Author: George Malik

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted a 2nd-day-of-the-draft wrap-up which discusses the Red Wings’ 2025 NHL Draft haul, noting GM Steve Yzerman’s draft philosophy…

“We don’t necessarily draft by position,” Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman said via Zoom on Saturday afternoon. “We always try, at this stage of where we’re at, to get the best prospect and we put them in that order…We’re happy with what we were able to accomplish here in the Draft. We like all the kids that we got. We’re excited about Carter [Bear] in the first round, that type of player who will fit in very well for us – a left winger. He’ll be good.

“The remainder of the group here were all good prospects. We were able to get a couple of defensemen, several forwards… We add another goaltender…We’ll see if he can develop over time as well. Again, our scouts feel good about it. We were able to address some needs as far as depth in the prospect pool. We’ll try to do our best and be patient, develop them, help them along the way to become professional players and hopefully play for the Red Wings.”

As well as this regarding the Petr Mrazek-for-John Gibson trade…

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas discuss the Red Wings’ trade with Anaheim for goaltender John Gibson at the 23-minute mark of the latest 32 Thoughts podcast.

Friedman states that he believes that the Red Wings were able to afford the deal in terms of compensation because the Ducks would not take money back in a trade, and he never thought that the Red Wings or anyone else would consummate a trade for Gibson, but the Wings are depending on Gibson’s health holding up this season for Detroit.

Mostly, he discusses Pat Verbeek’s free agency options as the Ducks have accrued significant salary cap space, the team’s drafting of Roger McQueen, and Friedman states that the Gibson deal may have been held up because Petr Mrazek either lost his phone or dropped it in water.

Ahead of free agency, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen examines the Red Wings’ cap situation:

After the Gibson deal, the Red Wings have $19.1 million in cap space. That doesn’t include William Lagesson’s $775,000. We project he will start with Grand Rapids and be a player who comes up when the Red Wings have injuries. The Red Wings still have RFAs Albert Johansson, Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom still to sign. Patrick Kane also hasn’t yet agreed to a contract, although Yzerman said he still believes it is going to get done.

PuckPedia suggests that, with Lagesson on the roster, and last year’s bonus overages, the Red Wings have $18.41 million in cap space, and I’d be shocked if Berggren, Johansson and/or Soderblom cost more than $1.25 million individually.

The Red Wings’ 2025 draft class has been graded by several draft experts over the course of the last 12 hours, and this morning, ESPN’s Rachel Doerrie discusses the draft classes of the NHL’s 32 teams.

She approves of Detroit’s 8-player haul, with the John Gibson trade boosting the Wings into “A” territory:

Detroit Red Wings
Grade: A-

There’s a lot to like about what the Red Wings did this weekend, and they likely nabbed at least two long-term NHL players in Carter Bear and Eddie Genborg. Bear was good value in the teens, and brings a projectable two-way game with high-end playmaking skills. As an added bonus, he’s got some of the coveted hard skill teams were looking for because he plays in the dirty areas, wins puck battles and creates space for his teammates. He’s two or three years away, but should be a quality top-six forward when he’s ready.

I liked the Genborg selection as a good middle-six player that thrives with skill. He’ll be a good complementary piece when he’s ready.

Once the top tier of goalies were gone, I really liked the swing on Michal Pradel. The Red Wings aren’t short on goaltending prospects, and he’s another guy who has a chance to be an NHL goaltender. Count me as a fan of the Michal Svrcek pick in the fourth round because of his upside as a speedster with competitive bite. Add in the John Gibson trade — which gives the Red Wings immediate help — and they had a pretty good weekend.

Continued;

Bear also scored 40 goals over the course of last season; Genborg is a scrappy bugger, and while Pradel’s selection was a bit of a surprise, I like the pick of Svrcek as well, and the Wings’ two high school graduates, Brent Solomon and Grayden Robinson-Palmer, are intriguing. Add in Russian puck-moving defenseman Nikita Tyurin and bruising D Will Murphy, and the Wings have a very balanced class of player picks.

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman suggested that he will not be buying out Vladimir Tarasenko, Justin Holl or any other roster players (per Sean Shapiro) when he spoke with the media yesterday afternoon.

Yzerman also stated that the team will examine the unrestricted free agent marketplace, which opens on Tuesday at 12 PM EDT, and the post-free agency trade market in order to bolster the team’s blueline and forward corps.

The Athletic asked its NHL beat writers what “biggest question” each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams face as July 1st looms large in every team’s roster-building plans. Max Bultman offered the following:

Where to draw the line

Detroit has lingered outside the playoffs for long enough now that it’s not exactly a destination. That may take the team out of the running for some top names. At that point, Steve Yzerman has to decide where the line is to just walk away. That’s much easier said than done for a team that wants to improve, but the Red Wings have been burned on overpayments to middle-of-the-lineup players in recent years. — Max Bultman

Continued (paywall); I agree with Bultman. The Red Wings do need some help on defense and more scoring (and possibly snarl) at forward, but attempting to jam players onto the roster to “force a fit” hasn’t worked for the team.

Detroit’s going to have to spend judiciously and not become too enamored with supporting players over the course of the next week.

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a wide-ranging notebook article this morning, taking note of the comments made by both Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman and assistant GM/director of player development Kris Draper after the Wings concluded rounds 2 through 7 of the 2025 NHL Draft.

St. James noted a telling comment from Yzerman regarding the state of the team’s goaltending depth after acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks yesterday…

The Wings still have interest in goalie Alex Lyon, though he may find more lucrative offers in free agency. As it stands, Gibson and Cam Talbot project to be next season’s tandem. The Wings have basically carried three goaltenders in each of the past three season, and may still add a third-stringer. Right now their Grand Rapids Griffins goaltending depth consists of 2021 first-round pick Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava, a free-agent signee out of the Czech Republic hoping to make it in North America.

“We think we know what we have in Sebastian, and I think Sebastian needs more time in the AHL,” Yzerman said. “We’re counting on him to play well. Michal played extremely well in the Czech league and we’ll see how he adapts over here. It’s his first time over.”

And Yzerman confirmed that the Red Wings expect to re-sign Patrick Kane in short order, most likely before the start of free agency at 12 PM EDT on Tuesday:

Last year, the Wings re-signed forward Patrick Kane on June 30, the eve of free agency. It’s getting close again this year, but Yzerman sounded confident.

“I still expect us to get a deal done with Patrick,” he said. “It’s a busy time for everyone. I’m hopeful we can get something done soon. That’s my intention.”

Continued (paywall); it would not surprise me if the Red Wings chose to add a veteran AHL starting goaltender as to mentor Cossa and Postava in GR.

Carter Gylander will have a new partner in Toledo as well as Jan Bednar left the ECHL team to play in Europe this upcoming season.

The Detroit Red Wings are shifting their focus from drafting players this weekend in Los Angeles to developing their prospects as the team’s 2025 Summer Development Camp will get underway tomorrow at Little Caesars Arena.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper’s comments regarding the camp:

“It’s a crash course in as much information as we can give these guys,” Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said. “We want them to, obviously, understand the importance of training. It’s something that we put a big emphasis on for a lot of us that played and are still in the organization. That was something that meant a lot to all of us when we played. So we want to let them know the importance of training and obviously, training properly and training at the right time.

“And with that said, you have to eat at the right time. Know what to eat, know when to eat, I think is also very important, and then even on top of that, with the sleep. It’s probably something that a lot of these young players take for granted.”

Players will be splitting into two teams – Team Howe and Team Lindsay. Sessions will be featuring daily on-ice instruction and skill development from a team of coaches. Leading the session will be the Red Wings player development staff led by Dan Cleary and Niklas Kronwall. Attendees will also be taking part in NHL-level off-ice workouts and attending presentations designed to be helping players transition to professional hockey, while receiving feedback from Red Wings coaches and management.

Continued; the Red Wings really do view their SDC as an educational opportunity for their prospects and free agent invitees; it’s all about absorbing as much information as possible about what it takes to become a professional athlete, which is a 24/7 job these days.

Red Wings assistant GM Shawn Horcoff Shawn Horcoff saw his son, Will, be drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 25th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday. Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Shawn’s comments regarding his status “draft-day dad”…

“It’s a little different, a little more nerve racking,” Horcoff, 46, said of being the parent of a draftee. “I don’t make the amateur decisions, thank goodness, but this is a hard day for everyone. This is the future of your franchise but as a parent sitting there, the worst part is not knowing where he’s gonna go.”

Ultimately, Will, a forward from the Michigan Wolverines, wasn’t left waiting for long. The Pittsburgh Penguins would actually trade up to take Horcoff with the 25th overall selection of the first round.

“Obviously an exciting day for all of us,” Shawn Horcoff said. “He’s pretty ecstatic.”

As well as those of Horcoff’s colleague, Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper. Draper had the honor of drafting his son, University of Michigan forward Kienan Draper, five years ago:

Draper could also relate to Sean’s anxiety. In 2020, his son Kienan was an NHL draft prospect.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be obviously a parent, but it’s especially an incredible feeling for . . . Shawn played the game. I played the game. And to be able to see our sons being selected at the NHL draft is something special and something that you’re never going to forget.”

Continued; I’m a little bummed out about the Wings not drafting Will Horcoff as the very raw prospect is a tremendous physical specimen, but the Wings stuck to their list and drafted a player whose “compete level” is off the charts in Carter Bear. Sometimes you pick who you pick.

The Athletic’s Max Bultman filed an incredibly thorough 15-point notebook article regarding the Red Wings’ draft haul, the team’s trade for goaltender John Gibson, and many other topics, including this from GM Steve Yzerman regarding the free agent marketplace (or the lack thereof):

Yzerman was candid about the shortage of potential impact players on the free-agent market this year but said the team will look at the blue line, and will look to add a winger as well — neither of which is surprising. Asked if there was a viable trade market for defensemen, he opened his answer by saying: “I’m not sure if viable is the right word. I’m going to look into it.”

Part of the issue, it sounds like, is the state of what teams are looking for.

“When I’m talking to teams right now, everybody wants — the teams I’m talking to — they want players,” Yzerman said. “Much like we want players. What do we have to offer? Like, I don’t want to trade our core players. You trade, whatever, a young centerman for a young centerman — I’m looking to add to our team, and use our future assets for that, and right now, teams are all looking to add players to their team, kind of do the same thing (that) we’re trying to do.”

He did acknowledge “there’s a couple of somewhat interesting options” but added he thinks all the teams will now turn their attention to free agency, then see what shakes out and who can accomplish what they want, who might be left still looking, and who might need to move bodies out.

Yzerman’s appraisal of the market is revealing, though. It doesn’t sound like this is an issue of Detroit cautiously hoarding prospects. Rather, it sounds like the opposite: a market that also wants to improve and isn’t as interested in futures.

“When I talk to teams, you know the players they want,” Yzerman said. “And I’m like, ‘That doesn’t make me better.’ I want to keep these players. I want to add to it. Am I willing to trade a core player? Maybe, but it doesn’t make, necessarily, sense to take any position and trade that, to create a hole at that position to fill in another one.”

From the sounds of it, the scenarios to watch are either a needle-moving free agent or a trade with a team that is successful in free agency and needs to move a player off the roster for cap reasons, becoming more amenable to taking back futures.

Continued (paywall); I always worry that the “futures” other teams want are Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, but that’s just me.

97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield reports some good news regarding Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who could test the unrestricted free agent marketplace on Tuesday:

Patrick Kane and the Red Wings plan to run it back for a third season.

While it hasn’t happened as quickly as some may have imagined, Steve Yzerman said Saturday after the conclusion of the NHL Draft that he’s been in contact with Kane and his agent throughout the offseason and that “I still expect us to get a deal done” soon.

“It’s a busy time for everyone,” Yzerman said, with free agency set to begin July 1. “I’ve had some discussions with both Patrick and his agent. And once you get around the draft, the agents have a lot of other things they’re doing as well, so I’m hopeful that we can get something done soon and that’s my intention. We’ll see if we can’t get that done shortly.”

Kane was fourth on the Red Wings in scoring last season with 21 goals and 59 points. He led the team with six game-winning goals and was a key cog on a power play that finished fourth in the NHL.

He’s likely to sign a similar deal to the one he did last summer, with easily-attainable performance bonuses to keep the cap hit low. Last season’s deal was a one-year pact worth $4 million, with Kane earning an extra $1.5 million for playing in 10 games and $250,000 more for playing in 60.

Continued