Month: September 2025

Nate Danielson looks to make a heavier push for an NHL roster spot

Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson appears to be the topic of the day for the Red Wings’ media corps. MLive’s Ansar Khan is the latest to have written an article about the young center, who’s bulked up in order to make a stronger push for an NHL roster spot:

“You realize you need that little bit extra weight,” Danielson (6-1, 197) said. “I feel great. Especially down low in the corners and just being stronger on my skates. As the year goes on, you tend to lose a little bit of weight. So, it’s nice to come into camp a little bit heavier.”

Danielson is ready for his third training camp with the Red Wings starting Thursday in Traverse City. He was among the many prospects that got a head start this past weekend with a pair of games against their counterparts from the Dallas Stars.

Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson said Danielson was one of the best players on the ice in both games, playing on the top line and on both specialty teams.

“He did everything we asked him to do, and he was responsible,” Watson said. “He produced offense. He was good defensively, good on draws. I appreciate the work ethic and the leadership he provided this group.”

Danielson described his first year with the Griffins as a good learning season. He produced 12 goals and 27 assists in 71 games and scored one goal in three playoff games.

“Definitely at times it was hard,” Danielson said. “I felt like the start of the year was a challenge, just kind of figuring out what made me successful and what kind of worked for me. There’s just ups and downs throughout the year, times where you’d be playing really well, and it felt like everything was going right and then times where it wasn’t. I’m just kind of learning how to manage those better.”

Continued (paywall); consistency of performance will be key for Danielson if he is to earn a spot in the Wings’ lineup over the course of the next four weeks.

A bit of praise for Amadeus Lombardi and Shai Buium

The Hockey News’s Jake Tye offers his takes on the Red Wings’ Prospect Games performances, praising Amadeus Lombardi, Shai Buium and Nate Danielson, and adding a word of caution regarding Axel Sandin Pellikka:

The most notable name for Detroit to come out of the showcase is Lombardi after playing a key role in three of the Red Wings‘ five goals on Sunday, it was hard to miss the 22-year-old forward. After playing in 116 games in the AHL with the Griffins and posting a near point-per-game average last season with 40 points in 44 games, it was expected that Lombardi would be contending for a spot with the Red Wings at training camp. 

His performance in the showcase only reminded management that they have a player who is too good for junior competition and will likely be a top player in the AHL once again. We could see an approach with Lombardi similar to Red Wings winger Elmer Soderblom last season, who played 38 games with the Griffins as well as 26 games up with the Red Wings. 

Buium on the other hand, may have an opportunity to carve out a meaningful role. The Red Wings struggled on backend last season with a bottom 12 defense in the league. They got some help in the crease when trading for former all-star goaltender John Gibson but more adds on the blueline are needed. They took a lottery ticket on former first round pick Jacob Benard-Docker but besides the former Senator, the Red Wings didn’t make any meaningful adds with their unit and could lead to opportunities for AHL defenseman like Buium. 

Last season, the San Diego native posted a 25 points in 67 games with Griffins assistant coach Brian Lashoff telling the Hockey News that he regularly relied on Buium and routinely gave him bigger minutes than most.  If he can show that his game translates to the NHL after spending the offseason training with his brother Zeev, who made a significant leap to the NHL with the Minnesota Wild last season and even earned power play time, Buium might be able to establish himself as a regular in Detroit sooner than expected. 

Continued; I’m not quite as optimistic about Lombardi or Buium becoming regulars on a crowded roster, but one never knows.

Kulfan’s notebook: Nate Danielson’s potential evident during Prospect Games

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a notebook article which focuses on Nate Danielson, Shai Buium, the “runway” provided to the Red Wings’ prospects by their two-game series against the Dallas Stars, and a bit bout Ondrej Becher.

Both Kulfan and Griffins coach Dan Watson, who ran the bench this past weekend, are particularly bullish on Danielson’s potential:

“He did a really good job competing both games,” said Dan Watson, the Grand Rapids Griffins head coach who guided the Wings in Dallas. “He was one of the best players on the ice both nights. He did fatigue a little bit down the stretch for us in the third (period), but we played him a ton. He was on the power play, penalty kill, five-on-five minutes with 11 forwards. He ate up a ton of ice time but did everything we asked him to do.”

Watson coached Danielson last season in Grand Rapids (12 goals and 39 points in 71 games), and barring any major injuries or surprises, Danielson will likely start with the season with the Griffins.

But it wouldn’t be shocking to see Danielson, who’ll turn 21 on Sept. 27, in a Wings jersey at some point this season given his development.

Danielson, by his own estimate, gained seven or eight pounds over the summer in training and looked physically bigger in the two games against Dallas. Getting physically stronger, said Danielson, was a summer focus.

“Summer was good. I just spent a lot of time in the gym and on the ice,” Danielson said. “For me, the focus was to try to get bigger, stronger and put some weight on. I did that, and the games (last weekend) weren’t bad. I got better as they went.”

This will be Danielson’s third training camp with the Wings and he is viewing it as a case of “whatever happens, happens.” If he gets sent back to the Griffins, he’ll return with a good attitude and continue developing and progressing. But as any young player should be thinking, there is one big Danielson objective. “The goal is to make Detroit,” he said.

Continued (paywall)

Red Wings, Rangers alumnus Eddie Giacomin passes away at 86

From TSN:

The National Hockey Alumni Association announced the death of Eddie Giacomin on Monday.

The Hockey Hall of Famer was 86.

A native of Sudbury, Ont., Giacomin spent 13 seasons in the NHL from 1965 to 1978 with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.

A four-time All-Star, Giacomin shared the 1971 Vezina Trophy with Blueshirts teammate Gilles Villemure.

In 610 career games, Giacomin was 290-208-97 with a goal against average of 2.82 and a .902 save percentage.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

In 1989, he became just the second Rangers player to have his jersey (No. 1) retired.

Video link: Wings’ players, Mac and Mick react to the Centennial jersey

The embed code isn’t up yet, but the Red Wings posted a secondary video of Darren McCarty, Mickey Redmond, Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, Simon Edvinsson and Lucas Raymond all reacting to the Red Wings’ Centennial season jersey. The gents are impressed.

Update: Here it is in Twitter form:

Press release: Red Wings reveal their Centennial season jerseys

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

DETROIT RED WINGS UNVEIL CENTENNIAL SEASON UNIFORM 

  • Centennial uniform pays homage to 100 years of Hockeytown history
  • Uniform to be worn at select home games throughout the 2025-26 season 
  • Fans can purchase Centennial jerseys at ShopHockeytown.com or at Little Caesars Arena        

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today unveiled their official Centennial uniform, commemorating 100 years of Hockeytown. Established in 1926 as one of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Original Six franchises, the team was originally known as the Detroit Cougars, and later the Detroit Falcons, before adopting the Red Wings name in 1932. The franchise’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the city it calls home, proudly celebrated by generations of devoted fans.

Designed by the Red Wings and produced by Fanatics, the Centennial uniform honors the iconic Winged Wheel sweater while capturing the pride, tradition and enduring spirit that have defined the franchise for nearly a century.

“Red Wings fans have long embraced the Winged Wheel, and we wanted our Centennial uniform to commemorate its legacy,” said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “This design honors the traditions that make Red Wings hockey truly distinctive, while incorporating meaningful details to celebrate this remarkable milestone in a way that stays authentic to Detroit. It recognizes the outstanding players, the defining moments and above all, the devoted fans who have shaped us into who we are today. We believe this uniform will serve as a powerful reminder of our history, while inspiring anticipation for the memorable moments yet to come.”

Design Details

Each element of the Centennial uniform was carefully crafted, with meaningful design elements reflecting the team’s century-long story. A commemorative Centennial patch will be worn on all regular season home and away jerseys.

  • DETROIT COUGARS TRIBUTE: The original 1926–27 Detroit Cougars jersey prominently featured an Olde English “D.” This classic logo has been thoughtfully redrawn and reintroduced as a secondary mark for Red Wings Centennial, appearing on the front leg of the solid-red pants, the jock tag at the bottom front of the jersey and the hem loop on the back. The jersey’s number font is inspired by the Cougars’ “Barber Pole” uniforms, worn in 1927-28.
  • DETROIT FALCONS TRIBUTE: The striping along the hem, sleeves and socks draws from Detroit Falcons uniforms from 1930-1932. Both the font and striping use a vintage off-white tone to reflect the heritage aesthetic.
  • LEATHER-LIKE FEATURES: Patches on the jersey are designed to match the leather-brown hue of the Centennial uniform gloves, a nod to the traditional leather used in gloves and goalie pads. Featured patches include:

o   A diamond-shaped faux leather captain patch, honoring those worn in the 1950s

o   A faux leather jock tag inscribed with “Established 1926 DETROIT MI”

o   A faux leather hem loop on the back of the jersey

  • STITCHING: The first chain-stitched Winged Wheel, introduced in 1932 and used through 1948, is acknowledged in the Centennial jersey’s craftsmanship.
  • LACE-UP COLLAR: Returning as a fan-favorite homage to early hockey sweaters, the lace-up collar is featured on the Centennial design.
  • ADDITIONAL ACCENTS: The Red Wings Centennial logo patch is on the left shoulder, and a reimagined “Hockeytown” mark is inside the collar. The inside hem of the jersey displays Detroit’s 11 Stanley Cup-winning years, flanked by silhouettes of the original trophy on the left and the modern Stanley Cup on the right. The Priority sponsor patch will be seamlessly integrated into the design and be placed on the right shoulder of the jersey.
  • HELMET: For the first time in franchise history, the Red Wings will wear a matte red helmet featuring a vintage Meijer logo (1957–1966) decal.
Continue reading Press release: Red Wings reveal their Centennial season jerseys

Shapiro weighs in on the Red Wings and Stars’ Prospect Games participants

The multi-talented EP Rinkside/DLLS Stars/Shap Shots’ Sean Shapiro has posted a set of player observations from this past weekend’s 2-game series between the Detroit Red Wings’ prospects and the Dallas Stars’ prospects.

Again, now that the prospect tournament has been pared down to a pair of games, it’s more difficult to make sweeping assertions regarding any of the participants, but Sean’s an excellent scout and hockey mind, so let’s pay attention to what he has to say about several less-heralded Red Wings prospects:

Shai Buium, Red Wings, LHD: Buium really impressed me this tournament in the offensive zone. I’ve always felt his defensive game was the reason he’d reach the NHL, and he was Detroit’s best defensive-zone player this weekend, but there was some added confidence with the puck on his stick and his shot has improved. Buium told me he worked on his shot a ton this summer, finding ways to jump into the play and use it more. Give me a full season of him and Sandin-Pellikka playing together and Grand Rapids, and make them a pairing to start the 2026-27 season in Detroit.

Emmitt Finnie, Red Wings, LW: Finnie had a rough start to the AHL in the spring, making the jump from the WHL, but I think some of his best attributes were on display this weekend and I’m pretty excited too see his AHL growth this season. Finnie attacks like a multi-tool, with speed and physicality, he uses his shoulders to create more space and then dives into that created space with his skating. He’s never going to be the best player on the team, but I think he’s going to have a lengthy NHL career because he’s going to understand how to play well with the best players.

Rudy Guimond, Red Wings, G: Guimond played and posted a shutout in the first two periods of Detroit’s win on Saturday night. The goalie, who was nearly perfect after moving to the QMJHL this past season, is composed, calm and did something goalies aren’t supposed to do in prospect games — have a good time. Landon Miller and Michael Pradel, the two other Detroit goalies at the tournament, really struggled and this felt like a nice little boost for Guimond before he returns to the QMJHL after a couple days of NHL training camp next week.

Continued; my quick takes are as follows:

  1. Buium is remarkably mobile for a 6’3,” 220-pound defenseman, and the 22-year-old definitely has to take a step forward as he’s battling with William Wallinder for a spot on the Wings’ roster in short order…But I just like Buium’s ability to combine a physical game with high-tempo puck skills. He’s got moxie!
  2. Finnie just turned 20, and the 6’1,” 190-pound winger/center is a stocky dude whose speed is excellent. I’m not sure whether his Major Junior hands will translate to goals at the AHL level, but I can definitely see him as a 3rd-liner who drives opponents crazy;
  3. Finally, Guimond is heading back to the QMJHL for one more season before heading to Harvard next summer as a 21-year-old, and the 6’3,” 172-pound goaltender is a skinny fellow, but he maximizes his size and does a good job in terms of keeping his fundamentals strong. I don’t know where he or Carter Gylander may fit in given that I believe Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa will both pan out to become NHL’ers, but there are always surprises.

Marco Kasper, a ‘sensational sophomore’

Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin lists 7 NHL sophomores who may have “break-out” second seasons, and he includes Red Wings forward Marco Kasper in his list:

Marco Kasper, C (Detroit Red Wings)

Kasper struggled early in his rookie season before becoming one of the most impressive rookies in the second half. The Austrian center played a bit down the middle and on the wing but looks set to serve between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on the second line. That alone should help Kasper’s numbers, but his increased confidence after how he played after January should make him feel good. A 50-point season should be on the cards this year.

Continued; Kasper is the real deal in my opinion, and I do expect him to “break out” and hit the 50-point mark soon. He’s a rich man’s Valtteri Filppula, with a little less speed and a lot more snarl.

Pro Hockey Rumors discusses Detroit’s trade options on defense

Pro Hockey Rumors’ Josh Cybulski offers some nuanced “speculation” (his word, not mine) as to what Detroit Red Wings’ trade options to improve their defensive corps might include:

Detroit has nearly $12MM in cap space available for the upcoming season, per PuckPedia. They also possess almost a full slate of draft picks for the next three seasons, except for their 2027 second-rounder, along with a top-five prospect pool, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. They could easily target a player like Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, who is a realistic option and would provide the Red Wings with a smooth puck mover that could add a dynamic element to their defense.

Such a move involves significant risk, chiefly concerning Andersson’s contract situation. The 28-year-old has one year remaining on his deal and might be interested in exploring free agency. The Red Wings would likely want to negotiate an extension before completing a trade, which also carries risks given that Andersson is coming off a trying 2024-25 campaign in his own end and may not even want to entertain a long-term commitment to a team that’s not a surefire contender. While Andersson won’t suddenly turn Detroit into a Stanley Cup challenger, he could support their efforts to return to the playoffs.

Continue reading Pro Hockey Rumors discusses Detroit’s trade options on defense

Catch-up post from Saturday and Sunday’s Prospect Games activities

Of brief Red Wings-related note from my short anxiety-attack-induced hiatus:

DetroitRedWings.com: Jonathan Mills recapped Saturday and Sunday’s Prospect Games results, and he profiled both Shai Buium and Amadeus Lombardi;

Detroit Free Press: The Free Press’s Helene St. James listed 5 topics which she believes the Red Wings need to “figure out” over the course of training camp and the exhibition season:

    Where do the new forwards slot?

    The Wings added 36-year-old James van Riemsdyk for one year, $1 million in free agency. He’s intriguing – he has size (6 feet 3, 209 pounds); experience (327 goals, 338 assists in 1,082 games) and a knack for going to the net to score. That could be a really good fit on a line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

    The other new guy up front is Mason Appleton (two years, $5.8 million). His résumé shows 400 NHL games played (entirely with the Winnipeg Jets barring 47 with the Seattle Kraken), with 57 goals and 81 points. Appleton (6-2, 194) is a right shooter who played for Michigan State from 2015-17. A defensive-minded grinder type, he projects to get looks in the bottom six.

    Game management

    McLellan has talked at length about how players need to learn to manage games better – in mid-March, to give one example, the Wings let in three goals in a seven-minute span, allowing a manageable one-goal deficit with more than half a period to go to blow up into a 4-1 defeat to the Washington Capitals. “You can’t pout and get lazy,” McLellan said afterwards. He elaborated after the season ended: “The mental fortitude, the resiliency has to come from us.” That’s going to be a focal point as the Wings move forward with a nine-season playoff drought tarnishing the franchise.

    Detroit Hockey Now: Bob Duff praised Emmitt Finnie and explained why Carter Bear and Jakub Rychlovsky did not participate in the Prospect Games;

    Kevin Allen offered 4 takes from Saturday’s 6-2 Prospect Games win;

    Prior to the Prospect Games, Allen filed a subscriber-only article which discussed the stakes for Axel Sandin Pellikka, Carter Bear, Emmitt Finnie, Jakub Rychlovsky and Shai Buium in terms of translating strong Prospect Games and training camp/exhibition season performances into spots on the Red Wings’ roster:

    Continue reading Catch-up post from Saturday and Sunday’s Prospect Games activities