Month: September 2024

Friedman on Raymond, Seider and the Wings’ ‘internal cap’

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has posted his first 2024-2025 season version of “32 Thoughts” (as well as a podcast with Kyle Bukauskas today) sand here’s what he has to say about the Red Wings’ restricted free agents:

The Detroit Free Press reported the Red Wings want to keep Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider below Dylan Larkin’s $8.7M. I see the rationale from their perspective: Larkin signed his contract right before becoming an unrestricted free agent, while the current duo are still restricted. I don’t believe that will be a problem in Raymond’s case, as his comparables (ranging from Seth Jarvis to Tim Stutzle) are lower than Larkin.

I had heard of some progress with Raymond, but nothing is done until it’s done. If Seider and the Wings opt for maximum term, the defender would argue to eclipse the Red Wings’ captain. Yzerman has made it clear he is not crazy about term. I don’t know how he feels about this specific case, but some teams are trying to lock up core players before the cap is expected to jump in 2026-27 — just as some agents are wary of signing long-term deals that look tiny if the anticipated rises occur.

Seider has been skating with Dallas Eakins’ Adler Mannheim club and Raymond has joined them from time to time.

Continued; Seider is from Mannheim, so he’s working with the Adler right now; as previously noted, Raymond is mostly working with his brother in Gothenburg, Sweden, as reported by GP.se’s Johan Rylander.

Both players have said that they’re not coming over to North America until their contracts are signed, which puts pressure on the Wings’ management to re-sign them by the time that the regular season arrives on Thursday, October 10th.

That’s really the cut-off date in terms of “success or failure” for the Wings’ management team–they need to incorporate Raymond and Seider back into the Wings’ machine by the start of the regular season, so I would not be surprised at all if one or both players miss training camp due to increasing pressure to cut the best deals possible by their agents.

Ultimately, Raymond’s agent, J.P. Barry, and Seider’s agent, Claude Lemieux, will work out the details with Steve Yzerman and company over the next couple of weeks.

Bultman’s Prospect Games observations include Brandsegg-Nygard’s future

The Athletic’s Max Bultman offers a six-part series of observations regarding the Red Wings’ Prospect Games this morning, including the following about Michael Brandsegg-Nygard’s eventual playing destination (Skelleftea AIK of the SHL? The Grand Rapids Griffins? Or even the Red Wings?):

[Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan] Cleary left that open-ended, saying general manager Steve Yzerman would ultimately make that decision and that it would be a great experience for him either way — whether he’s in Skellefteå or North America.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Cleary said. “Obviously he’s going to play some preseason games and get a feel, and we’re just going to sit back and watch. … You’re going to be able to see how he looks. He’s got the strength, he’s got the maturity, it’s not easy to step in and play. So we’ll see how things go.”

I asked Brandsegg-Nygård where he’d like to be, and his answer was unsurprising:

“I mean, I would like to be (with) the Detroit Red Wings,” he said with a laugh. “But I have no idea what’s going to happen, and I’m just going to do my best and hope for the best and just see what happens.”

For what it’s worth, I got the sense that if it’s not Detroit, Brandsegg-Nygård might prefer to play in Sweden this season. But that decision will ultimately come after the preseason, and he’s got plenty of opportunity now to show the organization what he can do, regardless of where he spends the season.

He wants to show coaches that he can play in tight, in late-game situations, and up or down a goal, to go along with his physicality and shot.

Continued (paywall); Brandsegg-Nygard said repeatedly this summer that he wants to play for Skelleftea AIK this upcoming season, but he may change his mind depending on how training camp goes–and the Red Wings may persuade MBN to play in North America if they feel that doing so would be best for his development.

At this point, all options really are on the table, and the Red Wings are going to take their time making a decision (read: by playing Brandsegg-Nygard in several exhibition games).

Some folks already think that the AHL would be the best destination for MBN; I’m not so certain about that, but the Red Wings signed him to control his playing future, and now they have the ability to determine what fit is best for the budding power forward.

Wednesday’s ‘Season Preview Party’ is the next training camp event for the Red Wings’ personnel

The Detroit Red Wings’ players and executives will either board team buses or drive themselves up to Traverse City on Wednesday, and after they arrive, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that the Wings will do some socializing for charity:

The Red Wings will open training camp with a season preview party Wednesday at Delamar Traverse City. The new event provides guests with opportunities to meet Red Wings players, coaches and personalities, and hear directly from team leadership ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Hosted by Red Wings TV broadcasters Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond, the party also features a silent and live auction, as well as a VIP package that includes an exclusive meet and greet with Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman and head coach Derek Lalonde, and reserved seating with a Red Wings player for the season preview show. Proceeds from the event benefit Involved Citizens Enterprises (I.C.E.), a 501©3 non-profit organization providing affordable skating programs to Northern Michigan.

Tickets to the event start at $200 per person, which includes two drink tickets and two tickets to the opening day of training camp. The VIP package starts at $600 per person, with discounts for purchases of four tickets ($2,000 total), eight ($3,750) or 12 for $5,000. VIP packages include two drink tickets at the party, two tickets to opening day of training camp, two club-level tickets to a Red Wings home game. Full details are available at centreice.org/drwseasonpreviewparty.

Two things: Shapiro, Eargood share Prospect Games observations

Update: Make it three things:

I offered two sets of “Player Takes” regarding the Red Wings prospects’ 5-1 and then 3-2 victories over the Dallas Stars at the Prospect Games this weekend.

Tonight:

  1. EP Rinkside’s Sean Shapiro, who covers both the Red Wings and the Dallas Stars, has offered a set of his own observations…

This was kind of a weird showcase, because the Red Wings brought largely a CHL roster and players that have just recently turned pro. Detroit also had a defense consisting almost entirely of free agent invitees, while the Stars brought a roster filled with AHL experience. Detroit also had by far the best player in the tournament in Nate Danielson.

Danielson had a slow start to the first period of Game 1, but effectively took over the two-game set after that. He was by far the best player on either team, and honestly he looks like he could compete for NHL playing time this season. I’ll have a larger piece on just Danielson tomorrow.

Amadeus Lombardi, Emitt Finnie, and Jakub Rychlovský were also key difference makers for Detroit, all three looked solid in both games.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård only played in one game and was nursing a slight groin injury in Game 2. I thought he was pretty good in Game 1 and personally I think it would behoove the Red Wings for him to play in the AHL this season.

Continued (paywall)

2. And the Hockey News’s Connor Eargood offers “6 more takeaways” from the Red Wings’ second Prospect Games affair:

Continue reading Two things: Shapiro, Eargood share Prospect Games observations

Prospect games ‘player takes’: Red Wings close out Prospect Games with 3-2 victory over Dallas

The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects swept the Prospect Games, defeating the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Sunday despite not having the services of Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (groin). The Wings didn’t walk over Dallas, as they did in Saturday’s 5-1 victory, but there are times when a hard-fought victory is perhaps even more satisfying than a blow-out win.

In Sunday’s game, Alex Doucet opened the scoring 14:58 into the 1st period on a goal assisted by Hunter Johannes, and the Wings looked to be in control for a significant period of time, but Dallas rallied in the second period peppering Carter Gylander with 12 shots in 30:12 of time in the Wings’ crease, but he held the fort and shut Dallas out.

The Wings then changed goaltenders, and Landon Miller stopped 16 of 18 shots, surrendering a 1-1 goal to Emil Hemming at 13:26 of the 2nd, but Detroit was mostly in charge the rest of the way, battling back off the mat via a goal from Hunter Johannes (from Amadeus Lombardi and Alexandre Doucet) at 16:45, and salting the game away with a power play goal from Emmitt Finnie (from Jakub Rychlovsky and Nate Danielson) 14:07 into the 3rd period.

Dallas did score a 3-2 marker with 0.6 seconds left on the clock, but Anthony Romano’s goal didn’t do much other than give the Stars some final rewards as they out-shot Detroit 30-20.

The only real area of concern for the Wings was the state of Shai Buium’s right ankle, as he blocked a shot and hobbled off late in the 3rd period, as noted by The Athletic’s Max Bultman:

Continue reading Prospect games ‘player takes’: Red Wings close out Prospect Games with 3-2 victory over Dallas

Video: Coach Dan Watson discusses the Red Wings’ 2-1 victory over Dallas in the Prospect Games

The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects closed out the two-game Prospect Games slate with a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars’ prospects. Here’s coach Dan Watson speaking with the media post-game:

Tweets of note: Brandsegg-Nygard-less Red Wings Prospects win 3-2 vs. Dallas to sweep Prospect Games

The Detroit Red Wings closed out their two-game Prospect Games slate with a sweep, winning a tight 3-2 decision over the Dallas Stars’ prospects.

The Red Wings did so without the services of Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who missed the game with a groin injury.

1st period: the Red Wings took a 1-0 lead at 14:58 of the 1st period, when Alexandre Doucet jabbed home the rebound of a good Hunter Johannes steal-cycle-and-shot:

The Wings also almost made it 2-0 on the power play late in the 1st period thanks to a goalpost by Nate Danielson:

Detroit was out-shot 10-7 in the 1st period, but, as Ken Kal suggested, the Red Wings’ defensive positioning and overall structure were excellent.

Seeing that kind of cohesion develop over the course of only two days is an endorsement of both the coaching staff and the players collective buy-in.

2nd period: Carter Gylander had to make some good stops as the Red Wings’ structure broke down during an early-period power play, and when Dallas earned a power play of their own on an undisciplined penalty by Chase Lefebvre, Gylander gobbled up the Stars’ shots.

The ice looked very level as the Wings and Stars met the halfway mark of the game, with the next goal looking incredibly important, and Dallas began to buzz around the Wings’ net, but a combination of good defensive structure and Gylander’s goaltending…

But Detroit chose to swap out Gylander for Landon Miller after Gylander pitched a 12-save shutout.

Miller had to battle his way through a Stars assault that included a goalpost behind Miller about 12:30 into the 2nd, but he settled down quickly…

Regrettably, Dallas tied the game 1-1 at 13:26, with Emil Hemming tipping a shot by defenseman Luke Krys.

Thankfully, Hunter Johannes found the rebound of a cycling pass by Amadeus Lombardi and Alexandre Doucet, and Detroit made it 2-1 at 16:45.

Borya Valis nearly gave the Wings a 2-goal lead, but Stars goaltender Bryan Thompson made a pair of point-blank saves.

3rd period: Dallas took an early hooking penalty at 36 seconds of the 3rd to give the Red Wings a power play…

But the Stars’ Anthony Romano hit the goalpost shorthanded as Shai Buium was hobbling toward the bench after blocking a shot with his right ankle, so Dallas earned the best chance of the Wings’ man advantage.

Dallas continued to press as the 3rd period progressed, but Miller was strong in goal.

Doucet tried to set up Lombardi about 5:30 into the 3rd period, and Doucet should have shot on the 2-on-1…

Dallas really worked the rope-a-dope in the 3rd period to try and score the game-tying goal, slowly but surely attacking, regrouping and attacking again…

And Detroit was getting “almosts” as Nate Danielson swiped the puck away from a Stars defender and almost tucked it through Thompson.

Dallas clanged another shot off the goalpost behind Miller at 10:55…

But Dallas also took a penalty at 13:39 for too many men, and Emmitt Finnie made him pay, scoring a top-shelf power play marker to make it 3-1 at 14:07 from Jakub Rychlovsky and Nate Danielson.

Dallas received a spurious power play as Brayden Edwards took a penalty with 5:23 remaining in the 3rd for a hook, and Dallas got their own set of “almosts” before pulling their goaltender with 3:20 remaining.

Nate Danielson thought he’d finished the scoring with an empty-netter with 2:06 remaining, but the Red Wings were called offside, negating the goal.

Dallas pulled the goaltender Thompson again, but a combination of big Miller stops, good blocks by the Red Wings’ defense, and another goalpost for Christian Kyrou, nailed down the win.

Dallas did score a goal with all of 0.6 seconds remaining, with Anthony Romano chipping a backhand over Miller’s blocker, but the Wings prevailed and swept the Prospect Games.

Dallas was far better in the 2nd game–full credit to them, they made the Red Wings work very, very hard for their victory–but Detroit hung in there and turned the tables on the Stars in terms of playing rope-a-dope hockey.

HSJ: Former Wings assistant equipment manager Dan Kerstetter passes away

The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that a member of the Red Wings’ family has passed away:

The Detroit Red Wings are mourning the death of Dan Kerstetter, a Michigan State Police Officer who a decade ago spent three years working for the team.

Dan Kerstetter died Sunday after being struck by a car on the side of Interstate 75 Downriver on Friday, according to officials. A Motor Carrier Officer with the Metro North Post was stopped on the side of I-75 northbound near Dix in Lincoln Park conducting a traffic stop, when his patrol vehicle was struck at around 8:30 a.m., Michigan State Police Second District said in a post on X.

From 2012-15, Kerstetter worked as an assistant equipment for the Wings from 2012 to 2015.

“We’re all very sad and shaken by what has happened,” longtime Wings equipment manager Paul Boyer told the Free Press on Sunday. “We was a good friend to all of our staff. He was a personal friend of mine.

“We’ve very sad. We’re sad for his family. There’s no words that can say it. We’re all just shaken.”

Continued;

Tweet of note: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard out with a groin injury

Per The Athletic’s Max Bultman:

Update: Here’s more from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:

Detroit Red Wings 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard isn’t playing today against the Dallas Stars  because of a “slight tweek” of his groin.

Brandsegg-Nygard looked impressive, registering an assist, playing on Detroit’s top line, in a 5-1 win against Dallas Saturday in Game 1 of their two-game prospect series.

“It’s not bad at all, I don’t know what the number scale is, but there’s no sense in risking it with a quick turnaround,” Detroit Director of Player Development Dan Cleary said.

Will Bransdegg-Nygard play in North America this upcoming season, or will he stay with Skelleftea AIK?

“Steve (Yzerman) obviously is ultimately going to make that decision. But to some degree, Michael will also make that decision,” Cleary said. “It’s going to be a great experience for him, either which way, He was in Skelleftea, just prior to coming here. So I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes. Obviously, he’s going to play some preseason games and get a feel. We’re just gonna sit back and watch.”

Brandsegg-Nygard’s game is advanced for someone his age. Norway used him at the World Championships, playing him on a line with NHLer Mats Zuccarello 

“He’s a really strong kid,” Cleary said. ” Obviously, physically, he’s certainly not 18 years old, so he’s fit, he’s in good shape. But the small ice certainly is going to be something that I think he’ll benefit from. He’s got a wicked shot and release timing, and he’s strong enough to win those 50/50 battles to get loose in front. I’m really excited to see him play. I thought he looked real solid yesterday, as did a lot of other guys.”