Month: August 2025

MLive’s Ansar Khan looks back at Lucas Raymond’s end-of-season press conference today, noting that Raymond believes that he has more to give in terms of his on-ice performance:

“I want to take another step in my game,” Raymond said after the season. “I did feel like I took a step this year, but I feel like I have a lot more left. You go into the summer every year and you focus on maybe a couple things that you really want to pinpoint and develop.”

Raymond has led the team in points in each of the past two seasons. Henrik Zetterberg was the last Red Wing to record 80 points, in 2010-11. Raymond’s 53 assists were the most by a Red Wing since Zetterberg tallied 56 the same season.

“I feel like that it’s a big part of my game that impacts the game in a positive way and you look at all these stuff that Henrik accomplished, it’s very impressive, and to be mentioned with that is a lot of fun,” Raymond said. “But for me it’s just about focusing on me, trying to develop my all-around game and keep taking steps.”

Raymond also delivered both optimism for the Wings’ post-hiring-coach-Todd-McLellan surge, as well as disappointment for the Wings’ swoon in late February, March and April:

“We put ourselves in a good position before the 4 Nations break to be in a good spot and make a good push for it,” Raymond said. “It didn’t click for us, and that really set us back. It was kind of just uphill from there. I think that just goes to show you, again, how important every game is.”

“You grow up playing hockey, you play to win, whether that’s a peewee tournament or whatever. Not being able to do that is frustrating. Everyone’s determined to change that and take that next step very soon.”

Continued (paywall)

We’re up from $97 to $145 in terms of our fundraising for the $477 TMR server bill and stupid-ass $137 personal bill that I have to pay on August 17th. So I’m going to continue to post fundraising appeals until we make the mark.

I know that it’s not an easy time to be asking for summertime support, but donations of any domination are gratefully received, and as this is about keeping the blog up, I hope that some of you are moved to keep ‘er going.

Thank you for reading!

Continue reading Midweek server fundraising

Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond is taking part in a news conference for the “first six” players selected by Team Sweden for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, and IMAGO.com has posted a couple of pictures of the event:

RG.com’s Jimmy Murphy speculates that the Detroit Red Wings could acquire one restricted free agent forward Mason McTavish…In exchange for Axel Sandin Pellikka:

The dog days of the 2025 NHL offseason are officially in session, but as the calendar turned to August, speculation surrounding Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish remained.

“I think there’s a better chance now that the Ducks keep him, but teams are still trying to get him from the Ducks and wondering where this is going, and it’s still in a circling pattern,” an NHL Executive source told RG on Tuesday night.  

“I’ve heard the Canadiens and Hurricanes have been keeping tabs, but one team I keep hearing that has continued to show strong interest is the Detroit Red Wings. Obviously there’s a history there with Pat [Verbeek] and Steve [Yzerman], and I really think Steve sees McTavish as a player that would clearly change the whole dynamic of his team up the middle there.”

As you know by now, Pat Verbeek was Yzerman’s right-hand man for the latter part of his tenure in Tampa Bay and the initial part of his time with Detroit, but the Ducks have a ton of cap space, so Murphy doesn’t believe that McTavish would be an offer sheet target. That leaves the trade route, should the Ducks be interested in moving the dynamic young forward…

McTavish remains a trade target, but according to one NHL Executive source who has been involved in some trade talks on McTavish, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek continues to make it clear that their main priority is still to sign McTavish.

“Unless you’re willing to get creative and knock Pat’s socks off with a monster offer, I don’t see him getting traded at this point,” the source told RG recently. “A right-shot, top-four and future top-pairing defenseman would be the starting point from what I know. I don’t see the Wings moving Moritz Seider, so you’re likely talking Axel Sandin-Pellikka.”

Sandin-Pellikka, 20, was drafted 17th overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and is entering the first season of his three-year, $2.75 ($918K AAV) entry-level contract. After signing last spring, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound defenseman had one assist in two games for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Continued; I know that adding a 6’1,” 218-pound forward is tempting, but not for Sandin Pellikka, at least in my book. As far as I’m concerned, the Red Wings need another offensive defenseman on the right side of their blueline more than they need a power forward (though they need a power forward pretty badly).

I’d rather see the Wings pursue another player, or offer other player(s) and/or picks in exchange for McTavish, signed to a long-term contract.

Friday, August 8th (8/8) is “Patrick Kane Day” in Chicago, which means that Kane will be holding an event which promises the following to take place at the Morgan MFG building in downtown Chicago:

#88 is coming back to Chicago on 8/8 where his professional hockey career started! Patrick Kane’s legacy in Chicago is bigger than life, bringing home 3 Stanley Cups and so many exciting moments on the ice.

This special evening includes an Emcee-hosted Q&A with Patrick Kane. Sit back and hear about the games, highlights, hat tricks, power plays and more! Following the stage, #88 will greet everyone in the line to sign your autograph (limit of 1 item per person) and a photo on your device. Beverages and apps will be available.

The VIP ticket includes a pre-event for 50 guests with Patrick Kane including open bar, apps, professional photograph, an autograph, door gift, and social time from 5:30-7:15 p.m with the main event to follow.

8/8 PATRICK KANE DAY is devoted to his fans and the community here in Chicago. This event is his time to meet you, give autographs, a photo on your camera, and to say thank you for your support over the years.

This event is for those 21 yrs. and up.

Kane has been making the rounds of Chicago radio and podcasts of late, and as you might expect, the Chicago Daily Herald’s Jim O’Donnell is speculating that Kane, who will likely retire in the Windy City, should end his career as a Blackhawk:

Continue reading A bit of wishful thinking ahead of Patrick Kane Day on Friday, 8/8

Daily Faceoff’s Paul Pidutti attempts to discern which NHL players will be the NHL’s best in the 2030-2031 season, and two Red Wings make his list:

#20. Moritz Seider, Age: 29
Trajectory: Shea Theodore

Seider went from puzzling draft choice to the next Nicklas Lidstrom to overrated by his 21st birthday. Parking the noise, Seider continues to improve and take on major responsibility – he averaged 25:04 last season at 23. By 2030, the German will be 29 and in full bloom as a Norris conversation fixture. If the Shea Theodore match looks underwhelming, he finished sixth for the Norris at ages 24 and 25, and might have been a finalist if not for games lost to injuries.

…

#22. Lucas Raymond, Age: 28
Trajectory: Matthew Tkachuk

It’s hard not to like Raymond, a great skater with hockey sense, discipline, and offensive skills for days. Fresh off his first 80-point season, Raymond profiles well statistically to Tkachuk. While no one will confuse their skating or their physicality, Tkachuk kept finding new offensive and defensive levels into his mid-20s. Helping the Red Wings finally take the next step to the playoffs can only help Raymond’s rep. Speaking of Tkachuk, he’ll fall from the top 30 by 2030 given his damaging style of play.

Continued

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

TICKETS FOR RED WINGS’ ‘RED & WHITE GAME’ IN GRAND RAPIDS ON SALE NOW

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Tickets for the Detroit Red Wings’ Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. are now available to the general public through griffinshockey.com. The stars of Hockeytown will play their intrasquad game in Grand Rapids for the first time since 2011, as the likes of Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat take the ice alongside former Griffins such as Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson and Marco Kasper.

Advance ticket prices start at $28 for upper level crease, $30 for upper level faceoff, $33 for upper level center ice, $34 for upper level preferred, $35 for upper level prime and $37 for upper level edge; and $36 for lower level faceoff, $40 for lower level center ice, $46 for lower level preferred and $63 for lower level glass. (Additional $3 per ticket on game day.) Group ticket packages may be ordered by calling the Griffins’ office at (616) 774-4585 ext. 4 or visiting griffinshockey.com.

The event will conclude the Red Wings’ 2025 training camp and serve as a showcase for West Michigan fans to cheer both the stars of Hockeytown and the prospects who will play in Grand Rapids this season. All healthy players on Detroit’s training camp roster are expected to play in the game, which bridges the team’s camp in Traverse City and the start of its preseason schedule. 

The Red & White Game will consist of two 20-minute periods followed by a shootout. Details on special pre-game activities will be announced in the coming weeks. 

This marks the fifth time that the Griffins will host a Red & White Game, following events in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2011. Detroit also visited Van Andel Arena for a “Wings for Lunch” midday event with local fans in 2007.  

The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn offers a list of NHL teams’ “contract efficiencies” this morning, and given that the Red Wings finished 24th overall a season ago, the Wings’ status as 13th overall feels like a relief.

Luszczyszyn makes sure to suggest that the players’ present contract values are what matters–what happened in the past in terms of player performance does not count to him–so this is a ranking of 32 teams’ present contract values.

13. Detroit Red Wings

Last season: 24th

Copyright Dom Luszczyszyn and The Athletic

Things are finally starting to trend in the right direction for Detroit and that’s in large part thanks to the team locking up Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider long-term last year. While both entered each deal with some question marks, they proved themselves worthy of future franchise status, offering immense future value. Raymond is on one of the league’s best contracts and Seider’s deal has potential to be just as strong. I’d imagine both Marco Kasper and Simon Edvinsson will only add to this in the future.

As for Detroit’s problem contracts, many of them are thankfully ending soon. Ben Chiarot and Justin Holl only have one year left, while Andrew Copp only has two. The rest are manageable, and it’s what has Detroit’s future looking brighter.

Continued (paywall); here’s hoping that the Red Wings’ management avoids “problem contracts” in the present and future…

Though I’m going to admit that I don’t understand why DeBrincat, Johansson or Gibson’s contracts have “negative values.”

Red Wings defenseman Erik Gustafsson is 33 and is in the last year of his 2-year, $4 million contract. He’s training with Djurgardens IF of the SHL this August, and HockeyNews.se’s Uffe Bodin offers a paywalled article in which Gustafsson’s picture is prominently placed, with a bit of a tabloid-y “lede” included:

When Djurgården started its ice training in earnest for the season, Detroit and World Championship-defenseman Erik Gustafsson was involved.

And of course Djurgården hopes for his return.

“We try to keep as close contact with them as possible,” sports director Niklas Wikegård told Hockeynews.

If I had a dollar for every time that a European sports publication hinted that so-and-so would return home to play for their former sports team in the twilight days of their pro careers, I’d have at least several hundred dollars.

I don’t know whether Erik Gustafsson’s future plans involve a “return home,” but this is the kind of talk that sells paywalled articles.

Kirk Maltby speaks with Chris Osgood and John Keating this week: