Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:
- Pro Hockey Rumors has posted three articles about the Red Wings in the past 24 hours, and PHR’s Brennan McClain offers a fourth article which discusses “training camp battles” that may take place later this month:
The Red Wings are headed into year six of the ’Yzerplan’ and have yet to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The organization came close last year as they tied with the Washington Capitals in points for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference only to miss out due to the first tiebreaker. Poised to make headlines this summer in the hopes of icing a playoff-caliber roster in a tough Atlantic Division — the Red Wings fell flat. Their biggest moves of the summer were retaining forward Patrick Kane on a one-year deal, signing Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year pact, and signing goaltender Cam Talbot to complete their goaltending trio.
Detroit seemingly already has a full roster heading into training camp in a few weeks. Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, Carter Mazur, and Nate Danielson are poised to challenge for a full-time spot in the lineup which could lead the Red Wings to some difficult choices in October. The team will eventually have to begin graduating their glut of prospects to the NHL level but most of them are blocked by the numerous acquisitions general manager Steve Yzerman has made over the last few years. Don’t be surprised if Detroit becomes an active trade candidate before the season opens to make room for some of their prospects.
Yzerman himself has stated that the Red Wings’ younger players are not going to be handed spots on the roster, so McClain is partially correct in suggesting that the Red Wings may trade veterans if their young players step up and take veterans’ jobs.
That being said, the Red Wings, as they are presently constructed, tend not to “make room” for prospects–they want prospects to take that room and force management’s hand instead. It works the other way around, and for now, at least, that’s okay.
2. And Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses a specific prospect who the Red Wings would definitely make room for in Grand Rapids, should he wish to exit the KHL for North America:
Will this be a breakout campaign for Detroit Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov? The start of the KHL season is nearing and in team previews on the league’s official website, there was high praise being afforded to the young Russian forward.
Buchelnikov will be suiting up for Vityaz following an offseason trade from SKA St. Petersburg. His opportunity to gain a regular place for an entire KHL season is available to him for the first time.
“The transfer of one of the most promising players in the League is an excellent job by the management of Vityaz, who managed to agree with SKA on the exchange of Buchelnikov,” writes Alexey Anisimov. “Dmitri spent last season on loan at Admiral and really sparkled: 29 (13+16) points in 55 games and a nomination for the award for the best rookie of the season.
“It is likely that Buchelnikov will have good playing time at Vityaz, which can help him take on key roles.”
The Red Wings made Buchelnikov, 20, the 52nd overall selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft. He was in Detroit briefly this summer, working out with other Red Wings prospects. However, Buchelnikov didn’t attend the club’s July development camp.
I’ve been scratching my head a bit as to why Buchelnikov wasn’t released to take part in the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp, but I can tell you that KHL teams essentially train year-round, so it may have been due to obligations to Vityaz in early July.
As for Buchelnikov’s status as a key player on his new team, Buchelnikov, who turns 21 on September 6th, seems to have received a fair chunk of time and a prominent role on Vityaz during the KHL’s month-long preseason, so there is at least hope that he’ll be a top-six player when Vityaz begins its regular season on Wednesday.
