-32), a plus-14 rating and 46 penalty minutes in 65 games. Originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (91st overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Lagesson has totaled 11 assists, a plus-two rating and 54 penalty minutes in 100 games with the Oilers, Montréal Canadiens, Maple Leafs and Ducks since 2019-20. He has also collected 72 points (21-51-72), a plus-33 rating and 118 penalty minutes in 173 AHL games with the Bakersfield Condors, Wolves and Marlies. Lagesson began the 2020-21 season with HC Vita Hästen and Kristianstads IK in Sweden’s second division, posting 12 points (3-9-12), a plus-six rating and 12 penalty minutes in 14 games. He made his professional debut with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey League in 2017-18, registering 13 points (1-12-13), a plus-13 rating and 30 penalty minutes in 49 regular-season games, in addition to one assist in 11 postseason contests.

Continue reading Press release: Wings make William Lagesson signing official

Dhaliwal: Red Wings sign Sheldon Dries

Per Rick Dhaliwal on Twitter:

Depth.

Official: