Month: July 2026

Keegan Kolesar’s still shocked about being traded to Detroit, but he’s ready for the next challenge in playing for the Red Wings

Updated at 7:30 PM: Newly-acquired Red Wings foward Keegan Kolesar spoke with the Detroit media corps today from his offseason home, and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan noted that Kolesar discussed having to leave the Vegas Golden Knights after having been traded to Detroit yesterday:

“I don’t know if I was expecting it, but it’s always in the back of your mind because it’s hockey, it’s how the game works, and people can be in and out,” Kolesar said. “I didn’t expect it, but you’re always prepared for it. It’s the business of it.”

The hard-hitting, hard-charging Kolesar was credited with 270 hits, ranking seventh in the NHL. He brings a physical element, a toughness, the Wings have been missing from their lineup for many years. Kolesar is eager to fill that void.

“You can call me an old-school type of player,” Kolesar said. “Forecheck, backcheck, paycheck. I just want to help the team win. I’ve always felt the team comes first in every scenario. If there is any way I can help the team win, that’s what I’ll do.”

Kolesar believes that the Red Wings are far from mincemeat…

Continue reading Keegan Kolesar’s still shocked about being traded to Detroit, but he’s ready for the next challenge in playing for the Red Wings

Dan Cleary explains the educational aspect of the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp

Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary spoke with the media at the conclusion of Detroit’s annual Summer Development Camp this morning, and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan took note of some of Cleary’s remarks regarding the purpose of the 4-day event:

The Wings’ concluded their four-day development camp Thursday for recent draft picks and invited undrafted, unsigned free agents.

Daniel Cleary, the Wings’ director of player development, viewed the event as successful, and most of all, educational.

The Wings stress to the players they are not evaluated. But Cleary feels it can difficult to get that point across.

“(General manager) Steve (Yzerman) comes out of the gate and says this is not an evaluation and we try to stress that, but we know what these kids are like,” Cleary said. “They’re stressing about what their numbers (various timed tasks) are, they want to show well. That’s the nature of being an athlete and you want to produce and perform.

“But it is what it is. At the end of the day, it really is an educational camp that we try to give them everything we can. Hopefully they absorb as much as they can because we have great people here.”

Continued (paywall)

The AP gives the Wings a failing grade for free agency performance (thus far)

The Associated Press’s Stephen Whyno and John Wawrow issued a list of free agency “winners” and “losers” today, and the pair don’t believe that the Red Wings have been able to cobble together anything but a failing grade:

DETROIT RED WINGS: Detroit has not made the playoffs since 2016, now the NHL’s longest drought. And there is lingering uncertainty with captain Dylan Larkin wanting out. The Red Wings’ muddled path forward was evident Wednesday with the signing of Viktor Arvidsson and trade pickup of Keegan Kolesar representing their most notable additions. GM Steve Yzerman has the leverage of time in waiting for the best offer for Larkin. And yet the situation has the potential of becoming a bigger distraction and handcuffing Yzerman from building the roster further.

Continued; an “incomplete” is not an automatic “F” in my book, and Patrick Kane’s situation remains unresolved as well.

Detroit’s media corps highlights comments made by new Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson

Updated at 4:48 PM: New Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson met with the Red Wings’ media corps today, and he spoke with the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan about joining a historically Swedish-tinged team…

“For me it’s really exciting,” Arvidsson said Thursday on a Zoom call with Detroit media. “Growing up and watching the Red Wings and Avalanche go at it, and all those players that I grew up watching like (Peter) Forsberg, (Henrik) Zetterberg and (Pavel) Datsyuk, and (Steve) Yzerman, and Kris Draper, all those guys. Then talking to Drapes last night, I was almost like ‘I played as you on video games’. It’s pretty surreal if you think about it.”

Arvidsson, 33, signed a two-year contract worth $10 million ($5 million annual average value) Wednesday, filling a Wings need for offense. Arvidsson had somewhat of a comeback last season in Boston, scoring 25 goals (with 29 assists), and playing a relentless brand of hockey he’s known for.

Facing the Wings in divisional games last season, Arvidsson felt the Wings were close to a playoff team.

“I think so,” Arvidsson said. “This year the division and wild card were so tight, but it’s a great team, a great defense core and a lot of speed and skill up front. You need to mesh that together and be more consistent. That’s what this league is all about, consistency, and if you can do that night in and night out, and don’t drop too much.”

Arvidsson discussed his relationship with Wings coach Todd McLellan, for whom Arvidsson played in LA…

Continue reading Detroit’s media corps highlights comments made by new Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson

Video: New Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson’s introductory press conference

Red Wings free agent signing Viktor Arvidsson spoke with the Detroit media corps today, one day after signing a 2-year, $10 million contract with the Wings:

Update:

Videos: JP Hurlbert and Dan Cleary speak on the final day of the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp

The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects are currently returning home after the Red Wings’ 4-day Summer Development Camp ended this morning.

As such, the Red Wings posted a short interview with 2026 1st round draft pick JP Hurlbert…

But Daniel Cleary, who works actively as the director of player development, spoke for almost 14 minutes:

A set of early Wings summer grades from DHN’s Allen

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen issues Red Wings grades in an assortment of categories this morning, and some grades are better than others:

Handling Larkin Situation

Essentially, the Red Wings are in the same place they were at when Dylan Larkinā€™s agent, Pat Brisson, informed the Red Wings his client would like to be traded.

Larkin has a no-trade clause and there are conflicting reports about how many teams he is willing to accept as a final destination.

What we know: The Florida Panthers have no interest in giving up young center Anton Lundell, plus they donā€™t have other desirable assets they are willing to move. They are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. They have no urgency to deal for Larkin. A Minnesota Wild source tells us that they donā€™t believe they have the assets to make a Larkin deal. (One report said the Red Wings would take Matthew Boldy in a Larkin deal, but the Wild are not interested). Thereā€™s no trade fit with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Continue reading A set of early Wings summer grades from DHN’s Allen

Tweet of note: ‘on the ice’ with the Red Wings’ summer development campers

The coverage of this year’s Summer Development Camp has just been so-so, but the Red Wings themselves are still pumping out content. This morning, they posted a 1:12 clip of very literal on-ice footage from this week’s activities: