Author: George Malik

The Detroit Red Wings’ annual prospect tournament has gotten underway at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City. The St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets were the 3 PM game (Columbus won 7-1!), and Dallas and Toronto will play tonight at 6:30 PM.

You’ll note, of course, that the Red Wings’ prospects didn’t participate in a game today, choosing instead to play three games, on Friday vs. Columbus (3 PM, live streamed on the Red Wings’ social media channels), Saturday vs. Dallas (6 PM, also live streamed), and Monday vs. Toronto (11 AM, also live streamed).

Between the fact that it’s a 5-team tournament instead of an 8-team tourney, and given the fact that the Wings could afford to use a “getting to know you” day ahead of a busy three games in four nights, the Wings chose to play 3 round robin games instead of 4, and I believe that it’s the right call.

On Thursday, the Wings’ prospects hit the ice promptly at 11:30 AM, and Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon, assistant coaches Matt MacDonald, Mike Knuble, video coach Erich Junge and goalie coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson all put the prospects through their paces over the course of a spirited 72-minute practice.

A little panorama. pic.twitter.com/UGc1uUdGev— George Malik (@georgemalik) September 15, 2022

Coach Simon did a lot of teaching in terms of imparting the Red Wings’ systems of play to a set of players who mostly haven’t played together before, and he was emphatic, enthusiastic, and at times, more than willing to bark at the collective group in order to keep the pace of practice high.

One minute of practice footage from the Red Wings:

Game one tomorrow. 😃 #DRWPT pic.twitter.com/ibblAEpfMY— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 15, 2022

DobberHockey’s Jamie Molloy posted a set of “good value” picks for fantasy hockey poolies, and Jakub Vrana leads his list:

#1) Jakub Vrana – LW – Detroit Red Wings

Contract: $5.25M – 2 Years remaining

Vrana has been fairly limited in NHL game action over the past two seasons, only playing in 37 total games (30 points, 21 have been goals). While I don’t think anybody expects that goal pace to continue into next season, this is a player who may be playing on a team that may not make the playoffs, but he has always been a solid producer on the second line during his career with the Capitals. I would say in Detroit there is a better chance of him being on the ice in a crucial moment given the Red Wings lack of elite offensive talent. Realistically he will be deployed on the second line that received an overhaul this summer alongside of Andrew Copp and David Perron (both solid players in their own right). If the Red Wings top-six begin to struggle, maybe we see a duo of Dylan Larkin and Jakub Vrana through stretches of the season. Vrana may not be able to help you in the hits and blocks columns, he can sure help in the pure offensive stats, including the powerplay. If the injuries that he has faced don’t scare you, I would recommend this player.

Continued

Red Wings prospects Elmer Soderblom (over the course of a longer interview) and Simon Edvinsson (in a shorter interview, because the bus was waiting for him) spoke with myself, The Athletic’s Max Bultman, DetroitRedWings.com’s Daniella Bruce and Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Kal today.

The gents were affable and forthcoming, and Soderblom discussed everything from the adjustments he’s making to North American hockey to his talent for playing the guitar to his favorite number (or the lack thereof); Edvinsson discussed his adjustments made and his hopes for the tournament:

Per a Tweet:

Another step closer!

🗓️ » https://t.co/VJMJyRUwlb pic.twitter.com/zqb2vNpTJf— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 15, 2022

NEWS: Bally Sports Detroit announces 2022-23 @DetroitRedWings TV schedule.

➡️ https://t.co/MSpk2cXO1r#LGRW | @ThinkFordFirst pic.twitter.com/iAAxNzYOY6— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) September 15, 2022

69 games will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings and Bally Sports Detroit today announced the Red Wings local television schedule for the 2022-23 season.

Bally Sports Detroit (BSD) continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing a total of 69 regular-season contests with 58 games slated for BSD and 11 on Bally Sports Detroit Extra (BSD EXTRA).

The popular announce team of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond return to call the action, while Bally Sports Detroit’s comprehensive coverage also includes pregame and postgame editions of RED WINGS LIVE. In addition to live reports from Little Caesars Arena, studio portions of RED WINGS LIVE will originate from Bally Sports Detroit’s studios at its Southfield headquarters.

A total of 13 Red Wings regular-season games will be nationally exclusive broadcasts on TNT and ESPN+ / Hulu. Additionally, the Red Wings’ game on Jan. 4 vs. New Jersey will be broadcast nationally on TNT, but will air exclusively on Bally Sports Detroit in the local market.

Continued

FloHockey’s Chris Peters posted a list of 10 prospects to watch at the various prospect tournaments being held across the U.S. and Canada this weekend, and he picked an obvious choice from Detroit:

Simon Edvinsson, D, Detroit Red Wings; There’s no question that Edvinsson is among the top defensive prospects in the game right now. There is a valid question, however, if he’s ready to play in the NHL this season. He took a big step forward last season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League and his overall potential is tantalizing. Now he’ll have a chance to show off that progress even more at the 2022 Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich.

As a 6-foot-6 defenseman, he’s such a fluid, comfortable skater who can make some plays. I still think his offensive game has more maturing to do and while at the summer World Juniors, he didn’t necessarily look like a guy that was about to jump into the NHL. This rookie tournament will give Edvinsson a chance to show where he is relative to the other defensemen in Detroit’s system. It will also give the Red Wings another data point in how they need to make their decision about him. Given how cautious and patient they are with their prospects, I would be surprised to see Edvinsson on the team’s opening night roster. That said, he can make that decision a lot harder on them with a good showing this week and in training camp.

Continued; I would be a little surprised to see Edvinsson make the opening-night roster as well, given the Wings’ depth at defense, but the prospect tournament, training camp and the exhibition season will afford him opportunities to change the coaches and management’s respective minds.

The Detroit Red Wings have posted their updated prospect tournament roster on Pointstreak, and the team chose to add an 8th defenseman to the mix.

Jeremie Biakabutuka is a 6’4,” 203-pound defenseman who’s played for Val-d’Or, Rimouski and now the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL.

He hasn’t dazzled in the points category, but the 20-year-old is a big hunk of guy who will provide depth wearing #63 for the Wings.

And yes, his uncle is Tim Biakabutuka.

Per the Detroit Red Wings’ Twitter account:

Lucas Raymonds tio snyggaste mål i NHL 😍 @DetroitRedWings | #LGRW | #Raymond pic.twitter.com/Kfp5WaUJZD— NHL Sverige (@NHLsv) September 15, 2022

Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary spoke with “The Word on Woodward” crew regarding the Red Wings’ 2022 prospect tournament team a couple of days ago…

And, this morning, DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted an article in which he discusses Cleary’s remarks:

Cleary said the NHL Prospect Tournament is valuable because it helps players feel more comfortable heading into training camp.

“You get some games under your belt going into training camp, on the ice with the competition, get familiarized with Traverse City and you can get the nerves out a bit before main camp opens,” Cleary said. “It’s a nice little segue into main camp.”

The Red Wings’ 2022 NHL Prospect Tournament roster features 24 recent draft picks, free-agent signees and tryouts. In particular, Cleary is excited to see blue line prospects Simon Edvinsson (sixth overall pick in 2021 NHL Entry Draft), Eemil Viro (70th overall in 2020) and Albert Johansson (60th overall in 2019).

“They’re all smart players,” Cleary said. “Edvinsson skates very well, a big guy. Johansson is a beautiful skater as well, a nice handler of the puck. Viro is just real steady, calm and doesn’t stress a lot at all out there.”

Cleary also spoke highly about former first-round pick Sebastian Cossa, who was Detroit’s 15th overall selection in 2021.

“He is doing what he needs to do,” Cleary said. “He listens and is a really nice kid. I don’t think we’ve seen the type of goaltender that he can be because it’s only a small sample size.”

Continued; Centre ICE Arena’s prospect tournament page is here, and tickets are available here.

Ahead of the start of the Red Wings’ 2022 Prospect Tournament, I posted my breakdown of the players participating for the Red Wings’ prospect team. This morning, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a set of “capsule previews” of each and every player as well.

Let’s go with some under-the-radar guys here:

Seth Barton (23, 6-3, 196, 81st overall, 2018 NHL entry draft)

2021-22 Club: Grand Rapids (AHL)

Played 20 games last season for AHL Griffins . . . Also played five games for ECHL Toledo Walleye . . . Played three seasons at UMass-Lowell.

…

Pasquale Zito C (19, 6-1, 176, 166th overall, 2021 NHL entry draft)

2021-22 Club: Windsor (OHL)

Helped the Spitifres reach Game 7 of the OHL final . . . Posted 22-20-42 totals in 49 games for Windsor . . . Traded to Niagara IceDogs during offseason.

…

Marcus Limpar-Lantz C (19, 6-0, 187, free agent)

2021-22 Club: Orebo (SHL)

Spent last season with Orebo J20 . . .  Also saw action in two senior SHL games . . . Selected by Sarnia (OHL) in CHL import draft, will play for Sting this season.

Continued; Barton is a periphery prospect right now, and he could work his way back into relevance with a good tournament; Zito is definitely a wild card as a plucky, determined center, and Limpar-Lantz could be a “bonus draft pick” next summer–presuming that he’s any good.