Month: July 2025

Red Wings prospect Max Plante’s participating in the WJSS, but he isn’t skating quite yet

Red Wings prospect Max Plante is taking part in the World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week, alongside fellow Wings prospects John Whipple (USA) and Eddie Genborg (Sweden).

Plante hasn’t appeared on the scoresheets of any of Team USA’s games, however, and that’s had me concerned.

After overcoming a significant wrist injury to play in the World Junior Championship and in the latter half of the NCAA season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth last season, Plante explained to the Duluth News-Tribune’s Matt Wellens that he’s not participating in the on-ice portion of the WJSS (nor did he skate at the Wings’ summer development camp) out of an abundance of caution:

Plante is only practicing this week with Team USA and not playing in any games. The 2024 second-round NHL draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings didn’t skate earlier in July at the franchise’s pro development camp, either. Plante said he should be good to go next week, but for now, his body needed rest.

[U.S. National Team coach Bob] Motzko said Plante has been begging to play this week, but like a few other returnees sitting out (Cole Eiserman, Cole Hutson), USA Hockey is being “smart,” Motzko said.

“It’s kind of hard not playing, but it’s the right thing to do,” Plante said. “It’s really cool to see the guys again, guys that I’ve been with for four years now, since NTDP. It’s really cool to be with everybody again and just to compete in practice. I haven’t been able to go full on, but just to be around them, hang out at the hotel, just see how life’s going — there’s no place I’d rather be.”

Plante played two seasons at the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan, prior to returning home to play for the Bulldogs last season. After playing in Michigan and holding events in Buffalo, Plante said it’s special to have his former teammates on the University of Minnesota campus this week. He’s looking forward to possibly having Team USA in Duluth for pre-tournament games in December.

“There’s rumors, yup,” he said, smiling.

Plante is a native of Hermantown, Minnesota, which is a suburb of Duluth, where he attends the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

He’s looking forward to the upcoming World Junior Championship as well, as it’s being held in Minneapolis and St. Paul this year:

“I hope I can stay healthy, hope I can have a good start to the year, just have a chance to play at the ‘X’ like I did when I won the state tournament,” said Plante, a member of the Hawks’ most recent state championship team, from 2022. Yeah, I’m undefeated there. It would be super special. Kind of the last hurrah for our age group in the U.S., and we get to do it on the home soil, and to try and do the three-peat.”

Continued; at this point, the Red Wings just want Plante to get healthy, stay healthy, and earn some ice time with Minnesota-Duluth. Playing at the World Junior Championship in his home state would be icing on the cake for the playmaking forward.

On the (Red Wings prospects’) margins

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a subscriber-only article which he discusses the NHL aspirations of Grand Rapids Griffins players and Red Wings prospects Shai Buium, Emmitt Finnie and Ondrej Becher:

Pro hockey is a tough business. Even after you sign your first professional contract, it’s still a hard climb to the top rung. First rounders have a high percentage of success, but it’s a battle for everyone else.

With that in mind, we offer three Grand Rapids Griffins to watch in 2025-26 as they work to take the next step in the process. These are players who are not sure bets to make it, but are showing early promise.

Defenseman Shai Buium (36th overall, 2021)

In his first pro season, Buium earned power play time as a point man. He was second on the Griffins with 25 points, and he finished with a plus-two plus-minus.  Having helped Denver win two NCAA championships, Buium does understand the two-way schematic necessary to play winning hockey. He has the size (6-3, 215) and skating to play in the show. The Red Wings would like to see him develop more  consistency this season.

If Axel Sandin Pellikka doesn’t make the Red Wings, he will play in Grand Rapids. That could mean, Buium won’t receive the power play time necessary to raise his point total. But that will allow him to put most of his focus on his defensive game. That’s what will get him to the NHL quicker.

Continued (paywall); Buium is one of those “in-betweeners” alongside William Wallinder and Antti Tuomisto, those middle-to-bottom-pair defensemen who will be given every opportunity to succeed this upcoming season, but might be pushed to the sidelines by the Sandin Pellikkas of the world.

In any case, Buium, Wallinder and Tuomisto have to do their best to maximize their ice time, maximize their contributions to the Griffins’ cause (both on and off the ice) and prove their professionalism to their potential NHL employer.

Carter Mazur accentuates the positive

According to CBS Sports, Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur has finally been removed from Detroit’s injured reserve list, and the 23-year-old forward spoke with DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills regarding his recovery from his most recent injury in a dislocated elbow suffered during his first NHL game:

“I was called up for a reason,” Mazur recently told DetroitRedWings.com. “My game is still there. It’s not a career-ending injury, but the thought of that happening with all my family and friends there is still brutal. However, I have a great support system behind me. Every single one of them supports me no matter what. It was a tough thing to go through, but I have the right people behind me to get me in the right spot.”

It hasn’t been easy, but Mazur has grown to embrace the challenges that have come his way. That includes his 2024-25 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, which saw the 23-year-old forward sidelined from Oct. 19 – Jan. 18 because of an upper-body injury before he returned to notch 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 20 American Hockey League contests.

“Already having a year in the American Hockey League under my belt, I felt more comfortable last year,” Mazur said. “That helped me a lot. I trust my ability, and I always go back to that. I feel like I have some skill and snarl to my game…And out of the 20 games I did play, I felt like my game added a lot to the group.”

Mazur believes his offseason work will help him stay healthy and effective in 2025-26. The Jackson, Mich., native confirmed he’s added 15 pounds of muscle this summer, thanks to a detailed nutrition and conditioning plan.

“Gaining strength was always a big part of probably why I’ve gotten hurt a lot,” Mazur said. “I’m on the smaller side, but [Griffins Strength and Conditioning Coordinator] Marcus [Kinney] and [Griffins Physical Therapist] Zack Harvey put me in a good spot heading into the summer. Just keeping that muscle on, figuring out more about my body and what I really need is huge.”

Continued; Mazur has a real chance to break into the Red Wings’ lineup this fall, and his physical, chippy style of play should benefit the Wings as they lack a physical edge. Mazur isn’t overly big at 6′ tall, but he’s reportedly put on quite a bit of weight from the 172 pounds that he’s listed on EliteProspects, and he’s retained his mobility along the way.

At 23 years of age, it’s just time for Mazur to compete for a spot on the Red Wings’ roster, even in a bottom-six role, and I believe that he’s up for the challenge.

Tweet of note: Red Wings promote ‘Eras Nights’ ticket sales

The Red Wings are announcing a set of 6 Centennial “Eras Nights” games for which tickets will go on sale shortly:

William Wallinder turns 23 today

Red Wings prospect defenseman and Grand Rapids Griffins stalwart William Wallinder turns 23 today. Stating the obvious, this season is a pivotal year for the left-shooting defender, who stands at 6’4″ and 190 pounds:

Is the John Gibson trade enough to push the Wings back into the playoff mix? Kulfan says ‘no’

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan offers a “midsummer breakdown” of the Atlantic Division’s 8 teams this morning, and he suggests that the Red Wings’ trade for John Gibson won’t be enough (on its own) to push the Red Wings past the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens:

▶ Detroit, 39-35-8, 86 points:

Pros: The Wings appear to finally have solidified their goaltending with the acquisition of Gibson. The tandem of Gibson and Cam Talbot could be formidable. Gibson should be motivated after the way he lost his job in Anaheim and, if healthy, will make the Wings better.

Cons: The Gibson acquisition is big, but otherwise this largely still looks like a similar lineup to last season. Internal growth will be vital for the Wings. Projection: Sixth, no playoffs.

Continued; I’ve been thinking more and more over the past couple of days that the Gibson trade and the signings of Jacob Bernard-Docker, Mason Appleton [edit: and James van Riemsdyk] might be all the Wings do this summer…

And if that’s the case, the Red Wings are really going to lean upon internal improvement in order to hop over the Senators and Habs into a Wild Card spot. That’s skating steeply uphill for the Wings.

While I believe in the Wings’ roster, it’s hard to see them managing to leapfrog their divisional rivals unless everything goes right for the team this upcoming season.

So I’m crossing my fingers and hoping against hope that the Wings can swing an August trade and/or sign a couple of older players to Pro Try-Outs (see: yesterday’s discussion of Max Pacioretty’s fit) who can meaningfully help bolster the Wings’ bottom six or 2nd defensive pairing.

We’ll see. Training camp is a month-and-a-half away, and it feels like the clock is ticking, even though that’s an artificial construct.

A ‘Mount Rushmore’ for the 2000-2025 Red Wings

We have seen a fair amount of “quarter-century” talk over the course of the summer, including the Free Press’s “Quarter-Century Team” yesterday…

And this morning, Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson offers a “Mount Rushmore” for each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams over the course of the first 25 years of the 21st century:

Detroit Red Wings

Nicklas Lidström, Defense

Steve Yzerman, Center

Pavel Datsyuk, Center

Henrik Zetterberg, Center

Lidström won the James Norris Memorial Trophy seven times from 2000-01 to 2010-11 and was the first European to captain an NHL team to the Stanley Cup (2008). Yzerman is the franchise assist leader (1,063) and captained the Wings to three Stanley Cups, including his last in 2002. Both are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Datsyuk is also in the Hall of Fame, winning four Lady Byng Memorial Trophies and three Frank J. Selke Trophies between 2005-06 and 2009-10. Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2008 and is fifth among the franchise leaders with 337 goals, 623 assists and 960 points.

Continued; I’m not certain whether I’d have Captain Yzerman on the list as he only played four seasons in the 2000’s, but the Red Wings’ GM did have a tremendously complicated surgery in order to continue his career after the Wings’ 2002 Stanley Cup, so his dedication to the team can’t be questioned.

Who fits on your “Mount Rushmore” for the Wings’ 2000 to 2025 teams?

A bit about Eddie Genborg joining Henrik Zetterberg’s Timra IK

Red Wings prospect and 2025 draft pick Eddie Genborg is taking part in the World Junior Summer Showcase this week in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but when he returns to Sweden from the WJSS, the 6’2,” 205-pound forward will be switching teams.

Genborg spent his developmental seasons with Linkopings HC, breaking into the SHL after a 34-points-in-28-games performance with Linkopings’ J20 team, and Genborg hopes to make the SHL full-time while playing for the SHL team that Henrik Zetterberg starred for, Timra IK.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff spoke with Genborg regarding his hopes of making the men’s A team this upcoming season:

“Yeah, I’ve signed for two years with Timra now in the SHL,” Genborg confirmed. “So I hope to play as much in the SHL as I can.”

Much like his status with the Red Wings, Zetterberg isn’t on the payroll for Timra. However, he’s available and willing to help out his old club whenever he is called upon for assistance.

And yes, Genborg, selected 44th overall by Detroit in the 2025 NHL entry draft, is already tapping into this unique resource.

“Yeah, I’ve talked with him a lot on the phone, and, yeah, he’s a really good guy,” Genborg said of Zetterberg. “And, yeah, I think I can get some help from him. So that’s really good.”

Continued; I try to keep up with the Swedish newspapers. As Duff notes, Zetterberg isn’t paid by Timra IK or the Red Wings, but he’s definitely “on retainer” for both teams.

If Timra needs help with player personnel, or the Red Wings are tracking a SHL prospect or free agent, Zetterberg always seems to find his way to a rink with Niklas Kronwall or Nicklas Lidstrom to informally scout players and give his opinion to the Wings’ personnel.

Technically speaking, Zetterberg still manages his investments and manages a fast casual sandwich shop in Angelholm, but Kronwall called Zetterberg the Red Wings’ “Swedish Spy” when they picked Genborg 44th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft for good reason.

Zetterberg hasn’t signed with Timra or Detroit because he wants to keep his schedule flexible and centered around his son, Love and his private life…

But he’s always a phone call or text message away whenever Timra or Detroit need an extra pair of eyes to help their teams.

Update: Also, from Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff:

Red Wings second round draft pick Eddie Genborg (44th, 2025) played left wing for Sweden at the Summer Showcase in a 5-2 win against USA Blue. Genborg didn’t figure in the scoring. He’s playing on a line with center Linus Eriksson (drafted 58th overall by Florida, 2024) and wing Melvin Fernstrom (drafted 93rd overall by Vancouver, 2024).

Even more discussion as to where Axel Sandin Pellikka will make his North American debut

Earlier this month, each of the Free Press’s Helene St. James, the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff have discussed the development of top Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka as he prepares to make the jump from European hockey to North American ice this upcoming season.

Nobody’s quite certain whether Sandin Pellikka will compete for a spot on the Red Wings’ roster, perhaps as a seventh defenseman, or whether he’s going to munch minutes on the Grand Rapids Griffins’ blueline, though I would highly suspect the latter situation taking place.

On this slow Sunday afternoon, the Hockey News’s Jake Tye brings up the subject once again:

He’ll be involved in a very tight position battle for a right defence spot as the Red Wings have the top spot locked up with Moritz Seider followed by Albert Johansson and newcomer Jacob Benard-Docker in the second and third pairings. Defencemen Justin Holl and Ian Mitchell are also on the verge of making a spot but will likely operate as healthy scratch options in case of injuries. 

Sandin-Pellikka will be going against these defencemen that have already played and made an impact at the NHL level, which may make things challenging to break through. It’ll likely take a chance from management for him to break through as many of the defenceman ahead of him have lengthy experience but are far from game-breaking players.

If they can put a 20-year-old in Sandin-Pellikka in a position to succeed with meaningful minutes, he could learn how to play at the next level and hopefully transition his game.

He could also take a slower approach like his fellow countryman did in Detroit with Simon Edvinsson. At 20 years old, he came to North America and played 106 AHL games across two seasons to adjust to the style of play, while also working into NHL games along the way.

Edvinsson would finally get a full look last season, where he played in 78 games with the Red Wings and recorded 31 points and a +12 rating. He is now fully developed and is poised to take a run at making the Red Wings top pairing with Moritz Seider. 

Continued at length; unless Sandin Pellikka can cement a spot as the Wings’ 5th or 6th defenseman, I just don’t see the 5’11,” 185-pound Skelleftea AIK veteran jumping into the NHL pool immediately.

ASP is far more likely to start the season in Grand Rapids, and to play at least half-a-season in the American Hockey League so that he can adjust to the 85-foot-wide North American rink and the more physical style of game in a league where players are paid to try and take young defensemen’s heads off with some vicious checking.

Now Sandin Pellikka can change the equation with surprisingly NHL-ready training camp and preseason performances, but he’s going to have to “steal a job” from a more established NHL performer to cement a spot on the Red Wings’ roster, and that’s just unlikely at this point.

The Red Wings as a team tend to slow-roll the North American debuts of their top European prospects, affording even Moritz Seider time to adjust to the different game here, and there is no reason to surmise anything different in terms of the ways in which Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman and assistant GM/Grand Rapids Griffins GM Shawn Horcoff will approach Sandin Pellikka’s transition season.