Month: September 2025

The NHL Network claims that its “research department” has determined the top 25 NHL prospects today, but the Red Wings’ only representative is Axel Sandin Pellikka:

21. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, Detroit Red Wings

The 20-year-old, who was a first-round pick (No. 17) by Detroit in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a busy 2024-25 season. He had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 46 games for Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League, the top league in the country. His goals and points were the most of any under-21 skater in the SHL. He had eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 11 playoff games to help Skelleftea reach the SHL semifinals, and was also named the best defenseman at the 2025 WJC, when he had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games. Sandin-Pellikka signed his entry-level contract with the Red Wings on May 6 and played in two regular-season games (one assist) and three playoff games for Grand Rapids of the AHL. He was also named the top defenseman at the 2024 WJC (two goals, four assists in seven games).

Continued; the list only includes one goaltender, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (at #24), and it’s mostly a “big-name” list as opposed to a “big-talent” list. I’m not particularly impressed by it, but I’m biased!

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski asked Red Wings forward Patrick Kane about the return of Jonathan Toews to the NHL as Toews has signed as a free agent with the Winnipeg Jets:

“I think it’s awesome. Obviously with what he’s been through, to be able to put himself in a position to come back and be feeling good, I think that’s the most important thing,” Kane told ESPN on Tuesday. “It could be really a great story for the NHL and for the franchise and for him and his family. So I’m excited about watching him.”

…

“We talk quite a bit. He came to Chicago about a month ago, so I was able to see him there. Even obviously with him not playing the last couple of years, he’s been great — just keeping in touch and reaching out after a game every now and then. Always nice to hear from him,” he said.

Kane also left the Blackhawks in 2023 when Chicago traded him to the New York Rangers.

“It’s funny how your paths kind of change, right? You’re seeing each other every day for 17 years and then all of a sudden, you kind of go your separate ways,” he said. “I felt that way about some of my other teammates too, like Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp. These are your best friends. All of a sudden they retire or they go to a different team and you don’t see them as much. It’s kind of wild.”

With Toews potentially finishing his career in his hometown, there’s always been speculation that Kane could do the same, having grown up in Buffalo. Is that something he’d consider?

“You know what? I feel like I’ve been pretty fortunate with the franchises that I’ve played for. Chicago. New York was a great experience, even though it didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. Now, Detroit,” Kane said. “I mean, I’ve really, really enjoyed my time there. It’s been a great place to kind of revive my career and play in a good situation and be on a team that’s on the rise.”

Continued; Kane’s not heading to Buffalo.

Here’s one more reminder that the Red Wings Alumni will be playing against the “Yoopers United” this Saturday, September 13th to raise funds for the United Way of Marquette County. Per WLUC 6’s Terese Ledy:

The Detroit Red Wings alumni will be in Marquette for a rematch this weekend.

Saturday is Marquette County Hockey Night, a fundraiser for the United Way of Marquette County. Hockey stars from around the county will don their Yoopers United jerseys to take on former Wings players.

On top of the main event, there will be tailgating, a sled hockey exhibition and an after-party.

Andrew Rickauer, United Way of Marquette County executive director, says every dollar raised stays in the area to help your friends and neighbors.

“About 40% of local residents are impacted by these dollars,” Rickauer said. “Whether it’s the youth programs, senior programs, food insecurity, transportation, and it’s all through our 26 partner agencies.”

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth and students. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Marquette County. Rickauer says tickets are selling quickly.

Tailgating starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Doors open at 5 p.m.

NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika spoke with Red Wings forward Patrick Kane and his peers about the milestones which Kane might hit this upcoming season:

Patrick Kane laughed. Yeah, he needs 32 points to pass Mike Modano for the most in NHL history among players born in the United States, and that’s just one of the marks he could hit with the Detroit Red Wings this season.

“The first thing you think of is, if you play long enough, you’re going to reach some of these milestones, right?” the 36-year-old forward said at the NHL North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday.

Think about it more deeply, though, and you appreciate what Kane has put himself in position to accomplish. You can reach these milestones only if you play long enough at an elite level.

Kane might be the greatest American player of all time already. He has won the Stanley Cup three times, plus several individual awards. In 2016, he became the first player born in the United States to win the Hart Trophy when he was voted the NHL’s most valuable player.

With 1,343 points (492 goals, 851 assists) in 1,302 games, he’s within striking distance of Modano, who had 1,374 points (561 goals, 813 assists) in 1,499 games. He’s not far from Brett Hull, who played internationally for the United States and is listed as an American on NHL.com but was born in Canada. Hull had 1,391 points (741 goals, 650 assists) in 1,269 games.

…

The way Kane is playing, he could hit all three milestones this season. He had 59 points (21 goals, 38 assists) in 72 games last season, but had 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 43 games after Detroit hired coach Todd McLellan on Dec. 26.

“Obviously, last year I wish I would have had more production,” he said. “I got off to a tough start. But I feel like I should be about a point-a-game guy. I always felt that way, so that’s kind of where the bar is for me. Listen, obviously the numbers are great. It’s kind of how you judge yourself as a player, especially when you’re an offensive guy. But for me, it’s just the love of the game. I love being on the ice. I love practicing. I love playing. I love being in a moment where the team needs to count on you and you need to step up, right? That’s the kind of thrill that drives me now. It’s not necessarily the numbers.”

Continued, and it’s really good stuff…

EliteProspects has been releasing its “NHL Prospect Pool” rankings over the past couple of weeks, and today, Lassi Alanen discusses the top 24 prospects who might wear the Winged Wheel some day, while ranking the Red Wings’ pool of prospects 12th overall in the league:

After their notable drop last year, the Detroit Red Wings move back up by a few spots just to the edge of the top-10. Their pool is heavily boosted by the strength of their top talent; only the Chicago Blackhawks had more players featured when our top-100 affiliated skaters and top-20 affiliated goalies lists are combined.

More specifically, the Red Wings are stacked on few player archetypes. First, they have multiple higher-end forwards prospects who profile as physical and gritty two-way forces. Second, they have two of the three best goalie prospects on the planet. There are also some undersized yet highly skilled forwards and defencemen in the mix, too.

As such, even if they can’t match the depth of some of the top-end pools, it’s arguable the Red Wings have the talent to be a few spots higher in this ranking.

Let’s start from the top.

The theme of the Red Wings’ pool is really checking skills and intensity above all else. There’s no one who better matches that description than Carter Bear – and he has plenty of skill, too. While his production slowed in the second half, he still finished third in the WHL in even-strength primary points per 60, according to InStat Hockey.

A fierce competitor, Bear leaves nothing to chance. He sprints hard for every puck, engages in every battle, and goes all-out no matter the score or situation. With a nuanced physical game, he wins inside position every chance he gets, throws tons of hits, and creates most of his offence from the walls, net front, and goal line.

Bear is a skilled finisher, but an even better playmaker. He makes one-touch passes off the wall on the breakout, slips and hooks pucks through traffic, draws pressure before passing, and uses every option – even the trailer and weak side. While it’s not always pretty, he’s a manipulator – a player who stacks the deck in his favour.

With some work improving his skating posture and handling skill, Bear could become a top-six forward, a fan favourite and playoff performer. Even if he doesn’t hit that lofty projection, he’ll still find a way to the NHL. – Mitchell Brown

Continued at extended length (paywall)

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen‘s HPK Hameenlinna lost 3-2 to TPS Turku in a shootout, though Red Wings Prospects captured a video of Kiiskinen scoring a shootout goal:

Jesse Kiiskinen scores in the shootout #LGRW pic.twitter.com/c2T3twY6hl

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 9, 2025

Kiiskinen played 20:43, leading the team, and he had 4 shots, but he could only beat TPS goaltender Eetu Makiniemi in the shootout.

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

UPDATE: The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced Brad Krakowitz as the new Grand Rapids Griffins video coach, helping the staff prepare, evaluate and assess their game both as a team and as individuals #GoGRG

DETAILS >> https://t.co/8a11ZyRh6O pic.twitter.com/YH3v0M4ppQ

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) September 9, 2025

BRAD KRAKOWITZ NAMED VIDEO COACH FOR GRIFFINS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced Brad Krakowitz as the new Grand Rapids Griffins video coach, helping the staff prepare, evaluate and assess their game both as a team and as individuals. Krakowitz replaces Erich Junge who is now the assistant video coordinator for the Red Wings.

Krakowitz most recently served as the assistant video coordinator for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners from 2022-25. In addition to his role with the Roadrunners, Krakowitz served as the assistant coach for the Tucson Jr. Roadrunners from 2019-2023, working primarily with their high school teams. He also worked for Recruit Scouting from 2020-22, scouting draft eligible prospects. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Krakowitz played on the inaugural Tucson Jr. Roadrunners high school team that finished as state runners-up in 2019.

Tickets for the Detroit Red Wings’ Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. remain available to the general public through griffinshockey.com. 

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

UPDATE: The Detroit Red Wings have hired Erich Junge to be their assistant video coordinator! Thank you for your time in GR and we wish you all the best in DET ‼️ #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/swr3bAKZmn

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) September 9, 2025

Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz compiled a list of his “20 greatest nicknames in hockey history,” and four notable Red Wings made his list–but the Perfect Human did not:

Mr. Hockey

There was nothing on the ice that Gordie Howe could not do. Score, defend, fight, play physical … it was all there. His all-around abilities helped earn him the moniker “Mr. Hockey,” a nickname that was actually trademarked by him and his wife, who was nicknamed “Mrs. Hockey.”

The Dominator

It is perhaps one of the most fitting nicknames because it was so representative of the way Dominik Hasek played. He was, simply, one of the most dominant players in NHL history and could change the fortunes of a team in a way few other players could. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Hasek played at a level that was pretty much unmatched by any goalie in any era. He was the reason some of those Buffalo Sabres teams went as far as they did in the playoffs, including the 1998 Stanley Cup Final team. 

The Professor

Part of the Detroit Red Wings‘ famed Russian Five, an awesome nickname in its own right, Igor Larionov was dubbed “The Professor” for his cerebral approach to the game. Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman called him a “real brainy player,” and Sergei Fedorov said he was one of the smartest players he played with. Larionov was also one of the players who was instrumental in Russian stars defecting to the NHL. 

Continued (does “Cujo” count as a legendary Red Wing? Methinks not); I’m not sure how Nicklas Lidstrom misses out on the list, but that’s just me.

Anton Johansson‘s Leksands IF had a rough season last year, finishing in 11th place in the 14-team SHL, but Johansson and Leksands’ coach, Johan Hedberg, told Hockeynews.se’s Andreas Hanson that the team still believes that it’s going to improve beginning this Saturday, when the SHL season begins:

At the SHL’s media season-start meeting in Stockholm, it was clear that many have low expectations for Leksand for the 2025-2026 season. In the annual experts’ vote, in which about a hundred media representatives responded to questions, among other things, which team will be relegated from the SHL, Leksand received as much as 38% of the votes–the most of any team.

But both coaches and players choose to turn the talk into motivation.

“We in our team believe more than you believe in us. And it’s going to be a good start,” said head coach Johan Hedberg.

Hedberg describes how the team uses the tip-offs as a driving force, and he believes that it can even be an advantage to start as an underdog.

“It’s easier to create a “us versus the world” feeling. If you go in with expectations and can’t live up to them, the height of the fall is worse. That’s when it comes starts to haunt you,” he told Hockeynews.

Defenseman Anton Johansson is on the same track.

“I’ve said it before that I like to be a bit of an underdog. I think we on the team are pretty confident with that as well. We aren’t favorites. We have a team that can develop throughout the season. I really think we will do it, and take big steps,” Johansson said.

Both coaches and players agree that there is great potential in the team – and that the season will be about building, growing and sharpening the performances game after game.

“We know we might not earn four straight wins, but we’re going to be in every game. So our panic is not as great as if Färjestad would lose four straight games. Now, of course, we don’t want to start with four losses – but you have to take it where we are and try to build something for the long run,” says Hedberg.

“It’s more than a fan than favorite. The team looks promising. I think it’s going to be a damn fun season,” said Anton Johansson.