Author: George Malik

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan examines the Red Wings’ defense this evening, and Kulfan duly notes that the Wings’ prospects on the blueline will have an uphill battle in their attempts to earn spots on the Wings’ roster:

Prospects such as Dennis Cholowski, Joe Hicketts, Filip Hronek and Libor Sulak are making concerted runs at roster spots.

One, maybe two, will break through this camp, given the way the defense’s depth chart is constructed.

“It’s easy to say one is going to be on our team and if we have two (young defensemen) push to be on our team, that means they’ve beat out good players and we’re a better hockey team,” Blashill said. “We’re not handing jobs. But if they end up beating players out, the theory is, we’re better because of it.

“There are guys certainly who have put themselves in positions to potentially win jobs. Filip Hronek, Sulak, Cholowski, Hicketts — all those guys have put themselves in position to win jobs. Now come to camp, and win a job.”

It won’t be easy to land more than one defenseman’s spot, as six of the positions appear all set.

Trevor Daley (age 34), Danny DeKeyser (28), Jonathan Ericsson (34), Green (32), Nick Jensen (27) and Niklas Kronwall (37) all return.

Continued

It’s official, per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRIFFINS’ NEW ASSISTANT EQUIPMENT MANAGER NAMED

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday named Charlie Kaser as the assistant equipment manager for the Grand Rapids Griffins. He replaces Andrew Stegehuis, who has been hired by the Rochester Americans as their head equipment manager following six full-time seasons with the Griffins.

Kaser, 23, has nearly eight years of experience assisting the Griffins’ equipment staff on game days, having served as a stick boy since 2010.

Born in Kansas City, Mo., and raised in Grand Rapids, Kaser is completing his environmental science degree from Portland State University and will graduate in 2019. He competed on the Vikings’ ACHA D2 hockey team for two seasons from 2013-15 and was employed in the golf industry in the Portland area prior to joining the Griffins full time.

Charlie is the son of Griffins vice president of community relations and broadcasting Bob Kaser.

Paul Kukla of Kukla’s Korner posted an interview that Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill took part in on the NHL on Sirius XM Radio:

The Oakland Press’s Pat Caputo offers an opinion as to whether the Red Wings should name Dylan Larkin their captain if Henrik Zetterberg is no longer able to play:

Already, the Red Wings’ ticket selling campaign is based on Larkin. The plans are listed on the marquee at Little Caesars Arena next to his likeness. So are the ads running during the Tigers’ broadcasts on Fox Sports Detroit and upon the scoreboard at Comerica Park.

Larkin definitely has his plusses. He has extraordinary speed. At higher levels of competition internationally playing for the United States, at both the World Junior Championships and World Championships, Larkin has risen his performance.

Teams adjusted to his play early his rookie season and he became lost. He was roughed up a lot, and seemed to have difficulty fending for himself on the ice. Not any more. He’s stronger on his skates, savvy when it comes to creating space on the ice and has become a much better playmaker.

Used to be a time when the prime of an NHL forward was considered 28, but now it’s more like 24. Two years from now Larkin could be an exceptional player.

Larkin also has cognitive recognition beyond most his age. He’s understands situations and people and how to learn from failure rather than be ruined by it. That’s why he’s been labeled a potential captain from the moment the Red Wings selected him in the first round, 15th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft prior to his freshman – and only season – at the University of Michigan.

With rank comes responsibility, though. If they put the “C” above the winged-wheel crest on Larkin’s blood, red jersey, he’d have to meet a standard unlike any he has remotely before, especially given what being captain of the Red Wings’ has meant. Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Zetterberg – that “C” is more than just a letter. It’s a genuine honor. They don’t “name” the Red Wings’ captain, they “anoint” him.

Would I make Larkin captain? Yeah. Probably. But I’d darn well make sure he knows exactly what it means, not only in the Red Wings’ dressing room, but this town overall, before I’d do it.

Continued

Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin appeared on WDFN’s “Shep, Shower and Shave” show this morning, speaking about the Wings’ season to come and next Sunday’s Stars and Stripes Showdown:

The Free Press’s Jamie Samuelssen discusses Henrik Zetterberg’s potential outcomes this morning:

If you were able to advise Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, what would you tell him?

I’m not in the business of telling people when they should retire.

First of all, it’s none of my business. Secondly, I’d never want someone to tell me when I should retire.

Henrik Zetterberg doesn’t seem to be seeking advice on what his next move should be. Or more to the point, he’s not listening to voices as much as he’s trying to listen to his body. And by all accounts, his body is telling him that his hockey career is over.

Zetterberg has been dealing with back issues ever since the Olympics in 2014. He missed stretches of seasons. He lost effectiveness on the ice at times. It got to the point last year where the only time he played hockey was in the games themselves, never in practice. The question is not whether Zetterberg can play in the NHL anymore. Of course he can. The question is whether or not he can play like Henrik Zetterberg again and it sure seems like he can’t.

Continued

MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses this season’s outlook for defenseman Nick Jensen this morning:

2018-19 outlook: The Red Wings value Jensen’s skating ability (for defense) and right-handed shot (for puck-moving). He beat out fellow young defensemen Ryan Sproul, Xavier Ouellet and Alexey Marchenko, who are no longer with the organization, for a spot in the lineup and maintained it. Coach Jeff Blashill thought highly enough of Jensen to include him on the U.S. World Championship roster.

But Jensen isn’t assured of a spot in the lineup. The Red Wings expect prospect Filip Hronek, coming off a strong rookie season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, to make the roster. Hronek will only stick around if he’s playing regularly. If all of their defensemen are healthy, Hronek’s best chance for a lineup spot is Jensen’s.

The Red Wings must decide whether to re-sign Jensen or trade him by the deadline. With young defensemen like Joe Hicketts, Libor Sulak and Dennis Cholowski waiting in the wings, Jensen could be moved for a draft pick during the season.

Continued

Both Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard and Wings prospect Keith Petruzzelli are taking part in Warren Strelow’s goaltending camp at USA Hockey Arena this week, and the pair spoke with DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner for the latest “Red and White Authority” podcast:

Jimmy Howard and #RedWings goalie prospect Keith Petruzzelli joins us on The Red and White Authority to discuss their careers and their upcoming seasons.

Listen/rate/subscribe —> https://t.co/ovpd5QS4Y0 pic.twitter.com/20KgH7da6n

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 15, 2018

97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burtchfield transcripted part of Dylan Larkin’s interview on the Jamie and Stoney Show this morning, and Larkin made a surprising proclamation regarding the Wings’ 2018-19 season trajectory:

“I think our team made a huge step in the offseason with the draft and the free agent signings. We have no reason why we shouldn’t be a playoff team, I think, and then make some noise in the playoffs,” Larkin told 97.1 The Ticket.

The Red Wings finished 13th in the East last season, missing the playoffs by 24 points. But Larkin is encouraged, in particular, by the potential of Filip Zadina, the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, and Michael Rasmussen, the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft. Both forwards will have a real chance to earn a spot on the opening-night roster.

“If Zadina can make the team and Rasmussen — it seems (from) every indication that he’ll make the team. These guys are high-end draft picks, so if they come in and have a great rookie season, and the free agents we got, if they come in and play great, I think it’ll just help us,” Larkin said.

Continued, and if you missed the interview post from this morning, here’s an embedded clip of the interview:

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan engaged in a lengthy question-and-answer session with Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, and Blashill discussed Henrik Zetterberg’s health (among many other topics):

■ Question: Jeff, certainly there’s a lot of talk right now regarding Henrik Zetterberg. What’s the latest on him? Have you talked to Hank at all, and what do you expect at this point?

■ A: “As you know, Hank wasn’t able to practice for half the year. He was able to gut it out through those last two months where he wasn’t able to practice. There were nights I didn’t think he’d able to play and he did play.

“He’s had a hard summer and I don’t think his back is reacting great. Certainly we’ll know more in a month (at training camp), but as of today, there’s a lot of doubt as to whether his back will be healthy enough to play.”

■ Q: At various times, it has been remarkable the level of pain he’s had to play through. How much of a loss will it be if you don’t have him in the lineup, both on and off the ice?

■ A: “It was unreal, and it speaks to the level of a competitor he is, and honestly, the toughness, to play through what he did. Obviously if Hank isn’t able to play, there’s a lot of areas where it affects your team. Certainly from a leadership standpoint, but he’s still a real good player for us.

“But with that said, I’ve always been a huge believer that you never worry about who is not available, and you worry about who is available. How much it affects your team depends on the growth of other players, and has there been enough growth among other players? Will it or not be a factor? We’ll see.”

Continued, and I don’t expect Zetterberg’s status to be determined until training camp, if not October or November.