Author: George Malik

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The Athletic’s Max Bultman checks in with 10 of the Red Wings’ top prospects at American Thanksgiving, and we’ll start at the top:

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RHD, Skellefteå (SHL)

Since the moment the Red Wings drafted Sandin-Pellikka, the hope has been that he could grow into their top offensive blueliner of the future. After a season and a half, that possibility looks like more than just hope as Sandin-Pellikka scores his way into uncharted territory for a junior-aged defenseman in the SHL.

Through 22 games, he’s up to seven goals and 19 points, a production rate (0.86 per game) that has him on pace to shatter the SHL’s all-time U20 defense scoring record. The current mark is 31 points in 45 games, held by Dallas’ Nils Lundkvist in 2019-20 and narrowly trailed by the Red Wings’ own Moritz Seider, who had 28 in 41 a year later. It’s an extremely impressive production for the 19-year-old.

“He’s so smart,” Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said. “He’s positionally smart, he’s got a real feel for time and space. Very deceptive, he can manipulate players and situations.”

Lundkvist does serve as a bit of a cautionary tale, though, that SHL production does not always translate to North America: the former Rangers first-round pick ended up being traded to the Stars shortly after coming overseas and has struggled to carve out an impactful role since, playing less than 14 minutes a night (with just one point) so far this season. I don’t point that out to rain on anyone’s Sandin-Pellikka parade, but rather to temper expectations, especially with regard to his timeline.

I would expect him to come over to North America next season, but likely to spend the whole season in Grand Rapids adjusting to the ice, speed and physicality of the North American game. From there, the key will be how many other dimensions Sandin-Pellikka can bring beyond his obvious aptitude on the power play. His ability to defend, in spite of his 5-foot-11 stature, could be what determines whether he can slot in as a consistent top-four blueliner in the future.

Continued (paywall)

According to Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff, Red Wings prospect and Vityaz Moscow Region forward Dmitri Buchelnikov has been selected to play for the Russian team which will participate in the Channel One Cup:

It will be featuring the national teams of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, as well as a team made up of international players skating in Russia’s KHL. NHL coaching legend Mike Keenan will coach this latter team.

On Tuesday, Russia was revealing a preliminary roster for that event consisting of five goalies, 17 defensemen and 29 forwards. Among those 29 forwards is Red Wings draftee Buchelnikov (52nd overall, 2022 NHL entry draft).

Buchelnikov is currently in a tie for second in KHL scoring with 8-20-28 totals. A recent story in Russia’s Sport-Express was citing the Vityaz forward unit of Buchelnikov, Derek Barach and Ivan Chekhovich as the best line in the KHL. All three are among the league’s top-10 scorers.

Continued

NHL.com’s Stan Fischler engaged in a Q and A with Red Wings alumnus Doug Barkley, and among the questions and answers are the following:

When did [your NHL] break come? “I almost quit hockey to take a job with a Calgary oil company, but my Calgary coach, Alf Pike, gave me all the confidence I needed. He played me between 50 and 55 minutes a game and just let me go out there and do my thing. I was only 25 at the time. You could say that I had become a minor league star with 74 points in 70 games and MVP in the All-Star Game, but my real break came when Chicago traded me to Detroit for Len Lunde and John McKenzie (on June 5, 1962), and I wound up at the Red Wings’ training camp.”

What was it like? “Wonderful. I was with very friendly players like Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio and Marcel Pronovost. Right off the bat, they asked me to golf with them, but I didn’t have any clubs, shoes or anything. Gordie, who had been hurt, made me feel right at home and gave me all his golf stuff. On top of that Sid Abel was a wonderful coach, easy to talk to and he gave me plenty of ice time. I finally felt I had made the NHL. I played 70 games and scored three goals and 24 assists for 27 points. Despite all the previous hardships, at last I felt I belonged.”

How sure were you? “I missed rookie of the year by a point to Toronto’s Kent Douglas. A year later I had 115 penalty minutes and 32 points and became the best scorer of Detroit’s defenders. I really was going strong well into the 1965-66 season with 20 points in 43 games and a ton of ice time. There were moments when I’d be dead-tired, but Sid would say, OK, Alex, Gordie, (Bill) Gadsby and Doug get on the ice.’ I’d go out there — and I pushed myself — mostly because I figured if Gordie could make it, I could do it.”

Continued

According to MLive’s Tyler Kuehl and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff, Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Lagesson has been suspended for a “UFC move” made during last weekend’s win over the Iowa Wild.

Here’s Kuehl’s report…

On Tuesday, the American Hockey League announced they have suspended Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Lagesson for three games after a roughing incident against Iowa Wild forward Adam Raska.

The incident happened during Sunday’s matchup between the Central Division rivals. Late in the second period, after Griffins goaltender Ville Husso covered a loose puck, Lagesson and Raska started a scuffle, which led to Lagesson taking down the smaller Raska. The two continued to wrestle on the ice, with Lagesson getting the upper hand, eventually putting Raska in a rear-naked choke. It led to Raska visibly tapping out.

Lagesson received a minor penalty for roughing on the play. The Griffins went on to win the game 5-2, earning a weekend split with the Wild.

And Duff’s report:

The Red Wings didn’t practice on Tuesday afternoon, but DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills reports that Red Wings forward Marco Kasper spent his afternoon giving back to the Metro Detroit community:

For Ms. Gaynor’s first-grade class at Madison Elementary School in Madison Heights, Mich., a Tuesday afternoon turned into a memory the students won’t soon forget.

As a benefit of participating in the 2024-25 Red Wings for Reading program, Marco Kasper surprised the first graders and read “Dino-Hockey” — a book by Michigan-based author Lisa Wheeler — to the class.

“It’s awesome being here,” Marco Kasper told DetroitRedWings.com on Tuesday. “Obviously it’s awesome for the kids, and just to see how happy they are to learn about the Red Wings and hockey in general. Giving back to the community is awesome, and I really like doing it.”

Presented by the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, Red Wings for Reading is a free program designed to support existing reading curriculum in K-5 classrooms across the state of Michigan by encouraging students to strengthen their literacy skills.

Kasper said reading a book like “Dino-Hockey,” which incorporates hockey terms in a fun and creative way, helps introduce kids to the sport.

“A lot of the best players became familiar with hockey when they were young,” Kasper said. “To get young kids familiar with hockey and get them to really like the game is important, then hopefully some of them will get out there on the ice.”

Continued

TSN’s Insider Trading video isn’t embeddable tonight, but TSN has posted a transcript of Darren Dreger’s take on Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s future. As we already know, it hinges upon how well the Red Wings play over the course of the remainder of their home stand:

Thanksgiving is often a catalyst for change in the NHL. Jim Montgomery out in Boston. Then he’s hired in St. Louis when Drew Bannister gets fired. Could the Wings be next to make a change behind the bench, Dregs?

Dreger: Yeah, they sure could. We know it’s a tough business, but Detroit needs to, wants to, and is counting on staying in the playoff mix. They are only three points out of a wild card spot, but they’ve got a crucial three-game homestand happening this week. What happens if they go 1-for-3 or 0-for-3? Now, the upside is they could go 3-for-3 or win 2-of-3 and Derek Lalonde, who’s in the final year of his contract with the Detroit Red Wings, stays on the Red Wings’ bench. We know that Steve Yzerman is loyal to his coaches, but again, they have to remain competitive. So, if they have a good homestand, everything should be fine. If they don’t, that might force Yzerman to make a decision. The sense is that they would go with an interim internal candidate and then hope that a top coach eventually becomes available.

Continued with the aforementioned video; we’ve been talking about the concept that December 2nd is more or less the turn-the-ship-around deadline for the Wings for almost a month now. It’s just the truth.

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the DEL, Kevin Bicker had an assist, finishing at +1 with 1 blocked shot in 11:13 played as the Frankfurt Lowen won 4-3 over the Augsburger Panther;

In the SHL, Anton Johansson scored a goal on 3 shots, finishing at -1 in 16:07 as Leksands IF lost 3-2 to MoDo Hockey:

Anton Johansson(4th round’22 for Leksands if)
1 Goal 3 SOG -1 1 Hit 16:07 TOI IN A 3-2 loss. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/AJLMdu31G4

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) November 26, 2024

Noah Dower Nilsson missed Frolunda HC’s 3-1 loss to Malmo with an injury;

And Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had 3 shots on goal, finishing at -1 in 16:37 played, and Axel Sandin Pellikka scored a goal on 2 shots, but finished at -2 in 19:28 played as Skelleftea AIK lost 3-1 to Lulea Hockey:

Both the Free Press’s Helene St. James and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted afternoon articles which discuss the crucial nature of the Red Wings’ remaining “home stand” as the Wings attempt to gain ground in the very middling and muddled Atlantic Division.

St. James suggests that the Red Wings’ home games against Calgary tomorrow night, New Jersey on Friday afternoon and Vancouver on Sunday afternoon are all but must-wins if the Wings are to attempt to battle past their difficult start…

Monday’s victory was the third time in four games the Wings collected points (five) and gave them 20 points after 21 games, within three points (though chasing five teams) for the second wild card spot in the East. Patrick Kane missed the Islanders game because of an undisclosed injury, but he’s considered day-to-day.

The Wings seem to have righted themselves to an extent after that dismal trip to California – they haven’t engaged in a score-fest since, instead limiting opponents to two or less goals in the last three contests. There’s certainly still areas to address, including special teams: The power play has failed to deliver the last three games, going 0 for 10. And the penalty kill (68.4%) remains the worst in the NHL.

Establishing themelves at home would be a good step towards the Wings moving beyond the mediocrity that has defined the first quarter of their season. To their advantage, few teams have really pulled away in the East, so if the Wings can string together some wins at home, they’ll remain in the mix of things.

And Duff took note of Alex Lyon’s comments made last night while discussing the Wings’ status as in the lower part of a muddled Atlantic Division:

“I think that we’re in desperation mode for sure,” Lyon told the FanDuel Sports Network following Monday’s win. “We need to play desperate every night. I think that the best teams in this league play desperate every night.”

Fortunately for the Red Wings, mediocrity loves company. In this season’s NHL, the Eastern Conference is displaying an overabundance of bad squads.

If you don’t buy into the NHL’s loser point scenario and count overtime losses for what they are – defeats – then eight of the 16 clubs in the East are currently playing below-.500 hockey. That includes the 9-10-2 Red Wings.

All eight of these teams are displaying negative goal differentials. None have a winning road record. Only Boston (5-3-2) and Philadelphia (5-3-2) are showing a winning slate through the past 10 games.

This, as much as any reason, is keeping the Red Wings in the hunt while they seek to hunt down more consistency in their game.

Among the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan’s Tuesday notes is this story about Lucas Raymond’s slow start in terms of goal-scoring, and his recent success at igniting his shooting game:

Through the first quarter of this season, Raymond was arguably the Wings’ best all-around forward. He was doing everything he could to keep the Wings afloat in the standings, leading the team in assists and playing in every situation.

But the goal-scoring, frustratingly, wasn’t there. After scoring 31 goals last season including so many important ones during the Wings’ frantic late-season playoff push, most people expected that torrid pace to carry over. Instead, Raymond scored two goals in his first 18 games. Not what was expected, to be sure.

Until scoring a goal in each of the last three games, including Monday’s game-winner on Long Island, in the Wings’ 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Goals in each of the last three games? That’s more like it.

“I mean, I think everyone wants to score goals, right?” Raymond said. “I’m no different.”

Coach Derek Lalonde, whenever asked about Raymond, would stress the versatility in Raymond’s game and the fact he was, and is, contributing offensively (Raymond leads the team with 15 assists and 20 points). But goal scorers like Raymond enjoy putting the puck in the net.

“He’s playing at a high level,” Lalonde said. “He’s sitting at a point a game, but it’s different for goal scorers when it hits the back of the net.”

Continued (paywall)